Brian Ching (born May 24, 1978) is an American former professional
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
player who played for twelve years in
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...
and represented the
U.S. national team for eight years.
Ching's professional career began when he was the 16th pick overall by the
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The Gal ...
in the
2001 MLS SuperDraft
The 2001 Major League Soccer MLS SuperDraft, SuperDraft was held on February 5, 2001, at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida.
Player selection
;Key
Round 1
Round 1 trades
Round 2
Round 2 trades
Round 3
Round 3 t ...
, making him the first
Gonzaga player and the first player from his native
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
selected in the MLS draft. After winning the
U.S. Open Cup with Los Angeles, Ching was released from the team and played with the
second division Seattle Sounders. He returned to first division soccer when the
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional association football, soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Origin ...
acquired him in the
2003 MLS supplemental draft. He won an
MLS Cup
MLS Cup is the annual championship game of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the culmination of the MLS Playoffs. The game is held in November or December and pits the winner of the Eastern Conference Final against the winner of the Western Confere ...
and
Supporters' Shield
The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system. The Supporters' Shield has been annually awarded at the MLS Supporters' Summit since 199 ...
with the Earthquakes, collected the
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award
MLS Comeback Player of the Year is a Major League Soccer award established in 2000. The award is voted on by media, MLS players and club management. It is presented to a player who showed impressive improvement after overcoming a serious injury ...
, the
MLS Golden Boot
The MLS Golden Boot (currently commercially termed "Audi Golden Boot") has been awarded since the 2005 Major League Soccer season, 2005 season to Major League Soccer's regular–season leading scorer. The award replaced the MLS Scoring Champion ...
, and was named to the
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an annual acknowledgment of the best eleven players in Major League Soccer. The selection is determined by a collection of media, players, and MLS club technical staffs.
Winners
Appearances by player
The following players ...
.
In 2006, Ching relocated to Houston when the Earthquakes became the
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
. He led the team to back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
and
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
and four MLS finals overall. A six-time
MLS All-Star
The Major League Soccer All-Star Game is an annual Association football, soccer game held by Major League Soccer featuring selected players from the league against an international club or selected players from another league. MLS initially ado ...
, Ching retired from professional soccer in 2013 as Houston Dynamo's all-time leading scorer.
Ching made his international debut May 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player to represent the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. He became the first Hawaiian to be named to the U.S. roster for the
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to FIFA World Cup hosts ...
, although he did not see any playing time. His only international silverware is the
2007 Gold Cup. Off the field, Ching is a pillar in the Houston community where he is partnered with
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and tax-exempt 501(C)(3) Christian nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing. The international ...
to build homes for underprivileged families in the Houston area through fundraising efforts under his program "The House that Ching Built".
Early life
Ching lost his father, Francis, to cancer on December 25, 1992, when he was 14 years old.
Stephanie Whalen, Ching's mother, raised him and his two brothers as a single parent.
Ching did not play soccer until he was seven years old, agreeing to only if his mother would coach.
Ching attended
Kamehameha Schools Kapālama High School in
Honolulu
Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...
and played in the soccer team in his junior and senior year. He was named as the
Interscholastic League of Honolulu's MVP during his senior year with 14 goals and six assists.
His junior year he was a second team All-ILH selection.
During his last year of high school Ching played with the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club, a club team, and traveled to tournaments on the mainland where he was noticed by the Gonzaga coaching staff.
He went on to play for the
Gonzaga Bulldogs men's soccer program under head coach Einar Thorarinsson, whom Ching credits "for believing in him and providing him the skills to grow and mature to be able to compete at the next level."
During his collegiate career, Ching played for the
Spokane Shadow of the
Premier Development Soccer League (where Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson was also the coach of the Shadow) and set a total of 21 goals during his stint in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Ching was named the PDSL rookie of the year in 1998.
Collegiate career
Ching joined the Bulldogs for the 1996 season, and as a freshman played in 18 matches with five starts.
He finished second on the team in scoring with 12 points on three goals and six assists.
As a sophomore, he appeared in 16 matches with 14 starts and was second on the team behind
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference (WCC) — known as the California Basketball Association from 1952 to 1956 and then as the West Coast Athletic Conference until 1989 — is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division I consisting o ...
Player of the Year and teammate Jeff McAllister with 10 goals and 23 points, ranking fifth in the WCC in both categories.
The 10 goals were second on the all-time Gonzaga single-season list and his 23 points were third on the all-time GU list.
He earned All-WCC second-team honors.
