View source for Troy Perkins

{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1981)}}
{{for|the Australian rugby league player|Troy Perkins (rugby league)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                 = Troy Perkins
| image                = 2013-05-04 Troy Pekins Impact Montreal.jpg
| caption              = Perkins with [[CF Montréal|Montreal Impact]] in 2013
| fullname             = Troy Perkins
| birth_date           = {{birth date and age|1981|7|29}}
| birth_place          = [[Springfield, Ohio]], United States
| height               = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}
| position             = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub          = 
| clubnumber           = 
| collegeyears1        = 2000–2002
| college1             = [[South Florida Bulls men's soccer|South Florida Bulls]]
| collegecaps1         = 58
| collegegoals1        = 0
| collegeyears2        = 2003
| college2             = [[Evansville Purple Aces]]
| collegecaps2         = 19
| collegegoals2        = 0
| years1               = 2002
| clubs1               = [[Cape Cod Crusaders]]
| caps1                = 22
| goals1               = 0
| years2               = 2004–2007
| clubs2               = [[D.C. United]]
| caps2                = 77
| goals2               = 0
| years3               = 2004
| clubs3               = → [[Northern Virginia Royals]] (loan)
| caps3                = 2
| goals3               = 0
| years4               = 2008–2009
| clubs4               = [[Vålerenga Fotball|Vålerenga]]
| caps4                = 53
| goals4               = 0
| years5               = 2010
| clubs5               = [[D.C. United]]
| caps5                = 22
| goals5               = 0
| years6               = 2011–2012
| clubs6               = [[Portland Timbers]]
| caps6                = 51
| goals6               = 0
| years7               = 2012–2014
| clubs7               = [[Montreal Impact (2012–2020)|Montreal Impact]]
| caps7                = 63
| goals7               = 0
| years8               = 2015
| clubs8               = [[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| caps8                = 4
| goals8               = 0
| years9               = 2015
| clubs9               = → [[Seattle Sounders FC 2]] (loan)
| caps9                = 1
| goals9               = 0
| totalcaps            = 295
| totalgoals           = 0
| nationalyears1       = 2009–2010
| nationalteam1        = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1        = 7
| nationalgoals1       = 0
| manageryears1        = 2016 
| managerclubs1        = [[Seattle Sounders FC 2]] (goalkeeping coach)
| medaltemplates       =ke
{{Medal|Country|{{USA}}}} 
{{Medal|RU|[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]|[[2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2009]]}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Soccer]]}}
}}

'''Troy Perkins''' (born July 29, 1981) is an American former [[Association football|soccer]] player. During his career, he played for clubs in the United States, Canada, and Norway. The 2006 [[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award|Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year]] award winner earned seven caps with the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]].

==Career==

===College and amateur===
Perkins is a graduate of [[Thomas Worthington High School]], in Worthington, OH, and played [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at the [[University of South Florida]] and the [[University of Evansville]]. He was named third-team All-Conference USA in 2001, and second-team All-CUSA in 2002. He transferred to Evansville for his senior season. At Evansville, he allowed only twenty-one goals in nineteen matches, compiling a 1.09 goals-against-average. Perkins also played in the [[Premier Development League|PDL]] for the [[Cape Cod Crusaders]] in 2002.

===Professional===
Upon graduating in 2003, Perkins went undrafted. However, he was signed to a [[developmental contract]] by [[D.C. United]]. Not expected to contribute, Perkins was given an opportunity after both [[Nick Rimando]] and [[Doug Warren]] lost their starting positions. Perkins proved up to the task, and went on to start sixteen games for the team, posting a 1.62 goals against average. Although Perkins was performing well, the team suffered during his tenure, and he was replaced near the end of the season with Nick Rimando, who would also start for United throughout the playoffs.

In early 2005 he trained with [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.]], an [[FA Premier League|English Premier League]] club and in early 2006 he trained with [[Everton F.C.|Everton in Liverpool]].

