.JPG) Brian Ching speaks to the crowd atBBVA Compass Stadium in Houston in December 2013 after his testimonial match | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian Ching[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1978-05-24)May 24, 1978 (age 46)[2][3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hale'iwa, Hawaii, United States[2][3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2][3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward[2][3] | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Honolulu Bulls | ||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–2000 | Gonzaga Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Spokane Shadow | 32 | (21) | ||||||||||||||
| 2001 | LA Galaxy | 8 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2001 | →Seattle Sounders (loan) | 6 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Seattle Sounders | 25 | (16) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | San Jose Earthquakes | 56 | (25) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2013 | Houston Dynamo | 169 | (56) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 296 | (122) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2010 | United States | 45 | (11) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Houston Dynamo (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2019 | Houston Dash (managing director) | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Brian Ching (born May 24, 1978) is an American former professionalsoccer player who played for twelve years inMajor League Soccer and represented theU.S. national team for eight years.
Ching's professional career began when he was the 16th pick overall by theLos Angeles Galaxy in the2001 MLS SuperDraft, making him the firstGonzaga player and the first player from his nativeHawaii selected in the MLS draft. After winning theU.S. Open Cup with Los Angeles, Ching was released from the team and played with thesecond divisionSeattle Sounders. He returned to first division soccer when theSan Jose Earthquakes acquired him in the2003 MLS supplemental draft. He won anMLS Cup andSupporters' Shield with the Earthquakes, collected theMLS Comeback Player of the Year Award, theMLS Golden Boot, and was named to theMLS Best XI.
In 2006, Ching relocated to Houston when the Earthquakes became theHouston Dynamo. He led the team to back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in2006 and2007 and four MLS finals overall. A six-timeMLS All-Star, Ching retired from professional soccer in 2013 as Houston Dynamo's all-time leading scorer.
Ching made his international debut May 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player to represent theUnited States. He became the first Hawaiian to be named to the U.S. roster for the2006 FIFA World Cup, although he did not see any playing time. His only international silverware is the2007 Gold Cup. Off the field, Ching is a pillar in the Houston community where he is partnered withHabitat for Humanity to build homes for underprivileged families in the Houston area through fundraising efforts under his program "The House that Ching Built".
Ching lost his father, Francis, to cancer on December 25, 1992, when he was 14 years old.[4] Stephanie Whalen, Ching's mother, raised him and his two brothers as a single parent.[5] Ching did not play soccer until he was seven years old, agreeing to only if his mother would coach.[4]
Ching attendedKamehameha Schools Kapālama High School inHonolulu and played in the soccer team in his junior and senior year. He was named as theInterscholastic League of Honolulu's MVP during his senior year with 14 goals and six assists.[6] His junior year he was a second team All-ILH selection.[6]
During his last year of high school Ching played with the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club, a club team, and traveled to tournaments on the mainland where he was noticed by the Gonzaga coaching staff.[2][7] He went on to play for theGonzaga Bulldogs men's soccer program under head coach Einar Thorarinsson, whom Ching credits "for believing in him and providing him the skills to grow and mature to be able to compete at the next level."[6]
During his collegiate career, Ching played for theSpokane Shadow of thePremier Development Soccer League (where Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson was also the coach of the Shadow) and set a total of 21 goals during his stint in the 1998 and 1999 seasons.[8] Ching was named the PDSL rookie of the year in 1998.[9]
