Chris Carrieri

Chris Carrieri (born April 28, 1980 in San Antonio, Texas) is an American soccer player, who currently plays striker for the Richmond Kickers of the USL Second Division.

Carrieri played college soccer at the University of North Carolina, where he was hugely successful. In his rookie year, he scored 13 goals and 3 assists, and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year. He did just as well his second year, finishing with 12 goals and 5 assists, and was named a third team NCAA All-American. In his senior season, he led the nation by scoring 25 goals, and added an astonishing 14 assists, and was named an NCAA first-team All-American.

Following his junior season, Carrieri signed a Project-40 contract with MLS. He was drafted first overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, and immediately vowed to lead the team to a championship. Although the Earthquakes won the MLS Cup that year, Carrieri was not there to see it - he did not fit in well with the club, and so shortly into the season he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for Junior Agogo. Carrieri had a relatively impressive rookie campaign with the Rapids, registering 5 goals and 4 assists in only 14 games with the team. In his second year with the team, Carrieri established his reputation as a quality American forward, if something of a primadonna, in scoring 11 goals and 5 assists for the Rapids. In his third year, Carrieri's production slowed, partially because of a contested (and temporary) move to right midfield, and he finished the year with 3 goals and 8 assists. Following the saeason, Carrieri was, to the surprise of most, let go by the Rapids, apparently partially because of conflicts with the coach, and partially because of salary cap concerns.

Carrieri signed before the 2004 season with the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the A-League. He had a solid, if slightly disappointing season with the team, finishing the year with 8 goals and 8 assists in 27 games. After the end of the season, he played one game with the Chicago Fire, after being called up as an injury replacement. Carrieri also briefly played indoor for the Chicago Storm of the MISL. In 2005, with coach Tim Hankinson now fired, the Rapids brought back Carrieri, but cut him in the pre-season. He then signed with Richmond.