During the [[Major League Soccer 2006 season|2006 season]], Perkins was the starting goalkeeper for United, playing thirty of thirty-two games. He was also named 2006 [[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award|MLS Goalkeeper of the Year]], [[MLS Best XI|Best XI]], and voted to the [[2006 MLS All-Star Game|2006 All Star Team]]. Perkins finished the 2007 MLS season with a 1.10 goals against average, eight shutouts, and sixteen wins, the most in the league.

On December 20, 2007, Perkins signed a five-year contract with [[Vålerenga Fotball|Vålerenga]],<ref>{{cite news
|title=Norwegian Team Acquires United's Perkins
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122102066.html
|accessdate=December 24, 2007
| newspaper=The Washington Post
| date=December 22, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Troy Perkins klar for Vålerenga
 |url         = http://www.vif-fotball.no/article1505308.ece
 |accessdate  = December 24, 2007
 |language    = Norwegian
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207012052/http://www.vif-fotball.no/article1505308.ece
 |archivedate = February 7, 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref> making him the first American to sign for the [[Norway|Norwegian]] club.

On January 13, 2010, returned to D.C. United in a complicated pre-draft trade deal in which United traded midfielder [[Helbert Frederico Carreiro da Silva|Fred]], its first-round [[2010 MLS SuperDraft]] pick, its #6 spot in the MLS allocation order, and allocation money to [[Philadelphia Union]] in exchange for the Union's #1 spot in the allocation order. D.C. then used the #1 allocation ranking to re-acquire Perkins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thegoalkeeper/Union_swings_a_big_trade.html|title=Union swings a big trade|date=January 13, 2010|work=Philly.com}}</ref> Attempts were made to sign him by [[Feyenoord]] and several French clubs, but nothing materialized and he returned to [[D.C. United]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/16/AR2010031603867_2.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Goalkeeper Troy Perkins finds himself right at home with D.C. United | first=Steven | last=Goff | date=March 17, 2010 | accessdate=May 26, 2010}}</ref>

On December 17, 2010, Perkins was traded to [[Portland Timbers]] for goalkeeper [[Steve Cronin]] and allocation money.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portlandmls2011.com/news/2010/12/timbers-acquire-troy-perkins-dc-united |title= Timbers acquire Troy Perkins from D.C. United {{pipe}} Portland Timbers|website=www.portlandmls2011.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221031414/http://www.portlandmls2011.com/news/2010/12/timbers-acquire-troy-perkins-dc-united |archive-date=December 21, 2010}}</ref> Perkins went into camp as the Timbers' first choice goalkeeper, but he missed the first six Timbers games after a knee injury Perkins suffered in training. Despite the injury, Perkins notched the Timbers' first-ever league shutout with their 1–0 victory over [[Real Salt Lake]] on April 30, 2011.

Perkins signed a new contract with Portland on November 28, 2011.<ref>[http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2011/11/timbers-re-sign-goalkeeper-troy-perkins-defender-david-horst Timbers re-sign goalkeeper Troy Perkins, defender David Horst {{pipe}} Portland Timbers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130230230/http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2011/11/timbers-re-sign-goalkeeper-troy-perkins-defender-david-horst |date=November 30, 2011 }}</ref>

Perkins began the 2012 season with the Timbers, however, on August 7, 2012, Perkins was traded to  [[Montreal Impact (2012–2020)|Montreal Impact]] for veteran Jamaican goaltender [[Donovan Ricketts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2012/08/montreal-impact-acquires-goalkeeper-troy-perkins|title=L'Impact de Montréal fait l'acquisition du gardien Troy Perkins|work=Montreal Impact}}</ref> Perkins stayed with Montreal through the 2014 season.