Ching joined the Bulldogs for the 1996 season, and as a freshman played in 18 matches with five starts.[6] He finished second on the team in scoring with 12 points on three goals and six assists.[6] As a sophomore, he appeared in 16 matches with 14 starts and was second on the team behindWest Coast Conference Player of the Year and teammate Jeff McAllister with 10 goals and 23 points, ranking fifth in the WCC in both categories.[6] The 10 goals were second on the all-time Gonzaga single-season list and his 23 points were third on the all-time GU list.[6] He earned All-WCC second-team honors.[6]
His junior season was cut short by a knee injury suffered in the season opener, then re-injured in the next match, and received amedical redshirt year.[6] Ching missed the entire 1998 season after surgery to repair injured meniscus in right knee.[2][10]
The injury bug continued to plague Ching in the summer of 1999 when he was kicked in the cheek and eye while playing for theSpokane Shadow of theUSL, the injury requiring surgery.[6] Despite that injury, Ching was ready for the Bulldogs season opener and went on to start 17 of 18 matches.[6] He scored 13 goals and had 8 assists for 34 points.[6] The 13 goals were third on the all-time GU single-season list, the 34 points second.[6] He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–2 tie against 11th-rankedWashington Huskies, got the insurance goal in a 3–1 victory over 7th-rankedStanford and had a pair of goals against 4th-rankedUniversity of San Diego in 4–2 home victory.[6] He earned All-WCC first-team honors.[6]
His final season of 2000, Ching missed three matches with an injury but still scored eight goals and recorded 22 points.[6] He was named All-WCC first team and earned All-Far West Region first-team honors.[6] Ching finished his Gonzaga career with 34 goals, which still ties him third on the all-time GU list, and his 23 assists are a Gonzaga career record.[6] Ching's 91 career points are still tied for second on the Gonzaga charts.[6] With Ching, the Bulldogs were back-to-back co-champions of the West Coast Conference in 1997 and 1998.[11] Ching majored in accounting.[2][10]
My first year in the league, I'm on the team with Cobi Jones, Cienfuegos, Alexi Lalas, Robin Fraser, Kevin Hartman, Matt Reis, Sasha Victorine, and Brian Mullan. For those guys to all be on one team my first year in the league, now that I look back on it, that was pretty special. Significant guys that have done a lot for U.S. soccer, to be on that team was a gift for me.
— Brian Ching on his first year in MLS[12]
Ching began his professional career when theLos Angeles Galaxy drafted him as the 16th overall pick of the2001 MLS SuperDraft.[13][14] Los Angeles chose midfielderBrian Mullan and forwardIsaias Bardales Jr. in the first round, 9th and 11th respectively, before picking Ching with their fourth pick in the second round.[13] Ching was the first everHawaiian selected in the MLS draft.[6]
Ching joined a roster that includedU.S. Soccer Hall of Fame playersCobi Jones,Alexi Lalas, andPaul Caligiuri, Mexico's top World Cup scorerLuis Hernández,Mauricio Cienfuegos,Ezra Hendrickson,Danny Califf,Kevin Hartman and was coached bySigi Schmid. Ching wore the number 9 jersey with Los Angeles.[15] Ching made his MLS debut against San Jose on April 7, 2001, as a member of the starting lineup.[16] During the2001 season, Ching appeared in eight games (starting one) and recorded one goal and one assist.[17]
Ching started and played the full match in hisU.S. Open Cup debut, a 5–0 victory over theNashville Metros atTitan Stadium on June 27, 2001, in the second round.[18] Ching went the full 90 again in Los Angeles' 3–1 victory over theSeattle Sounders Select where he provided the assist to Isaias Bardales' 81st-minute goal, the Galaxy's third of the match.[19] Those would be Ching's only appearances in the 2001 tournament as the Los Angeles Galaxy went on to win their first U.S. Open Cup trophy in franchise history.[20]
Ching made hisMLS Cup Playoffs debut in a 4–1 loss in Game 2 of the quarterfinals against theNew York-New Jersey MetroStars on September 27, 2001, after coming on as an 88th minute substitution for Cobi Jones.[21] Ching appeared for a second time in the playoffs in the Galaxy's 1–0 overtime win in Game 2 of the MLS semifinal series against theChicago Fire on October 14, 2001, entering the game in the 91st minute forSasha Victorine.[22] The Galaxy advanced to the2001 MLS Cup final and tied 1–1 with theSan Jose Earthquakes in regulation beforeDwayne De Rosario'sgolden goal in the 96th minute ended the match.[23]
