Ali Krieger

Ali Krieger

Personal information
Full name Alexandra Blaire Krieger
Date of birth (1984-07-28) July 28, 1984
Place of birth Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Defender
Club information
Current team
 Washington Spirit
Number 11
College career
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2006 Penn State Nittany Lions 87 (11)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2005 Northern Virginia Majestics 1 (0)
2006–2007 Washington Freedom 7 (0)
2007–2011 1. FFC Frankfurt 52 (1)
2009 → Washington Freedom (loan) 10 (0)
2011–2012 1. FFC Frankfurt 11 (1)
2013– Washington Spirit 40 (2)
2013 → Tyresö FF (loan) 7 (0)
National team‡
2003–2004 United States U-19 4 (0)
United States U-21/U-23
2008– United States 87 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 26, 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 10, 2016

Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger (born July 28, 1984) is an American soccer player, FIFA Women's World Cup champion and silver medalist. Primarily a defender, she is a member of the United States women's national soccer team and currently captains the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League. Krieger was part of the defense that held opponents scoreless for a record 540 minutes and helped lead the United States to become 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup champions.[1] She started in all seven matches for the United States in the 2015 tournament, and she played every minute of all six United States matches at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[2] She recovered from a serious knee injury incurred in an Olympic-qualifying match for the 2012 Summer Olympics, but not in time to be selected for the competition itself in London.

Krieger played for Tyresö FF of Sweden's Damallsvenskan in 2013, on a short term contract. She previously spent five years in Germany with 1. FFC Frankfurt from 2007 to 2012, where she became fluent in German and won the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Early life

Krieger was born in Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Dumfries, Virginia. Coached by her father for 12 years, she played youth soccer on Prince William Soccer Inc. (PWSI) teams. Her team included eight core players who grew up and played together all 12 years. In high school, Krieger spent one year at Hylton High School before transferring to newly opened Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia. At Forest Park, she was a three-year team captain, led her team to their first undefeated regular season and was a three-time, first-team all district player. She was twice named an All-Virginia AAA selection and was an All-Met Honorable mention during her sophomore year. During her junior and senior years, she was a first team All-Met selection and as a senior was named The Washington Post's Player of the Year. Krieger was also honored as Gatorade's state player of the year in her final year at Forest Park.[3] Her brother is hair stylist and internet personality, Kyle Krieger.

Penn State University

Krieger attended Penn State University from 2003 to 2006 where she played for the Nittany Lions women's soccer team. With the team, she was a two-time All-American, a first team NSCAA All-American, co-defensive player of the year, team captain, Big-Ten Freshman of the year and a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy.[4] While at Penn State, her team won four consecutive Big Ten championships.

During her junior year, Krieger's leg was broken two days before the NCAA College Cup preventing her from playing during the top-level tournament.[5] A few months later in January 2005, Krieger began experiencing shortness of breath and checked into the hospital as a precaution. Blood clots in her lungs were affecting her blood flow and had triggered six mini heart attacks.[6] She subsequently made a full recovery and returned to play with the Nittany Lions the same year. During her senior season, she switched from the midfield position to defense and earned the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year award.[5]

Playing career

Professional

1. FFC Frankfurt, 2007–11

Ali Krieger with 1. FFC Frankfurt, 2011

In the summer of 2007, Krieger moved with fellow American Gina Lewandowski to 1. FFC Frankfurt, where she remained in the starting eleven since the beginning of the 2007 season, barring injury.[7] In a game against FCR 2001 Duisburg on February 24, 2008, Krieger scored her first goal for FFC Frankfurt in the 73rd minute. While injured for most of the 2008–2009 season, she regained match fitness with Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. Following the conclusion of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Krieger returned to Germany in August 2009 and was slotted straight into the starting 11 for FFC Frankfurt. Having spent four years with FFC Frankfurt, Krieger became fluent in German and considered Germany her second home.[8]

