 Lewis in 2006 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Edward James Lewis | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1974-05-17)May 17, 1974 (age 51) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cerritos, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | UCLA Bruins | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–1999 | San Jose Clash | 115 | (9) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Fulham | 16 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Preston North End | 111 | (15) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Leeds United | 85 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Derby County | 24 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 48 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 399 | (35) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2008 | United States | 82 | (10) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Edward James Lewis (born May 17, 1974) is an American formersoccer player and entrepreneur.
During his 14-year professional career, Lewis played extensively in both the United States and England, forSan Jose Clash,Fulham,Preston North End,Leeds United,Derby County andLos Angeles Galaxy. He was also a veteran member of theUnited States national team throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s; he acquired 82 caps, scored 10 goals and represented his country at the1999 FIFA Confederations Cup,2002 FIFA World Cup,2003 FIFA Confederations Cup,2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup and2006 FIFA World Cup.
Lewis attendedCerritos High School and was recruited to playcollege soccer atUCLA. He quickly rose to prominence on the team, earning the Rookie of the Year title his freshman year, and leading his team in scoring in 1995 as a junior. Lewis was then drafted by the then-San Jose Clash in the third round of the1996 MLS College Draft. He would spend the next four years in San Jose, becoming a full-time starter in his second season. Originally aforward, the lefty moved to the midfield early on in his pro career. This would become Lewis' main position. In his time with the Clash, he scored nine goals and added 35 assists in 115 games and was named to theMLS Best XI in 1999.
Lewis signed with England'sFulham, then in theFootball League First Division, in March 2000. He spent three seasons there, but did not see much playing time. He made seven league appearances as the club was promoted to thePremier League in2000/01 season.[1] He only played one game for his club in2001-02, the season finale againstBlackburn Rovers. Overall, he appeared in 22 total games for the London club. His only goal for Fulham helped his side cause an upset when they knocked out one of his future employers, Derby County (then in thePremier League), in the League Cup.[2]
Lewis made a move toPreston North End in 2002,[3] Officially joining the club in September after a work permit denial led to a "protracted transfer."[4] His transfer fee was undisclosed.[5] Lewis spent the next three years with Preston, reaching the Division One playoff final in May 2005 which ended in defeat for Preston as they lost 1–0 to West Ham.[6]
In June 2005,Leeds United signed Lewis from Preston on a free transfer.[7]
A set piece specialist, he scored memorable free-kicks againstBurnley and against his former club, Preston North End. Lewis was the subject of a transfer bid fromWolverhampton Wanderers just before the transfer deadline in Summer 2006, but the bid was instantly rejected by chairmanKen Bates.[8] Lewis was a regular in the 2006-07 Championship season with Leeds, once again playing left wing. In the first few matches ofDennis Wise's reign at the club, Lewis was played at left back, but after that he was put back to his favored left wing, but rotated between the positions as the season progressed. He scored three times for Leeds in the 2006–7 season.
In the May issue of Leeds magazine 'Leeds Leeds Leeds', Lewis suggested that he would be willing to stay atElland Road even if Leeds United were to drop down toLeague One. At the end of the 2006–07 season Lewis was voted Leeds' fansPlayer of the Year[9] being only the fourth non-British player in the club's history to receive the award. After Leeds were relegated Lewis signed a new one-year contract at Leeds and Lewis stayed at Leeds for the first few games in League 1, where he was given the number 3 shirt and was Leeds' regular left back. WhenDerby County came in for himDennis Wise decided he could not stand in the way of his playing Premiership Football. Lewis left Leeds as a cult hero amongst theElland Road fans.
Derby County signed Lewis to a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He scored an own goal againstWest Ham United in a Premiership match on November 10, 2007, atPride Park.[10] Before the start of the 2008–09 season, Lewis agreed to be released from his contract with Derby County to play inMajor League Soccer.[11]
Lewis rejoinedMajor League Soccer on August 21, 2008[12] and was reunited with recently hiredBruce Arena, under whom he served on the U.S. men's national team. After two and a half seasons with Los Angeles, Lewis announced he would retire at the end of the 2010 MLS season.[13]
Lewis made his debut with theU.S. national team on October 16, 1996, againstPeru, a game boycotted by almost all regular U.S. players because of salary concerns. Unlike most of the other players to appear in that game, Lewis went on to have a long national career, appearing in a total of 82 games. He played an important role for the U.S. in the2002 FIFA World Cup, starting both elimination games and delivering a cross toLandon Donovan for the team's second goal in their 2–0 victory overMexico.
With increasing competition at left midfield, most notably fromDaMarcus Beasley, Lewis began a transition to left back in late 2005, debuting in that slot in a World Cup qualifier againstTrinidad and Tobago on August 17, 2005. Although he continued to play left midfield for his professional club, Lewis welcomed the move to left back for the national team.
On May 2, 2006, for the second successive time, Lewis was named in the U.S. squad for the FIFA World Cup in Germany. Lewis started the American's first World Cup game against theCzech Republic at left back, but lost that spot after their disappointing 3–0 loss. After sitting out the U.S. draw with eventual championsItaly in their second game, he rejoined the starting lineup at left midfield againstGhana. His inspired play nearly helped the U.S. team to equalize, but his ball toBrian McBride glanced off the goal post. The United States were eliminated from the competition after suffering a 2–1 defeat. Lewis remained involved with the national team in the early rounds of qualification for the2010 FIFA World Cup, with his final international goal coming in an away win over Barbados.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb. 21, 1999 | Ft. Lauderdale,Florida |  Chile | 2-1 | 2-1 | Friendly match |
| 2 | Jan. 29, 2000 | Coquimbo,Chile | Chile | 1-0 | 2-1 | Friendly match |
| 3 | March 10, 2002 | Birmingham,Alabama |  Ecuador | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly match |
| 4 | May 26, 2003 | San Jose, California |  Wales | 2-0 | 2-0 | Friendly match |
| 5 | July 12, 2003 | Foxboro,Massachusetts |  El Salvador | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly match |
| 6 | June 2, 2004 | Foxboro,Massachusetts |  Honduras | 3-0 | 4-0 | Friendly match |
| 7 | Feb. 9, 2005 | Port-of-Spain,Trinidad |  Trinidad and Tobago | 2-0 | 2-1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying |
| 8 | March 27, 2005 | Mexico City,Mexico |  Mexico | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying |
| 9 | March 26, 2008 | Kraków,Poland |  Poland | 3-0 | 3-0 | Friendly match |
| 10 | June 22, 2008 | Bridgetown, Barbados |  Barbados | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Lewis also scored an "eleventh" international goal on July 17, 1999; however, this goal does not count toward international statistics because it was scored against Derby County, an English Club Team that he would eventually play for.[14]
Lewis is the founder of soccer training technology company TOCA Football based in Orange County, California. Beginning as a small startup, the company is now internationally recognized, and has training centers across the United States. Lewis' experience in the soccer world has been integral to the success of TOCA.[15]
United States squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