His junior season was cut short by a knee injury suffered in the season opener, then re-injured in the next match, and received a
medical redshirt year.
Ching missed the entire 1998 season after surgery to repair injured meniscus in right knee.
The injury bug continued to plague Ching in the summer of 1999 when he was kicked in the cheek and eye while playing for the
Spokane Shadow of the
USL, the injury requiring surgery.
Despite that injury, Ching was ready for the Bulldogs season opener and went on to start 17 of 18 matches.
He scored 13 goals and had 8 assists for 34 points.
The 13 goals were third on the all-time GU single-season list, the 34 points second.
He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–2 tie against 11th-ranked
Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies are the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Washington, located in Seattle. The school competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) N ...
, got the insurance goal in a 3–1 victory over 7th-ranked
Stanford
Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth governor of and th ...
and had a pair of goals against 4th-ranked
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego (USD) is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Catholic research university in San Diego, California, United States. Chartered in 1949 as the independent San Diego College for Women and San Diego University ...
in 4–2 home victory.
He earned All-WCC first-team honors.
His final season of 2000, Ching missed three matches with an injury but still scored eight goals and recorded 22 points.
He was named All-WCC first team and earned All-Far West Region first-team honors.
Ching finished his Gonzaga career with 34 goals, which still ties him third on the all-time GU list, and his 23 assists are a Gonzaga career record.
Ching's 91 career points are still tied for second on the Gonzaga charts.
With Ching, the Bulldogs were back-to-back co-champions of the West Coast Conference in 1997 and 1998. Ching majored in accounting.
Club career
Los Angeles Galaxy (2001) and Seattle Sounders (2001–2002)
Ching began his professional career when the
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The Gal ...
drafted him as the 16th overall pick of the
2001 MLS SuperDraft
The 2001 Major League Soccer MLS SuperDraft, SuperDraft was held on February 5, 2001, at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida.
Player selection
;Key
Round 1
Round 1 trades
Round 2
Round 2 trades
Round 3
Round 3 t ...
.
Los Angeles chose midfielder
Brian Mullan and forward
Isaias Bardales Jr. in the first round, 9th and 11th respectively, before picking Ching with their fourth pick in the second round.
Ching was the first ever
Hawaiian selected in the MLS draft.
Ching joined a roster that included
U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame players
Cobi Jones,
Alexi Lalas
Panayotis Alexander Lalas (; born June 1, 1970) is an American former soccer player who played mostly as a defender. Lalas is best known for his participation with the United States men's national soccer team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where ...
, and
Paul Caligiuri, Mexico's top World Cup scorer
Luis Hernández,
Mauricio Cienfuegos
José Mauricio Cienfuegos (born 12 February 1968) is a Salvadoran former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. and is the current assistant coach to the El Salvador national football team under the coaching staff of Hug ...
,
Ezra Hendrickson,
Danny Califf,
Kevin Hartman
Kevin Eugene Hartman (born May 25, 1974) is an American former soccer player who played 17 seasons in Major League Soccer, being on the field for a record 37,260 minutes. Nicknamed ''El Gato'' (Spanish for "the cat") because of his agility, refl ...
and was coached by
Sigi Schmid
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid (; March 20, 1953 – December 25, 2018) was a German soccer coach.
Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the U ...
. Ching wore the number 9 jersey with Los Angeles.
Ching made his MLS debut against San Jose on April 7, 2001, as a member of the starting lineup.
During the
2001 season, Ching appeared in eight games (starting one) and recorded one goal and one assist.
Ching started and played the full match in his
U.S. Open Cup debut, a 5–0 victory over the
Nashville Metros
The Nashville Metros were an American association football, soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team most recently played in the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer P ...
at
Titan Stadium on June 27, 2001, in the second round. Ching went the full 90 again in Los Angeles' 3–1 victory over the
Seattle Sounders Select where he provided the assist to Isaias Bardales' 81st-minute goal, the Galaxy's third of the match. Those would be Ching's only appearances in the 2001 tournament as the Los Angeles Galaxy went on to win their first U.S. Open Cup trophy in franchise history.
Ching made his
MLS Cup Playoffs debut in a 4–1 loss in Game 2 of the quarterfinals against the
New York-New Jersey MetroStars on September 27, 2001, after coming on as an 88th minute substitution for Cobi Jones. Ching appeared for a second time in the playoffs in the Galaxy's 1–0 overtime win in Game 2 of the MLS semifinal series against the
Chicago Fire on October 14, 2001, entering the game in the 91st minute for
Sasha Victorine. The Galaxy advanced to the
2001 MLS Cup final and tied 1–1 with the
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional association football, soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Origin ...
in regulation before
Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne Anthony De Rosario OOnt (born May 15, 1978) is a Canadian former professional soccer player, who played as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. A versatile attacker, he played for the Toronto Lynx, FSV Zwickau and Richmond Kic ...