After signingCarlos Ruiz, the Galaxy waived Ching on February 13, 2002, to comply with the MLS roster limits.[16] One month later, he signed with theSeattle Sounders of theA-League where scored four goals and provided one assist in seven games the previous year when he was on loan from Los Angeles.[24] Ching finished the 2002 season second in the A-League in scoring with 16 goals and eight assists, and was selected as a member of the A-League All-League first team.[25]
The first time the Earthquakes coaching staff got a good look at Brian Ching was facing him in theJuly 17, 2002, third round match of the U.S. Open Cup when San Jose defeated the Seattle Sounders 4–3 aftersudden death extra time.[26] Kinnear, assistant coach at the time, and head coach Frank Yallop were impressed with how Ching matched up with Earthquakes defenderEddie Robinson, considered one of the best defenders in MLS at the time.[26] Ching began training with the Earthquakes the following January.[27] On February 11, 2003, San Jose tradedDevin Barclay toD.C. United in exchange for the first overall pick in the2003 MLS supplemental draft[28] and on February 28, 2013, they used that pick to draft Ching.[27]
Ching made his official Earthquakes debut inGuatemala City on March 16, 2003, playing a full match in a 4–2Champions' Cup loss toC.S.D. Municipal.[29] He played his first Earthquakes home game in the second leg against Municipal where he scored the first goal in the 35th minute.[29] Ching made his first Earthquakes start in the MLS regular season on April 12, 2003, atColorado Rapids and scored 53 seconds into the game. He would miss five games due to a right hamstring strain before returning to the starting lineup to score two goals for his first multi-goal game in MLS on July 2, 2003, at theMetroStars. He played 90 minutes in his first encounter against his old club Seattle Sounders on August 5 but the 1–0 loss eliminated San Jose from the2003 Open Cup.[29]
Ching left the August 16, 2003, game atNew England Revolution with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on August 19 and missed the rest of the2003 season as the San Jose Earthquakes went on to win the2003 MLS Cup. Ching scored a then-career-high six goals and two assists during 2003. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week for April 12 and May 3, 2003.[29]
Ching returned from injury in the2004 Champions' Cup as a sub in both legs against eventual championL.D. Alajuelense. Ching made his first start of the season on May 1 vs. D.C. United. Ching finished with a career-high 12 goals in MLS, sharing theMLS Golden Boot withEddie Johnson. He was named to theMLS Best XI and recognized as theMLS Comeback Player of the Year. He also finished as the Earthquakes scoring champion and Most Valuable Player for the2004 season.[29]
In 2005, Ching scored seven goals in 16 games and tallied a career-high five assists in MLS play. He registered a goal or an assist in five straight games before missing 15 matches with a hamstring injury. He ended the regular season having recorded a goal or assist in six straight games.[29] The San Jose Earthquakes finished the2005 season with the best regular season record, clinching theSupporters' Shield.[30] After the most successful regular season in team history with an 18–4–10 record and 64 points, the Earthquakes were placed on hiatus on December 15, 2005, with the franchise moving to Houston.[30]
Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Ching moved to Houston for the2006 season. He scored four goals in Houston's first-ever game on April 2, 2006, against theColorado Rapids, becoming the seventh player in MLS history to score four goals in a single game. Ching found out he had been selected to U.S. world cup team on May 2 and celebrated with a game-deciding goal the following MLS fixture, May 6, against rival clubFC Dallas. Ching missed six MLS games while he was with the U.S. national team at the2006 FIFA World Cup. His bicycle kick on September 30 vs.D.C. United, which would later be awarded theMLS Goal of the Year Award, was the deciding goal in a 1–0 win that secured Houston's first ever MLS playoff spot.[29]
In the2006 MLS Cup Playoffs, Ching scored the series-winning goal with a header in stoppage time of the 2–0 win vs.Chivas USA in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals. He was named MVP of theMLS Cup 2006 after scoring the tying goal in the 114th minute, less than one minute afterNew England Revolution had taken a 1–0 lead, and scoring the winning penalty kick in the penalty kick shootout.[29]
