Eddie Gaven
The longtime Crew player, who has been in MLS forever, credits his dad for teaching him the game.
- Juan Agudelo
- Eric Alexander
- Jozy Altidore
- Kyle Beckerman
- Tony Beltran
- Austin Berry
- Matt Besler
- Nat Borchers
- Terrence Boyd
- Will Bruin
- Edson Buddle
- Teal Bunbury
- Geoff Cameron
- Edgar Castillo
- Ricardo Clark
- Steve Clark
- Bobby Convey
- Kenny Cooper
- Joe Corona
- Sam Cronin
- Cody Cropper
- Danny Cruz
- Daniel Cuevas
- Charlie Davies
- Brad Davis
- Nick DeLeon
- Jay DeMerit
- Maurice Edu
- Michael Farfan
- Andrew Farrell
- Benny Feilhaber
- Greg Garza
- Eddie Gaven
- Luis Gil
- Alan Gordon
- Andy Gruenebaum
- Bill Hamid
- Matt Hedges
- Clint Irwin
- George John
- Sean Johnson
- Jermaine Jones
- Benji Joya
- Dan Kennedy
- Perry Kitchen
- Jeff Larentowicz
- Steven Lenhart
- Chad Marshall
- Jack McBean
- Dax McCarty
- Jack McInerney
- Matt Miazga
- Justin Morrow
- Patrick Mullins
- Lee Nguyen
- Conor O'Brien
- Amobi Okugo
- Michael Parkhurst
- Heath Pearce
- Chris Pontius
- Dillon Powers
- Christian Ramirez
- Nick Rimando
- Chris Rolfe
- Kelyn Rowe
- Omar Salgado
- C.J. Sapong
- Brek Shea
- Harry Shipp
- Tommy Thompson
- Wil Trapp
- Andrew Wenger
- Danny Williams
- Sheanon Williams
- Chris Wondolowski
- Graham Zusi
June 25, 2013
1:57 PM
- SHARE THIS STORY
Nick Turchiaro/isiphotos.com
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF SOCCER?
Playing with the local rec team when I was four years old. My dad was the coach.
WHO WAS YOUR SOCCER HERO GROWING UP?
I don’t really know if I had a “hero,” I just looked up to my dad. He played soccer at Rutgers for four years. I learned the game from him.
DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE SUITING UP FOR THE U.S.
It was an incredible experience against Poland in 2004. It’s something every single player wants to do and I’ve been very blessed to have the chance to do it several times in my career. So it’s an awesome honor.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A SOCCER PLAYER?
I’d say work ethic. It’s always encouraging seeing someone willing to put in the effort, willing to go the extra mile for his teammates.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST DISLIKE IN AN OPPONENT?
I guess the opposite, laziness. For the opposite reasons.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR SOCCER SUCCESS?
Make the extra run on offense and on defense, help the team on both sides of the ball, and do all those little things that I can on the field to be able to help the team.
WHAT IS ONE SOCCER SKILL YOU WANT TO IMPROVE?
There’s many. I guess I’d say my heading. I get some decent opportunities with my head sometimes throughout the course of the season and I’m not always as sharp as I feel I could be.
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DEVELOPMENT?
That’s my dad for sure. Ever since I first started playing, I call him after every single game. It’s always nice to get that outside perspective on how I look and also how the team looks. I learn things from him to try and make it better each game.
WHO IS YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND IN THE GAME?
I mean I have a lot of close friends on the team. Probably the guys that I’ve been on the team with the longest are my closest friends, which would be Andy [Gruenebaum], Danny [O’Rourke], and Chad [Marshall]. Andy’s my roommate so he’s probably my closest friend because we spend a lot of time together on the road and we’re on the road a lot.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER ACHIEVEMENT?
Winning MLS Cup 2008.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER DISAPPOINTMENT?
When we didn’t make the playoffs because it always ends the season on a sour note and just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM THE GAME?
Just to be thankful. It’s such an honor to be able to play soccer for a living, to get paid for it. I see it as a huge blessing to be able to come out here every day. So many people don’t have jobs, so many people don’t like their job and I’m able to come out and basically kick a ball around and get paid for it. That’s probably the biggest thing that I’ve learned: to always have a humble mindset and a humble attitude towards being able to have the opportunities that we have.
WHO ARE THE MOST TALENTED TEAMMATES YOU HAVE PLAYED ALONGSIDE?
All-around probably Chad Marshall. I think in terms of the all-around player he’s just so dominant at his spot on the field. I’ve been able to play with him for the past seven or eight years and watch him play every day in training. It’s definitely made me a much better player.
WHO ARE THE TOUGHEST OPPONENTS YOU HAVE LINED UP AGAINST?
I remember playing in the Copa America—I forget what year it was—we played against Argentina and I think they beat us 3-0 or 4-0 and I remember just thinking to myself, “These guys are a step above me.” And I just had this feeling that they were so much better than I was.
IF YOU WEREN'T A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Probably something involved with the Roman Catholic Church. It’s a huge part of my life. I don’t know what it would be, whether it’d be teaching or some other aspect like that, but it’s a huge part of who I am.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IN THE GAME?
That’s a tough question. I’d say it’s being the best player and best person you can be—reaching your maximum capability and your maximum potential as a player and also as a team.
Read His ASN Profile