's
golden goal
The golden goal is a sports rule used in association football, Australian rules football, bandy, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, and rugby league to decide the winner of a match (typically a knock-out match) in which scores are equal at the ...
in the 96th minute ended the match.
After signing
Carlos Ruiz, the Galaxy waived Ching on February 13, 2002, to comply with the MLS roster limits.
One month later, he signed with the
Seattle Sounders of the
A-League
A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
where scored four goals and provided one assist in seven games the previous year when he was on loan from Los Angeles. Ching finished the 2002 season second in the A-League in scoring with 16 goals and eight assists, and was selected as a member of the A-League All-League first team.
San Jose Earthquakes (2003–2005)
The first time the Earthquakes coaching staff got a good look at Brian Ching was facing him in the
July 17, 2002, third round match of the U.S. Open Cup when San Jose defeated the Seattle Sounders 4–3 after
sudden death extra time.
Kinnear, assistant coach at the time, and head coach Frank Yallop were impressed with how Ching matched up with Earthquakes defender
Eddie Robinson, considered one of the best defenders in MLS at the time.
Ching began training with the Earthquakes the following January.
On February 11, 2003, San Jose traded
Devin Barclay to
D.C. United in exchange for the first overall pick in the
2003 MLS supplemental draft and on February 28, 2013, they used that pick to draft Ching.
Ching made his official Earthquakes debut in
Guatemala City
Guatemala City (, also known colloquially by the nickname Guate), is the Capital city, national capital and largest city of the Guatemala, Republic of Guatemala. It is also the Municipalities of Guatemala, municipal capital of the Guatemala Depa ...
on March 16, 2003, playing a full match in a 4–2
Champions' Cup loss to
C.S.D. Municipal.
He played his first Earthquakes home game in the second leg against Municipal where he scored the first goal in the 35th minute.
Ching made his first Earthquakes start in the MLS regular season on April 12, 2003, at
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Denver metropolitan area. The Rapids compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Founded in ...
and scored 53 seconds into the game. He would miss five games due to a right hamstring strain before returning to the starting lineup to score two goals for his first multi-goal game in MLS on July 2, 2003, at the
MetroStars. He played 90 minutes in his first encounter against his old club Seattle Sounders on August 5 but the 1–0 loss eliminated San Jose from the
2003 Open Cup.
Ching left the August 16, 2003, game at
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the Greater Boston area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. It is on ...
with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on August 19 and missed the rest of the
2003 season as the San Jose Earthquakes went on to win the
2003 MLS Cup. Ching scored a then-career-high six goals and two assists during 2003. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week for April 12 and May 3, 2003.
Ching returned from injury in the
2004 Champions' Cup as a sub in both legs against eventual champion
L.D. Alajuelense. Ching made his first start of the season on May 1 vs. D.C. United. Ching finished with a career-high 12 goals in MLS, sharing the
MLS Golden Boot
The MLS Golden Boot (currently commercially termed "Audi Golden Boot") has been awarded since the 2005 Major League Soccer season, 2005 season to Major League Soccer's regular–season leading scorer. The award replaced the MLS Scoring Champion ...
with
Eddie Johnson. He was named to the
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an annual acknowledgment of the best eleven players in Major League Soccer. The selection is determined by a collection of media, players, and MLS club technical staffs.
Winners
Appearances by player
The following players ...
and recognized as the
MLS Comeback Player of the Year. He also finished as the Earthquakes scoring champion and Most Valuable Player for the
2004 season.
In 2005, Ching scored seven goals in 16 games and tallied a career-high five assists in MLS play. He registered a goal or an assist in five straight games before missing 15 matches with a hamstring injury. He ended the regular season having recorded a goal or assist in six straight games.
The San Jose Earthquakes finished the
2005 season with the best regular season record, clinching the
Supporters' Shield
The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system. The Supporters' Shield has been annually awarded at the MLS Supporters' Summit since 199 ...
.
After the most successful regular season in team history with an 18–4–10 record and 64 points, the Earthquakes were placed on hiatus on December 15, 2005, with the franchise moving to Houston.
