Brian Wright (born March 23, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for York United.
 Wright in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 24, 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | York United | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ajax SC | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Vermont Catamounts | 80 | (39) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016 | Burlingame Dragons | 7 | (2) |
| 2017–2019 | New England Revolution | 14 | (1) |
| 2017 | → Tulsa Roughnecks (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Birmingham Legion (loan) | 26 | (6) |
| 2020 | Birmingham Legion | 16 | (3) |
| 2021–2022 | Atlético Ottawa | 48 | (13) |
| 2023– | York United | 49 | (11) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 27, 2024 | |||
Early life
editWright was born in Toronto and moved to Ajax with his family at age four.[1] He played most of his youth soccer with local club Ajax SC.[1]
Club career
editEarly career
editWright spent his entire college career at the University of Vermont playing for its men's soccer team between 2013 and 2016. While at Vermont, Wright scored 39 goals and tallied 25 assists in 80 appearances while leading the Catamounts to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016.[2] He racked up numerous accolades including America East Conference Rookie of the Year in 2013, and was a three-time America East first team all-conference selection from his sophomore to senior years. Wright was also a multiple time NSCAA all-region selection, as well as a second team All-America selection in 2016 and was named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist.[3][4] Wright finished his UVM career second all-time in points with 103, second all-time in goals, and third all-time in games played while also setting the single season record for points with 40.
While at Vermont, Wright appeared for USL PDL side Burlingame Dragons during their 2016 season.[5]
New England Revolution
editOn January 13, 2017, Wright was selected in the first round (20th overall) of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution.[6] On March 30, 2017, Wright was sent on loan to United Soccer League side Tulsa Roughnecks.[7] He made his professional debut on April 1, 2017 as a 60th-minute substitute during a 1-0 win against Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.[8] Wright made his Revolution debut in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round with a start against the Rochester Rhinos in a 3-0 victory.[9] In the following US Open Cup fifth round matchup against D.C. United, Wright scored his first professional goal helping the Revolution to a 2-1 win in the competition.[10] On July 2, 2017, Wright made his MLS debut as a substitute in the 53rd minute in a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union.[11] Upon conclusion of the 2017 season, the Revolution would announce they would not exercise Wright's contract option for the 2018 season. However, he re-signed with the club on December 15, 2017.[12]
On 15 March 2019, Wright was loaned to USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC. The loan is open-ended and allows the Revolution to recall Wright at any time.[13] Wright would have his option for the 2020 season declined by New England, ending his time with the club after three seasons.[14]
Birmingham Legion
editFollowing his release from New England, Wright signed a permanent multi-year deal with Birmingham Legion.[15] He left Birmingham following the 2020 season.[16]
Atlético Ottawa
editOn April 27, 2021, Wright signed with Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa.[17] In his first season with the club he was the second-highest scorer on the team, scoring six goals, but Ottawa finished the season in last place.[18] Wright stayed with the club for the 2022 season, with higher expectations, and scored Ottawa's first goal of the year, a late penalty in the club's 1-0 home opener victory against Cavalry FC.[19]
York United
editIn January 2023, York United announced they had signed Wright to a two-year deal.[20] At the end of the 2024 season, he was named the 2024 CPL Players’ Player of the Year.[21]
Honours
editAtlético Ottawa
editCareer statistics
edit- As of match played October 17, 2024
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National Cup[a] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| New England Revolution | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 10 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 2 | ||
| Tulsa Roughnecks (loan) | 2017 | USL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Birmingham Legion (loan) | 2019 | USL Championship | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 6 |
| Birmingham Legion | 2020 | USL Championship | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 3 | |
| Total | 42 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 9 | ||
| Atlético Ottawa | 2021 | Canadian Premier League | 23 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 | 24 | 7 | |
| 2022 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 7 | ||
| Total | 48 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 53 | 14 | ||
| York United FC | 2023 | Canadian Premier League | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| 2024 | 23 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 9 | ||
| Total | 49 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 11 | ||
| Career total | 156 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 172 | 37 | ||
- ^ Includes US Open Cup and Canadian Championship
References
edit- ^ a b Brian McNair (23 February 2017). "Brian Wright of Ajax part of soccer Revolution in New England". DurhamRegion.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Ajax's Brian Wright awaits MLS SuperDraft, but won't wait long - Toronto Star". thestar.com. 12 January 2017.
- ^ "UVM Athletics". www.uvmathletics.com.
- ^ "Wright Named 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist".
- ^ "Brian Wright". USL PDL.
- ^ "New England picks UVM star Brian Wright in MLS draft".
- ^ "Revolution's Turner and Wright heading to USL on loan". 30 March 2017.
- ^ "Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs Rio Grande Valley FC". www.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
- ^ "Recap: Revs roll past Rochester Rhinos, 3-0, to advance to U.S. Open Cup Round of 16". 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Recap: Revs advance past D.C. to book a date with Red Bulls in USOC quarterfinals". 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Recap: Road woes continue as Revolution suffer 3-0 loss to Philadelphia Union". 2 July 2017.
- ^ Panizo, Franco (2017-12-15). "Teal Bunbury, Andrew Farrell, Brad Knighton. re-sign with NE Revolution". www.mlssoccer.com.
- ^ "Midfielder Zachary Herivaux, Forward Brian Wright Join Legion FC". BHMLegion.com. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Revolution Announce Year-End Roster Moves". New England Revolution. November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Legion FC Signs Forward Brian Wright". 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Legion FC Announces Year-End Roster Updates". December 2020.
- ^ "Atlético Ottawa signs striker Brian Wright". Atlético Ottawa. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ "RECAP: Late Brian Wright penalty sees Atlético Ottawa beat Cavalry 1-0 in season opener". Canadian Premier League. 2022-04-09. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ "YORK UNITED FC ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF CANADIAN FORWARD BRIAN WRIGHT". January 9, 2023.
- ^ "York United striker Brian Wright named 2024 CPL Players' Player of the Year". Canadian Premier League. November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Atlético Ottawa win 2022 CPL regular season title". CanPL.ca. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
External links
edit- Brian Wright at Major League Soccer
- Brian Wright at Soccerway