In February 2010, Krieger's contract with FFC Frankfurt was extended early for an additional year through June 2011, with a player's option year through 2012. Her contract allowed her to compete on the U.S. Women's National Team, and U.S. Women's World Cup team. In March 2011, Krieger announced she would not return to 1. FFC Frankfurt and would return to the United States to concentrate on earning a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team in preparation for the World Cup. She left open the possibility of playing again in Germany after the World Cup and the following year's Olympics.[9] In her final game on March 26, 2011 for FFC Frankfurt against defending champion 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, Krieger played all ninety minutes as her team won the German Women's cup competition (DFB Pokal).[10]

Krieger spent a few weeks traveling and making appearances following the World Cup. Despite the extensive travel demands required to be part of the U. S. Women's National Team during an Olympic qualifying year, Krieger missed her team and the high quality soccer she enjoyed in Germany. She decided in August 2011 to rejoin FFC Frankfurt, signing a two-year contract.[11] In December 2012, Krieger requested and was granted release from her FFC Frankfurt contract to return to the United States. On January 11, 2013 she joined Washington Spirit in the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Washington Freedom, 2009

In September 2008, Krieger was named one of Women's Professional Soccer's initial twenty-one allocated players from the United States Women's National Team, having been assigned to Washington Freedom.[12] However, due to her contract with 1. FFC Frankfurt, she was initially unavailable to join the Freedom. Frankfurt agreed to a transfer in June 2009 following the conclusion of their season, which allowed Krieger to return from injury and regain match fitness. Her first match for Washington Freedom was on June 13, 2009.[13] Initially recovering from a foot injury suffered in Germany, she rounded into shape and played her best in the final games of the season helping to lead the Freedom in securing a playoff position.

Washington Spirit, 2013–present

In January 2013, Krieger was allocated to the Washington Spirit for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League, along with goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and midfielder Lori Lindsey via the NWSL Player Allocation.[14] Krieger appeared in 18 games and started 16, tallying 1 goal and playing 1,412 minutes for the Washington Spirit, playing both outside back and in the midfield.[15]

Tyresö FF, 2013

After signing a short term contract through November 2013,[16] Krieger played her first game for Tyresö FF on August 21, 2013 just days after the end of the NWSL season. She joined U.S. national teammates Christen Press, Ashlyn Harris, Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg on the team. During her seven appearances for the club, the team went undefeated.[17] While some American players delayed their return from Sweden, to try and win the UEFA Women's Champions League, Krieger and Harris returned to the Washington Spirit for the start of the 2014 campaign.[18]

International

United States Women's National Soccer Team

2011 United States women's national soccer team players, Jillian Loyden, Nicole Barnhart, Lori Lindsey, and Ali Krieger, with United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Krieger made her first appearance with the United States women's national soccer team in the Four Nations Cup in China, on January 16, 2008 against Canada.[19] She was named in October 2010 to the 18 player roster of the U. S. Women's National Team to play in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Cancun, Mexico. She started all four matches, helping the U.S. Women's National Team win the Algarve Cup in March 2011.

Krieger scored the fifth and decisive penalty kick after extra time against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. The match, played on July 10, 2011, marked the 12 year anniversary of the United States Women's National Soccer Team's championship win against China, also ending in a shootout.[20] She was one of only four players for the United States to start and play all 600 minutes of the tournament. She was named to Fox Soccer's Best 11 as the best right back in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Krieger during a friendly against Ireland in San Jose

Krieger was named to the roster of the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, but suffered ACL and MCL tears in her right leg in the first match against the Dominican Republic, jeopardizing her participation in the 2012 London Summer Olympics.[21] She returned to Germany and immersed herself in an intensive rehabilitation program. By the middle of May she began rebuilding the strength in her knee and was running, training and kicking a soccer ball. Krieger was available to be selected to the Olympics, however the final team roster was named early prior to her complete recovery.