Houston Dynamo (2006–2013)
Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Ching moved to Houston for the
2006 season. He scored four goals in Houston's first-ever game on April 2, 2006, against the
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Denver metropolitan area. The Rapids compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Founded in ...
, becoming the seventh player in MLS history to score four goals in a single game. Ching found out he had been selected to U.S. world cup team on May 2 and celebrated with a game-deciding goal the following MLS fixture, May 6, against rival club
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The franchise be ...
. Ching missed six MLS games while he was with the U.S. national team at the
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to FIFA World Cup hosts ...
. His bicycle kick on September 30 vs.
D.C. United, which would later be awarded the
MLS Goal of the Year Award
The MLS Goal of the Year Award (currently commercially termed "AT&T MLS Goal of the Year") is handed out annually since its inception in 1996 to a player in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association footbal ...
, was the deciding goal in a 1–0 win that secured Houston's first ever MLS playoff spot.
In the
2006 MLS Cup Playoffs, Ching scored the series-winning goal with a header in stoppage time of the 2–0 win vs.
Chivas USA
Chivas USA (pronounced ''CHEE-vahs'') was an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competed in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conf ...
in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals. He was named MVP of the
MLS Cup 2006
MLS Cup 2006 was the 11th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS), and took place on November 12, 2006. It was contested between the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo to decide the champion of th ...
after scoring the tying goal in the 114th minute, less than one minute after
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the Greater Boston area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. It is on ...
had taken a 1–0 lead, and scoring the winning penalty kick in the penalty kick shootout.
In 2007, Ching ended the season tied for the team lead with seven goals despite missing 10 games entirely due to injuries and national-team call-ups. He contributed in the
2007 MLS Cup Playoffs with two playoff goals but sat out the
2007 MLS Cup final after straining his calf in the Western Conference final. He led Houston's comeback from a 2–0 aggregate deficit in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinal vs.
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The franchise be ...
on November 2, setting up
Stuart Holden's goal in the 67th minute and then scoring himself from a
Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne Anthony De Rosario OOnt (born May 15, 1978) is a Canadian former professional soccer player, who played as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. A versatile attacker, he played for the Toronto Lynx, FSV Zwickau and Richmond Kic ...
through ball in the 72nd minute to tie the series. In extra time, of that game, he scored from close range in the 97th minute to give Houston the lead for good.
Ching was a staple in the Dynamo lineup during international competition. In the
2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup he set up the series-winning goal against
Puntarenas F.C. when his header hit the post and
Kelly Gray scored on the rebound. Ching scored the opening goal in the semifinal first leg vs.
C.F. Pachuca on March 15, heading in a
Craig Waibel
Craig Waibel (born August 21, 1975, in Portland, Oregon) is a former American soccer player who spent eleven seasons in Major League Soccer. He was hired as the sporting director of Seattle Sounders FC in April 2021 and became their general manage ...
cross. In the semifinal second leg at
Estadio Hidalgo
The Estadio Hidalgo is a association football, football stadium located in Pachuca de Soto, Pachuca, Hidalgo (state), Hidalgo, Mexico. It is the home stadium of C.F. Pachuca, Pachuca in Liga MX and C.F. Pachuca (women), Pachuca Femenil in Liga M ...
on April 5, he set up the first Houston goal by keeping the ball in on the sideline, leading to
Brian Mullan's goal and later scored in the 79th minute to give Houston a 4–3 aggregate lead before Pachuca rallied to win in extra time. Ching also participated in the
2007 Superliga, playing in all three group stage matches. He set up goal just 11 seconds into match vs.
Monarcas Morelia on July 29, passing to
Joseph Ngwenya for the fastest goal in Dynamo history. Ching scored the only goal in 1–0 win vs.
D.C. United on August 1 and hit the post with the fourth penalty kick in the Dynamo's semifinal shootout loss vs. Pachuca on August 14.

During the
2008 season, Ching established team and personal records with 13 goals in the regular season and five assists in 25 games. Ching ranked fifth in the league in goals. In the team's second visit to San Jose since relocating to Houston, Ching scored a game-tying goal in second half and celebrated by pointing to the Dynamo crest in front of San Jose fans. In the final
CONCACAF Champions' Cup
The CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as CONCACAF Champions League (2008–2023), is an international association football competition organized by CONCACAF as its top continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America, a ...
he set up two of Houston's three goals in the quarterfinal second leg vs.
CSD Municipal
Club Social y Deportivo Municipal, also known as Municipal or ''Los Rojos'' (the Reds), are a Guatemalan professional football club based in Guatemala City.
