Mike Burns (soccer)

Mike Burns
Personal information
Full name Michael Thomas Burns
Date of birth (1970-09-14) September 14, 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1988–1991 Hartwick College
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995 → Viborg (loan) 15 (0)
1996–2000 New England Revolution[1] 108 (3)
2000 San Jose Earthquakes 18 (0)
2001–2002 Kansas City Wizards 43 (0)
Total 184 (3)
International career
1992–1998 United States 75 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Runner-up CONCACAF Gold Cup 1998
Third place CONCACAF Gold Cup 1996
Men's Soccer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Thomas Burns (born September 14, 1970) is an American former soccer player. During his playing career, he played for Danish club Viborg FF, three MLS teams, as well as the United States national team.

Burns is currently the sporting director for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

Career

Youth

Burns was born and raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts. At age six, he began playing soccer in local recreation leagues, but never joined a club team. When he reached high school, he played for Marlborough High School boys' team and was named the 1987 Massachusetts High School Player of the Year.[2]

After completing high school, he attended Hartwick College from 1988 to 1991.[3] When he graduated from Hartwick, there were few opportunities for playing soccer professionally in the United States, but Burns continued to play with the U.S. Olympic team as it prepared for the 1992 Summer Olympics. He previously played in the 1987 U16 FIFA World Cup and in the 1989 U-20 FIFA World Cup. The 1989 squad took fourth place in the tournament.

Professional

In 1995, Major League Soccer began an expansion plan to add new teams to the league. On October 17, 1995, during the 1996 MLS Inaugural Allocations, MLS assigned Burns and Alexi Lalas to the New England Revolution.[4] In August 1995, MLS loaned out Burns to Danish club Viborg FF.[citation needed] The Revolution retained his rights and Burns returned to play for the Revolution in 1996. Burns made 17 total appearances for the Revolution in their inaugural campaign, making his debut in the Revolution's first-ever match on April 13, a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Mutiny.[5] Burns received the first yellow card in Revolution history in the 16th minute of the game.[6] He scored his first goal for the club on June 6, giving the Revolution a 78th minute lead against the LA Galaxy in front of 20,236 fans at Foxboro Stadium.[6] In the 1997 New England Revolution season, Burns led the Revolution in games played, starting all 32 league matches.[6][4] He also scored the Revolution's first-ever playoff goal, on October 5 in the 89th minute of a 4-1 loss to D.C. United in the 1997 MLS Cup Playoffs.[6] In 1998 New England Revolution season, Burns earned a place in the MLS All-Star game.[6] He was also named 1998 New England Revolution Defender of the Year.[6] In May 1998, Burns and teammate Joe-Max Moore were named to the US 1998 FIFA World Cup squad. Both would return to the Revolution on June 27.[4]

In the 1999 off-season, he made several attempts to move back to a European club, trying out with clubs such as Utrecht, Bolton and Hearts.[citation needed] None of the clubs expressed interest in him and Burns returned to the Revolution. On May 30, 2000, the Revolution traded Burns, Dan Calichman, and a first round draft pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Mauricio Wright.[4]

Burns finished the 2000 season with the Earthquakes. However, he did not remain with the team and he was traded in March 2001 to the Kansas City Wizards in return for conditional picks in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft.[7]

Burns played two seasons with the Wizards, 2001 and 2002. In 2002, he was chosen to play in the 2002 MLS All-Star Game.[8][9] At the end of the 2002 season, Burns announced his retirement from professional soccer.[citation needed]

Post-Professional

On April 10, 2005, Burns was named as the New England Revolution's Director of Soccer.[10] He held this position until 2008, when he was promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel. On November 9, 2011, he was promoted to the General Manager position.[11]

Burns was dismissed by New England on May 13, 2019.[12]

On June 28, 2024, Burns was named Sporting Director for Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer.[13]

National team

Burns competed in a major tournament on every level: in the U-17 World Championship in 1987, the World Youth Championship in 1989, the Pan American Games in 1991, the Olympic Games in 1992, and the FIFA World Cup, where he was a non-playing squad member in 1994 and then played in 1998.

Honors

Individual

References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Mike Burns Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  3. ^ Pave, Marvin (1999-08-29), Burns has thrown himself into soccer As a child and pro, the game's his life, Boston Globe
  4. ^ a b c d "2018 New England Revolution Media Guide – Coach and Player Registry" (PDF). New England Revolution. pp. 32–34. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Dell'Apa, Frank (April 13, 2018). "April 13, 1996 – New England Revolution inaugural game". Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "2024 Media Guide". p. 327. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "2024 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Career Stats". Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Fact and Record Book". Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "New England Revolution". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  11. ^ "Revs reorganize executive management | New England Revolution". www.revolutionsoccer.net. Archived from the original on 2011-11-13.
  12. ^ "Revolution part ways with General Manager Michael Burns | New England Revolution".
  13. ^ "Mike Burns joins Sporting KC technical staff as Sporting Director". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  14. ^ "1998 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com. August 2, 1998. Retrieved July 27, 2023.