| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1973-10-09)October 9, 1973 (age 52) | ||
| Place of birth | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1995 | Virginia Cavaliers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–2000 | Dallas Burn | 114 | (0) |
| 2000 | →Tennessee Rhythm (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2000 | →Texas Rattlers (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Brandon Pollard (born October 9, 1973) is an American retiredsoccer player who played as adefender. He is probably best known for having his career ended by a vicious tackle fromDema Kovalenko.[1] Pollard was a standout player with theUniversity of Virginia and was a member of theUnited States men's national soccer team at the1996 Summer Olympics.[2]
Pollard grew up inVirginia where he attendedJ.R. Tucker High School. He was a four-timeAll Colonial District, and All State soccer player as well as a Parade Magazine All American as a senior.
After graduating from high school, Pollard attended theUniversity of Virginia where he was adefender on the men's soccer team. While at Virginia, he was a member of the 1992, 1993, and 1994NCAA championship teams. On an individual level, he was selected as second team All American in 1993 and afirst team All American in 1994 and 1995, his junior and senior years.
During Pollard's collegiate career, he also became a regular with various U.S. youth national teams. In 1993, he was of theWorld University Games soccer team. That year he also started all four games at theU-20 World Cup. In that tournament, the U.S. went 1-1-1 in the first round, making the second round only to fall eventual champions Brazil. In 1995, he was a member of the U.S. team at thePan American Games.
In 1996, theDallas Burn selected Pollard in the first round (third overall) of the1996 MLS College Draft. Pollard played only ten games with the Burn that season, largely because of time spent at the1996 Summer Olympics. In 1997, Pollard worked himself into a regular player on the Burn back line and was protected in the1997 MLS Expansion Draft. In 1998 and 1999, his career began to hit it stride as he played 29 games and 31 games (all starts) respectively. However, his career took a hit during the last few minutes of the Burn's playoff game with theChicago Fire. In that game, Fire playerDema Kovalenko tackled Pollard, shattering his leg. Although Pollard came back for the 2000 season, even going on loan with theTennessee Rhythm in theUSL A-League for one game and theTexas Rattlers for three games, he never regained the form he had prior to the injury. He retired from playing professionally during the 2001 pre-season.