They compete in the Liga Nacional, the top tier of Guatemalan football, and play their h ...
. In the
2008 Superliga he appeared in three games, starting the semifinal vs. Pachuca and the championship game at
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the Greater Boston area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. It is on ...
. In the
inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, Ching appeared as a substitute at
San Francisco F.C. and started vs.
C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo, scoring the game's only goal to help Dynamo reach the quarterfinals.
Ching's performance during the
2009 season earned him Dynamo's Golden Boot for the third straight year with eight goals and three assists. He became seventh Dynamo player to make 100th starts for the club in all competitions and assisted on
Cam Weaver's game-tying goal in the 80th minute of a 2–1 loss at
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team began play in 1996 as one of the 10 cha ...
on September 13. In the
2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Ching played all 90 minutes of both legs of the quarterfinal series vs.
C.F. Atlante. He appeared in five games of the
2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, making three starts. In the
2009 MLS Cup Playoffs, he netted the game-winning goal in 95th minute of a 1–0 overtime win vs. Seattle, swiveling to volley a shot into the left side netting for his 50th Dynamo goal in all competitions.
Ching ran into disciplinary trouble during the 2009 campaign. In July 2009, Ching was fined $500 by MLS for his comments regarding the officiating of the Dynamo's 2–1 loss to
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional association football, soccer club based in Seattle. The Sounders compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The club was established on ...
(a game Ching did not play in due to participation in the
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth soccer championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). It was played from July 3 to 26, 2009 in the United Stat ...
). On his
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
page, Ching referred to the referee as "a joke" and "a cheat" for calling a
Fredy Montero shot cleared off the line a goal. Ching scored the opening goal from a
Brad Davis free kick in 3–2 win vs.
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake (RSL) is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Fou ...
on August 19 but was ejected in the 82nd minute for hard foul, the first
red card
A red card is a type of penalty card that is shown in many sports after a rules infraction.
Red card may also refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media
* ''Red Card'' (album), 1976 release by Streetwalkers
* Red card, suit (cards) of hearts or di ...
in the 162 games of his MLS career. He was ejected again in next MLS game, a 0–0 tie vs.
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The Gal ...
on October 18, for raising his hand to the face of an opponent.
In 2010, Ching shrugged off injuries and national team disappointment to score seven goals and add three assists in 20 games, making 16 starts, to win the team's Golden Boot for the fourth straight year. His August 21 bicycle kick against
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
was named ESPNSoccernet.com's MLS Goal of the Year and Dynamo Goal of the Year. He took over as the Dynamo team captain after the retirement of
Wade Barrett
Stuart Alexander Bennett (born 10 August 1980) is an English acting, actor and former professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Wade Barrett as a color commentator on the ''WWE Sma ...
. He was named as
Don Garber
Donald P. Garber (born October 9, 1957) is an American sports executive who has been the commissioner of Major League Soccer (MLS) since 1999. Garber is also the CEO of Soccer United Marketing and a member of the United States Soccer Federatio ...
's Commissioner's Pick for the
2010 MLS All-Star Game in Houston, a game where he came on as second-half substitute and scored with a header to cut the deficit to 2-1 vs.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional football club based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. They compete in the Premier League, t ...
The Dynamo missed the playoffs in 2010.
Ching was limited to 1,242 minutes in 20 appearances due to injury in 2011, the lowest minute total of his Houston career, but still tied for team lead with five goals. He started all four matches the Dynamo took part in the
2011 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring a goal and adding an assist, to help lead the Dynamo back to the
MLS Cup
MLS Cup is the annual championship game of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the culmination of the MLS Playoffs. The game is held in November or December and pits the winner of the Eastern Conference Final against the winner of the Western Confere ...
final. He started and set up the game-winning goal with left-footed through ball in 2–1 first-leg win at
Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union are an American professional soccer club based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Founded on February 28, 2008, the Union began ...
and scored the game-winning goal with header from a
Brad Davis free kick in a 1–0 win the second-leg, scoring the final MLS goal at
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium (often referred to as simply Robertson Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It was the home of the Houston Cougars football and wom ...
. Ching started the Eastern Conference championship match at
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The ad ...
and closed the night by hoisting the trophy as team captain after the 2–0 win. He made his second career start in an MLS Cup final at Los Angeles, who denied the Dynamo the title with a narrow 1–0 victory.
Montreal Impact, return to Houston and retirement (2011–2013)
Ching was left exposed by Houston in the
2011 MLS expansion draft and was selected by expansion side
Montreal Impact less than a week after playing in the
MLS Cup final.