In December 2012, she returned to the United States to concentrate on the United States Women's National Team and in her first camp since her devastating injury the year before moved right into her starting spot on the defensive back line. New USWNT coach Tom Sermanni, commenting on her play against Scotland on September 2, 2013 said, "The way she played tonight is the way she is in training. She’s solid. She’s uncompromising. She’s one of those players you wouldn’t want to be playing against week in and week out. So it’s great to see that energy and enthusiasm coming back in this squad.” [22]

Krieger played almost every minute of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, including every minute of the finale against Japan. She helped the U.S. team record five shutouts over the course of the seven-game run.[23]

International goals

Goal
Date
 Location Opponent Lineup Min Score Result Competition
1
 2013-03-08[24] Albufeira  China PR Start 32 2–0 5–0 2013 Algarve Cup – group stage

Honors

In popular culture

Video Games

Krieger was featured along with her national teammates in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series in FIFA 16, the first time women players were included in the game.[25]

Ticker Tape Parade and White House Honor

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Krieger and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City.[26] Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio.[27] In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Hays, Graham (July 6, 2015). "DEFENSE PAVES THE WAY IN U.S. WOMEN'S WORLD CUP RUN". ESPN. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Alex Krieger". FIFA.
  3. ↑ Konecky, Chad (May 24, 2012). "Andrews gets a kick out of Gatorade trophy". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Ali Krieger earned her way to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team". Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Schad, Tom (July 10, 2012). "Ali Krieger still dares to dream". Washington Times. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ Jones, Mike (June 14, 2011). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  7. ↑ "Fußball – Bundesliga: Krieger und Lewandowski wechseln nach Frankfurt". FOCUS Online. August 30, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ Krieger Comes "Home", United States Soccer Federation, June 27, 2011, retrieved January 18, 2014
  9. ↑ "Krieger verlässt FFC Frankfurt vorzeitig", FIFA, March 11, 2011, p. 1
  10. ↑ "Frankfurt holt den achten Pokalsieg: Garefrekes sichert 1. FFC den Titel", Kicker, March 26, 2011, p. 1
  11. ↑ "Krieger back in Frankfurt" (in German). womensoccer.de. August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  12. ↑ Jones, Ryan (November–December 2008), "Penn State Sports: In Demand", The Penn Stater, p. 28
  13. ↑ http://www.womensprosoccer.com/dc/news/press_releases/090610-krieger-joins-freedom
  14. ↑ Goff, Steven (January 11, 2013). "Krieger allocated to Washington women’s team". Washington Post Soccer Insider. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  15. ↑ "NWSL Stats". Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  16. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (July 22, 2013). "Ashlyn Harris to join Tyresö after NWSL season". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Ali Krieger". Soccer Way. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Brazil quartet join Tyresö". UEFA. January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  19. ↑ "USSoccer.com". Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  20. ↑ "USSoccer.com". Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  21. ↑ "U.S. Defender Ali Krieger Tears ACL and MCL in Right Knee". USSoccer.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  22. ↑ McCall, Mike. "Krieger's return sparks U.S. by Scotland in Sermanni's debut". SI.com. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  23. ↑ Parker, Brandon. "Women’s World Cup: Former locals Ali Krieger, Jill Ellis lead U.S. to title". The Washington Post.
  24. ↑ "Krieger and Engen Tally First International Goals as U.S. WNT Defeats China PR 5–0 at Algarve Cup in Portugal". U.S.Soccer.
  25. ↑ Barnes, Katie (September 28, 2015). "Why 'FIFA 16' is a Landmark for Women". ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  26. ↑ "U.S. women celebrate World Cup with ticker-tape parade in New York City". USA Today. July 11, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Team USA parades NYC's "Canyon of Heroes"". CBS News. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  28. ↑ Wagner, Laura (October 27, 2015). "Obama To U.S. Women's Soccer Team: 'Playing Like A Girl Means You're A Badass'". NPR. Retrieved January 3, 2016.

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