C.J. Klaas (born August 23, 1983, in

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...

) is an American

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 U.S. at the

2003 FIFA World Youth Championship The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 14th FIFA World Youth Championship. It took place in United Arab Emirates between 27 November and 19 December 2003. Brazil claimed their fourth title, becoming the first country to simultaneously ho ...

and spent two seasons with the Seattle Sounders in the

USL First Division The USL First Division (USL-1) was a professional men's soccer league in the second tier of the United States league system. It was organized by the United Soccer League as its premier league for men from 1996 to 2010, above the USL Second ...

Youth

Klaas was born and raised in Illinois, playing for the Chicago Magic which won the 1999 U-17 National Championship. He then attended the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

where he played on the men's soccer team from 2001 to 2004. He was a first team All American in 2003 and 2004. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in 2005.

National team

Klaas was selected to the

United States U-20 men's national soccer team The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years. The United States' be ...

which competed at the

. The U.S. lost to Argentina in the quarterfinals. He played in four matches, including the loss to Argentina.

Professional

Klaas played one season with the

Chicago Fire Premier Chicago Fire U-23 was an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team last played in the PDL, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. They last played in 2016, choosing to leave the PDL. ...

of the fourth division

Premier Development League USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will featu ...

in 2001. 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 ...

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 ...

selected Klaas in the third round (thirty-second overall) in the

2005 MLS SuperDraft The 2005 MLS SuperDraft, held in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 14, 2005, was the sixth incarnation of the annual MLS SuperDraft. Expansion club Real Salt Lake had the first pick as the result of a coin toss (fellow newcomers C.D. Chivas USA g ...

. The Chicago Storm of Major Indoor Soccer League also selected Klaas with the second pick of the 2005 MISL College Draft. Klaas chose not to sign with either the Earthquakes or Storm in order to finish his degree. After completing it, he joined the Seattle Sounders of the

. Klaas quickly cemented himself as a critical cog in the Sounders defensive scheme over the next two seasons. However, he left the Sounders after the 2006 season.

Post-soccer career

Klaas joined Klaas Financial in 2007, which was founded by his father, Craig Klaas. He is currently the president and CFO.

References

External links

GoHuskies.com: Player profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Klaas, C. J. Living people American men's soccer players Washington Huskies men's soccer players USL First Division players USL League Two players Chicago Fire U-23 players Seattle Sounders (1994–2008) players 1983 births United States men's under-20 international soccer players San Jose Earthquakes draft picks All-American college men's soccer players Men's association football defenders Men's association football midfielders