In 2007, Ching ended the season tied for the team lead with seven goals despite missing 10 games entirely due to injuries and national-team call-ups. He contributed in the2007 MLS Cup Playoffs with two playoff goals but sat out the2007 MLS Cup final after straining his calf in the Western Conference final. He led Houston's comeback from a 2–0 aggregate deficit in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinal vs.FC Dallas on November 2, setting upStuart Holden's goal in the 67th minute and then scoring himself from aDwayne De Rosario through ball in the 72nd minute to tie the series. In extra time, of that game, he scored from close range in the 97th minute to give Houston the lead for good.[29]
Ching was a staple in the Dynamo lineup during international competition. In the2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup he set up the series-winning goal againstPuntarenas F.C. when his header hit the post andKelly Gray scored on the rebound. Ching scored the opening goal in the semifinal first leg vs.C.F. Pachuca on March 15, heading in aCraig Waibel cross. In the semifinal second leg atEstadio Hidalgo on April 5, he set up the first Houston goal by keeping the ball in on the sideline, leading toBrian Mullan's goal and later scored in the 79th minute to give Houston a 4–3 aggregate lead before Pachuca rallied to win in extra time. Ching also participated in the2007 Superliga, playing in all three group stage matches. He set up goal just 11 seconds into match vs.Monarcas Morelia on July 29, passing toJoseph Ngwenya for the fastest goal in Dynamo history. Ching scored the only goal in 1–0 win vs.D.C. United on August 1 and hit the post with the fourth penalty kick in the Dynamo's semifinal shootout loss vs. Pachuca on August 14.[29]
During the2008 season, Ching established team and personal records with 13 goals in the regular season and five assists in 25 games. Ching ranked fifth in the league in goals. In the team's second visit to San Jose since relocating to Houston, Ching scored a game-tying goal in second half and celebrated by pointing to the Dynamo crest in front of San Jose fans. In the finalCONCACAF Champions' Cup he set up two of Houston's three goals in the quarterfinal second leg vs.CSD Municipal. In the2008 Superliga he appeared in three games, starting the semifinal vs. Pachuca and the championship game atNew England Revolution. In theinaugural CONCACAF Champions League, Ching appeared as a substitute atSan Francisco F.C. and started vs.C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo, scoring the game's only goal to help Dynamo reach the quarterfinals.[29]
Ching's performance during the2009 season earned him Dynamo's Golden Boot for the third straight year with eight goals and three assists. He became seventh Dynamo player to make 100th starts for the club in all competitions and assisted onCam Weaver's game-tying goal in the 80th minute of a 2–1 loss atColumbus Crew on September 13. In the2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Ching played all 90 minutes of both legs of the quarterfinal series vs.C.F. Atlante. He appeared in five games of the2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, making three starts. In the2009 MLS Cup Playoffs, he netted the game-winning goal in 95th minute of a 1–0 overtime win vs. Seattle, swiveling to volley a shot into the left side netting for his 50th Dynamo goal in all competitions.[29]
Ching ran into disciplinary trouble during the 2009 campaign. In July 2009, Ching was fined $500 by MLS for his comments regarding the officiating of the Dynamo's 2–1 loss toSeattle Sounders FC (a game Ching did not play in due to participation in the2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup). On hisTwitter page, Ching referred to the referee as "a joke" and "a cheat" for calling aFredy Montero shot cleared off the line a goal.[31] Ching scored the opening goal from aBrad Davis free kick in 3–2 win vs.Real Salt Lake on August 19 but was ejected in the 82nd minute for hard foul, the firstred card in the 162 games of his MLS career. He was ejected again in next MLS game, a 0–0 tie vs.Los Angeles Galaxy on October 18, for raising his hand to the face of an opponent.[29]
In 2010, Ching shrugged off injuries and national team disappointment to score seven goals and add three assists in 20 games, making 16 starts, to win the team's Golden Boot for the fourth straight year. His August 21 bicycle kick againstChicago was named ESPNSoccernet.com's MLS Goal of the Year and Dynamo Goal of the Year. He took over as the Dynamo team captain after the retirement ofWade Barrett. He was named asDon Garber's Commissioner's Pick for the2010 MLS All-Star Game in Houston, a game where he came on as second-half substitute and scored with a header to cut the deficit to 2-1 vs.Manchester United F.C.[29] The Dynamo missed the playoffs in 2010.