On January 13, 2015, Perkins signed with [[Seattle Sounders FC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2015/01/13/sounders-fc-acquires-goalkeeper-troy-perkins|title=Sounders FC Acquires Goalkeeper Troy Perkins|work=Seattle Sounders FC}}</ref>

On January 11, 2016, Perkins announced his retirement and joined the [[Seattle Sounders FC Academy]] as a staff member.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 2016 |title=Troy Perkins announces retirement, joins Sounders FC academy staff |url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2016/01/11/troy-perkins-announces-retirement-joins-sounders-fc-academy-staff |publisher=Seattle Soundesr FC |accessdate=January 11, 2016}}</ref>

===International===
Perkins has also played for the [[United States Men's National Soccer Team|United States National Team]], receiving his first cap against Sweden on January 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Sacha Kljestan Hat Trick Provides U.S. Men With 3–2 Victory Against Sweden to Open 2009
 |url         = http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12386304.html
 |accessdate  = July 9, 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160114144442/http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_12386304.html
 |archivedate = January 14, 2016
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>

==Personal life==
While being a backup goalkeeper for D.C. United, Perkins also had a second job working at a sporting goods store in Fair Lakes, VA called Galyans (which is currently known as Dick's Sporting Goods). Beginning in 2006, Perkins worked a second job as a mortgage loan processor,<ref>{{cite news
| title=A Goalie You Can Bank On
| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071401521.html
| accessdate=December 9, 2006
| newspaper=The Washington Post
| first=Dan
| last=Steinberg
| date=July 15, 2006}}</ref> leading United fans to put up a banner that said, "Troy Saves – and Loans."

Perkins has revealed that his return to [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] in 2010 was because his wife was unable to settle in Norway.

Perkins considers that his training as a mortgage loan processor is important and has stated, "Goalies can usually play until they're around 40, so you have to think about a job after retirement," He has an "austere pregame routine, which entails shutting off all electronics and not talking to anyone for 24&nbsp;hours. 'I'm a miserable person to be around,' he says, laughing. 'My wife hates it.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/201005/soccer-style-us-team-world-cup-conor-casey-robbie-findley-heath-pearce.html |title=Kick Started |publisher=Outside Online May 2010 Issue |accessdate=May 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601034248/http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/201005/soccer-style-us-team-world-cup-conor-casey-robbie-findley-heath-pearce.html |archivedate=June 1, 2010 }}</ref>

After retiring from professional soccer and leaving the Sounders organization, Perkins was sworn in as a [[police officer]] in [[Kennewick, Washington]] in January 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Bill |date=January 23, 2017 |title=Tri-Cities ready to hire 14 more police officers |url=http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/crime/article128344454.html |work=[[Tri-City Herald]] |accessdate=January 25, 2017}}</ref>

==Honors==

===D.C. United===
* '''[[Major League Soccer]] Supporter's Shield (2):''' [[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]], [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]
* '''[[Major League Soccer]] [[MLS Cup]] (1):''' [[2004 MLS Cup|2004]]

===Vålerenga===
* '''Norwegian Cup Champion(1):''' [[2008 Norwegian Football Cup Final|2008]]

===Montreal Impact===
* '''[[Canadian Championship]] (2):''' [[2013 Canadian Championship|2013]], [[2014 Canadian Championship|2014]]

===Individual===
* '''[[MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award|MLS Goalkeeper of the Year]]:''' 2006
* '''[[MLS Best XI]]''': 2006

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{MLS player|troy-perkins}}

{{MLS Goalkeeper of the Year}}
{{2006 MLS Best XI}}
{{United States squad 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perkins, Troy}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American expatriate men's soccer players in Canada]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway]]
[[Category:South Florida Bulls men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Evansville Purple Aces men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Cape Cod Crusaders players]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Northern Virginia FC players]]
[[Category:Vålerenga Fotball players]]
[[Category:Portland Timbers players]]
[[Category:CF Montréal players]]
[[Category:Seattle Sounders FC players]]
[[Category:Tacoma Defiance players]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Springfield, Ohio]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Ohio]]
[[Category:USL League Two players]]
[[Category:Eliteserien players]]
[[Category:Law enforcement officials from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:USL Championship players]]
[[Category:2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Worthington, Ohio]]
[[Category:Seattle Sounders FC non-playing staff]]
[[Category:American police officers]]
[[Category:Undrafted Major League Soccer players]]