Ching was traded back to Houston on February 16, 2012, for a first-round draft pick in the
2013 MLS SuperDraft, after training with Montreal for about a month, coincidentally playing a preseason game against the
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
.
Ching started opening day on for the Dynamo for the sixth time in seven years and nearly scored at
Chivas USA
Chivas USA (pronounced ''CHEE-vahs'') was an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competed in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conf ...
when his first-touch volley off a long cross from Brad Davis hit inside of post and caromed away for near goal. Ching made his 200th MLS appearance (136th with Dynamo) in 3–1 loss to
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club based in Vancouver. The Whitecaps compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The MLS ite ...
on June 10. Ching made his 150th Dynamo start in all competitions against D.C. United on April 28, the 4th Dynamo to reach this milestone. Ching drew and converted a penalty in the 83rd minute on June 30 vs. Philadelphia, his second goal of the year and first at
BBVA Compass Stadium
Shell Energy Stadium is an American multi-purpose stadium located in Houston, Texas, that is home to Houston Dynamo FC, a Major League Soccer club and the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League and was the first soccer specific ...
. The goal against Philadelphia was his 20th career game-winning goal. He would go on to set a career-high with 30 games in 2012 regular season, tying his career-high of five assists.
Ching signed a deal in early 2013 to return to the Dynamo as a player-coach and later announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2013 season. Ching officially announced his intention to retire at the end of the
2013 Major League Soccer season
The 2013 Major League Soccer season was the 18th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 101st season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 35th with a national first-division league.
The regular season began on Marc ...
on September 24, 2013, although he played his final professional minutes in a 4–1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, September 8, 2013. He made two more appearances on the match day squad, his last being in a
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as CONCACAF Champions League (2008–2023), is an international association football competition organized by CONCACAF as its top continental tournament for clubs from North America, Central America, ...
game on September 25, 2013, but was an unused substitution.
Ching did not feature in the Dynamo's
2013 MLS Cup Playoffs run as he was not called up to the matchday squad for any of the playoff games. The Dynamo were eliminated by
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The ad ...
in the
Eastern Conference championship game on November 23, 2013, thus bringing an official end to Ching's 12-year MLS career.
International career

Although having a Chinese background, and being contacted by the
Chinese Football Association
The Chinese Football Association (), abbreviated as CFA (), is the governing body for association football, beach soccer and futsal in the People's Republic of China (Mainland China). The CFA organizes the men's and women's national teams an ...
to play for the
Chinese team, Ching still earned his first
cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. The origin of the word "cap" comes from the Old French word "chapeau" which means "head co ...
with the
U.S. national team on May 26, 2003, as a
substitute in a
friendly match
An exhibition game (also known as a friendly, scrimmage, demonstration, training match, pre-season game, warmup match, or preparation match, depending at least in part on the sport) is a sport, sporting event whose prize money and impact on th ...
against
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
at
Spartan Stadium (home stadium of Ching's club at the time,
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional association football, soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Origin ...
).
He is the first Hawaiian and the second Chinese-American (after
Mark Chung
Mark Chung (born June 18, 1970) is a former professional Association football, soccer player who played ten seasons in Major League Soccer. Born in Canada, he earned twenty-four cap (sports), caps, scoring two goals, with the United States men's ...
) to play for the United States. Ching scored his first international goal, an equalizer in the 88th minute, in a
World Cup qualifier 1–1 tie against
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
in Kingston on August 18, 2004.
On May 2, 2006, Ching was named to the U.S. men's squad for the
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won the right to FIFA World Cup hosts ...
in Germany but did not make an appearance in the tournament.
He scored a goal in a 2–0 US
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup () is an association football competition organized by CONCACAF as its top continental tournament for men's senior national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament is held every two ...
victory over
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
on June 9, 2007. He drew a penalty in the box of the second half of the Gold Cup Final against Mexico.
Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982) is an American former professional association football, soccer player and coach who was most recently the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Often co ...
converted the penalty, tying the game at one. The USA won 2–1 after
Benny Feilhaber's game winner.
Ching was called in to the USA side to face
Barbados
Barbados, officially the Republic of Barbados, is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies and the easternmost island of the Caribbean region. It lies on the boundary of the South American ...
in the first round of
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, abbreviated as CONCACAF ( ; typeset for branding purposes since 2018 as Concacaf), is one of FIFA's six continental governing bodies for association football. Its 4 ...
