Troy Perkins

Football player infobox| playername= Troy Perkins
fullname = Troy Perkins
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|7|29
cityofbirth = Springfield, OH
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=6|in=2
currentclub = Vålerenga I.F.
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 2001–2002
2003
youthclubs = USF
Evansville
years = 2002–2003
2004–2007
2007–
clubs = Cape Cod Crusaders (PDL)
D.C. United
Vålerenga I.F.
caps(goals) = 22 0(0)
73 0(0)
10 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 17 April 2007
ntupdate = 2 December 2006

Troy Perkins (born July 29, 1981 in Springfield, Ohio) is an American soccer player who currently plays goalkeeper for Vålerenga I.F. in Tippeligaen.

College

Perkins played college soccer at the University of South Florida and the University of Evansville. He was named third-team All-Conference USA in 2001, and second-team All-CUSA in 2002. He transferred to Evansville for his senior season. At Evansville, he allowed only 21 goals in 19 matches, compiling a 1.09 goals-against-average. Perkins also played in the PDL for the Cape Cod Crusaders in 2002 and 2003.

Professional career

Upon graduating in 2003, Perkins went undrafted. However, he was signed to a developmental contract by D.C. United. Not expected to contribute, Perkins was given an opportunity after both Nick Rimando and Doug Warren lost their starting positions. Perkins proved up to the task, and went on to start 16 games for the team, posting a 1.62 goals against average. Although Perkins was performing well, the team suffered during his tenure, and he was replaced near the end of the season with Nick Rimando, who would also start for United throughout the playoffs.

During the 2006 season, Perkins was the starting goalkeeper for United, playing 30 of 32 games. He was also named 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the year, Best XI, and voted to the 2006 All Star Team.

So far, in the 2007 MLS season, Perkins has started and played in almost every game. He has 15 wins, with 7 shutouts and a 1.08 goals-against-average.

In December 2007 Perkins signed for Norwegian Vålerenga I.F.. This move looked more likely after D.C. United signed goalkeeper Zach Wells on December 12, 2007.

On December 20, Troy Perkins passed the medical testing, and signed a 5 year contract with Vålerenga I.F. [cite web
title=Norwegian Team Acquires United's Perkins
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122102066.html
accessdate=2007-12-24 ] [cite web
title=Troy Perkins klar for Vålerenga
url=http://www.vif-fotball.no/article1505308.ece
accessdate=2007-12-24
language=Norwegian] . The transfer is historical for Vålerenga, Perkins is the first football player from the American continent to sign for the club. After a shaky start to his career in "Enga", Perkins has started to show his skills and has established himself as a solid goalkeeper in Tippeligaen.

Trivia

*In early 2005 he trained with Bolton Wanderers F.C., an English Premier League club.
*In early 2006 he trained with Everton.
*Beginning in 2006, Perkins worked a second job as a mortgage loan processor [cite web
title=A Goalie You Can Bank On
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071401521.html
accessdate=2006-12-09 ] , leading United fans to put up a banner that said, "Troy Saves -- and Loans."
*Perkins is a graduate of Thomas Worthington High School, in Worthington, OH.

References

External links

* [http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t103&player=perkins_t&playerId=per369809&statType=current MLS Bio]