World cup Qualifying for the
2010 World Cup. He then scored two goals in the US team's largest victory ever, 8–0.
On May 11, 2010, Ching was named to the preliminary U.S. men's squad for the
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national Association football, football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
but did not make the final 23-man roster.
Career statistics
Club
Note that:
*Cells marked with an em dash (—) indicate the player did not participate in that competition because the club did not qualify, was eliminated, or the player was no longer with the club before the start of the competition.
*In competitions where the player has zero appearances, the club qualified and played in that competition and the player was registered and eligible to play. Player did not appear due to injury or was not selected by the coach.
Notes
International
International goals
:''Scores and results list United States' goal tally first''
Management career
The
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
re-signed Ching in March 2013 to serve as a player/coach in this his last year playing. Under his last contract with the MLS club, Ching served the title of assistant coach.
On December 23, 2013, the
Houston Dash named Ching as the inaugural managing director the
NWSL
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
franchise.
Ching manages the day-to-day duties on both the business and technical sides under the supervision of Dash and Dynamo team president Chris Canetti.
The role shares similar responsibilities as the general manager tag, with the addition of branding Ching as "the face of the team" so that he can gin up sales and awareness by making himself publicly available as the face of the organization.
While his focus will be primarily with the Dash, Ching will also advise Canetti and head coach
Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear (born July 26, 1967) is an American soccer coach and former player. On January 18, 2022, he was named an assistant coach by FC Cincinnati, his first coaching role since serving as the interim head coach of the LA Galaxy.
As a p ...
as needed on the technical side with the Dynamo.
Managerial statistics
.
Note: Only regular season matches are shown for the MLS teams
Testimonial match
On September 24, 2013, the
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
and Dynamo Charities announced a Brian Ching Testimonial Match to celebrate the career of the retiring forward, with proceeds from the match to benefit Ching's charitable initiative, The House That Ching Built. The match, which took place on December 13, 2013, featured historical Dynamo players as well as Ching's old teammates from other MLS clubs and the U.S. national team. Ching's Orange Team won 6–4 and Ching scored five goals to close the curtain on his career.
Honors
LA Galaxy
*
U.S. Open Cup:
2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
*
MLS Western Conference Championship:
2001
The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
Seattle Sounders
*
A-League
A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
Commissioner's Cup:
2002
The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
San Jose Earthquakes
*
MLS Cup
MLS Cup is the annual championship game of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the culmination of the MLS Playoffs. The game is held in November or December and pits the winner of the Eastern Conference Final against the winner of the Western Confere ...
:
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
*
MLS Supporters Shield:
2005
2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
* MLS Western Conference Championship:
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
Houston Dynamo
* MLS Cup:
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
,
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
* MLS Western Conference Championship:
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
,
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
*
MLS Eastern Conference Championship:
2011
The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
,
2012
2012 was designated as:
*International Year of Cooperatives
*International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
Events January
*January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins.
* January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...
United States
*
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup () is an association football competition organized by CONCACAF as its top continental tournament for men's senior national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament is held every two ...
:
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
; runner-up:
2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
Individual
*
MLS All-Star
The Major League Soccer All-Star Game is an annual Association football, soccer game held by Major League Soccer featuring selected players from the league against an international club or selected players from another league. MLS initially ado ...
(6):
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
,
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
,
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
,
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
,
2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
,
2010
The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
*
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an annual acknowledgment of the best eleven players in Major League Soccer. The selection is determined by a collection of media, players, and MLS club technical staffs.
Winners
Appearances by player
The following players ...
(1): 2004
*
MLS Comeback Player of the Year (1): 2004
*
MLS Golden Boot
The MLS Golden Boot (currently commercially termed "Audi Golden Boot") has been awarded since the 2005 Major League Soccer season, 2005 season to Major League Soccer's regular–season leading scorer. The award replaced the MLS Scoring Champion ...
(1): 2004
*
MLS Goal of the Year (1): 2006
*
A-League
A-League Men, also known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional soccer league in Australia and New Zealand and the highest level of the Australian soccer league system. Established in 2004 as the A-League by the ...
All-League First Team (1):
2002
The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
*
USL PDL Rookie of the Year (1):
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
*
MLS Cup MVP (1):
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
*
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional association football, soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Origin ...
MVP (1):
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
*
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
MVP (1):
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
*
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
Golden Boot (3):
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
,
2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
,
2010
The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
*
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
Humanitarian of the Year (2):
2010
The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
,
2013
2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years).
2013 was designated as:
*International Year of Water Cooperation
*International Year of Quinoa
Events
January
* January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
*
West Coast Conference Hall Of Honor: 2011
Off the field
Social Causes
Ching's Champions
Each fall since 2012, Ching and
Kroger
The Kroger Company, or simply Kroger, is an American retail company that operates (either directly or through its subsidiaries) supermarkets and multi-department stores throughout the United States.
Founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cinc ...
honored members of the Houston community who were chosen as "Ching's Champions."
The Ching's Champions initiative was started by Ching and Kroger as a way to pay tribute to those members of the Houston community who perform selfless acts for others. Each of the winners gets to take part in a shopping spree with Ching at a Houston-area Kroger.
Eight champions were selected in 2012 from the group of nominees and each winner received a Ching's Champions medal and a four-minute shopping spree at Kroger. The 2012 winners collected over $7,700 worth of groceries.
In 2013, the five "champions" were able to secure over $9,000 of groceries and merchandise during the 250-second shopping spree.
The House that Ching Built
In 2009, Ching made a commitment to give back to his adopted community by raising money to build an affordable home through Houston
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and tax-exempt 501(C)(3) Christian nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing. The international ...
.
With the support of Dynamo Charities and MLS W.O.R.K.S., Ching has raised $75,000 to sponsor the build through personal appearances, events, individual giving and corporate partnerships.
The funds raised exceeded Ching's initial goal and allowed Houston Habitat to upgrade the home with green features, including solar panels and a solar hot water heater through a grant from
Green Mountain Energy. The Milby Park build was completed in 2010 and welcomed the Urbano family with a home dedication in May 2011.
Along with the announcement of the testimonial match to be played in honor of his retirement at the end of the 2013 season, Ching committed to fundraise $85,000 to build a "green" house for another local Houston family in need.
Almost half of the donations for the 2013 project were provided by Dynamo owners
Anschutz Entertainment Group
Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc. (AEG), also known as AEG Worldwide, is an American global sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of the Anschutz Corporation. It is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports ...
, Brenner Sports & Entertainment and
Golden Boy Sports & Entertainment.
Endorsements
On March 8, 2012,
BBVA Compass
BBVA USA was a bank headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from 2007 until 2021, when it was acquired by PNC Financial Services. It operated mainly in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, ...
announced Ching as their social-media ambassador to promote causes important to Ching, his team and the bank.
Among other things like charity work and appearances, Ching uses Facebook and Twitter to encourage his followers to contribute to "Building a Better Houston", BBVA Compass' community-service initiative with the Dynamo.
PLEX is the performance center of Ching and other athletes like fellow Dynamo alumni
Stuart Holden,
NFL quarterback and Katy product
Andy Dalton, and NFL defensive end
Julius Peppers.
PUMA was the official match boots provider for Ching. As one of PUMA's sponsored Major League Soccer players, Ching kicked off
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2011 in limited-edition Project Pink v1.11 boots, showing support for his female counterparts during the Dynamo's home game on October 1 versus the
Chicago Fire.
Television
Ching hosted his own sports segment on
KHOU
KHOU (channel 11) is a television station in Houston, Texas, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Tegna Inc. alongside Conroe-licensed Quest station KTBU (channel 55). The two stations share studios on Westheimer Road near ...
, "''Kickin' It with Brian Ching''", on which he offered up advice on everything soccer from becoming a professional soccer player to befriending the
StairMaster."
See also
*
Franchise player
In professional sports, a franchise player is an athlete who is both the best player on their team and one that the team can build their " franchise" around for the foreseeable future.
Overview
In the United States, outstanding players were ref ...
*
All-time Houston Dynamo roster
References
External links
*
*
Brian Ching profileat ussoccer.com
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ching, Brian
1978 births
Living people
American people of Native Hawaiian descent
Hawaii people of Chinese descent
People from Oahu
Sportspeople from Honolulu County, Hawaii
American sportspeople of Chinese descent
Native Hawaiian sportspeople
Soccer players from Hawaii
American men's soccer players
Men's association football forwards
Kamehameha Schools alumni
American Youth Soccer Organization players
Gonzaga Bulldogs men's soccer players
Spokane Shadow players
LA Galaxy draft picks
LA Galaxy players
Seattle Sounders (1994–2008) players
San Jose Earthquakes players
Houston Dynamo FC players
A-League (1995–2004) players
USL League Two players
Major League Soccer players
Major League Soccer All-Stars
United States men's international soccer players
2006 FIFA World Cup players
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players
Houston Dynamo FC non-playing staff