Ching was limited to 1,242 minutes in 20 appearances due to injury in 2011, the lowest minute total of his Houston career, but still tied for team lead with five goals. He started all four matches the Dynamo took part in the2011 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring a goal and adding an assist, to help lead the Dynamo back to theMLS Cup final. He started and set up the game-winning goal with left-footed through ball in 2–1 first-leg win atPhiladelphia Union and scored the game-winning goal with header from aBrad Davis free kick in a 1–0 win the second-leg, scoring the final MLS goal atRobertson Stadium. Ching started the Eastern Conference championship match atSporting Kansas City and closed the night by hoisting the trophy as team captain after the 2–0 win. He made his second career start in an MLS Cup final at Los Angeles, who denied the Dynamo the title with a narrow 1–0 victory.[29]
Ching was left exposed by Houston in the2011 MLS expansion draft and was selected by expansion sideMontreal Impact less than a week after playing in theMLS Cup final.[32] Ching was traded back to Houston on February 16, 2012, for a first-round draft pick in the2013 MLS SuperDraft, after training with Montreal for about a month, coincidentally playing a preseason game against theHouston Dynamo.[33]
Ching started opening day on for the Dynamo for the sixth time in seven years and nearly scored atChivas USA when his first-touch volley off a long cross from Brad Davis hit inside of post and caromed away for near goal. Ching made his 200th MLS appearance (136th with Dynamo) in 3–1 loss toVancouver Whitecaps FC on June 10. Ching made his 150th Dynamo start in all competitions against D.C. United on April 28, the 4th Dynamo to reach this milestone. Ching drew and converted a penalty in the 83rd minute on June 30 vs. Philadelphia, his second goal of the year and first atBBVA Compass Stadium. The goal against Philadelphia was his 20th career game-winning goal. He would go on to set a career-high with 30 games in 2012 regular season, tying his career-high of five assists.[29]
Ching signed a deal in early 2013 to return to the Dynamo as a player-coach and later announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2013 season.[34] Ching officially announced his intention to retire at the end of the2013 Major League Soccer season on September 24, 2013, although he played his final professional minutes in a 4–1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, September 8, 2013. He made two more appearances on the match day squad, his last being in aCONCACAF Champions League game on September 25, 2013, but was an unused substitution.
Ching did not feature in the Dynamo's2013 MLS Cup Playoffs run as he was not called up to the matchday squad for any of the playoff games. The Dynamo were eliminated bySporting Kansas City in theEastern Conference championship game on November 23, 2013,[35] thus bringing an official end to Ching's 12-year MLS career.
Although having a Chinese background, and being contacted by theChinese Football Association to play for theChinese team, Ching still earned his firstcap with theU.S. national team on May 26, 2003, as asubstitute in afriendly match againstWales atSpartan Stadium (home stadium of Ching's club at the time,San Jose Earthquakes).[6] He is the first Hawaiian and the second Chinese-American (afterMark Chung) to play for the United States. Ching scored his first international goal, an equalizer in the 88th minute, in aWorld Cup qualifier 1–1 tie againstJamaica in Kingston on August 18, 2004.[36][37][38]
On May 2, 2006, Ching was named to the U.S. men's squad for the2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany but did not make an appearance in the tournament.
He scored a goal in a 2–0 USCONCACAF Gold Cup victory overTrinidad and Tobago on June 9, 2007. He drew a penalty in the box of the second half of the Gold Cup Final against Mexico.Landon Donovan converted the penalty, tying the game at one. The USA won 2–1 afterBenny Feilhaber's game winner.
Ching was called in to the USA side to faceBarbados in the first round ofCONCACAF World cup Qualifying for the2010 World Cup. He then scored two goals in the US team's largest victory ever, 8–0.
On May 11, 2010, Ching was named to the preliminary U.S. men's squad for the2010 FIFA World Cup inSouth Africa but did not make the final 23-man roster.
| Club | Season | League[nb 1] | Playoffs[nb 2] | Cup[nb 3] | Continental[nb 4] | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2001 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — | 12 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Total | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | |
| Seattle Sounders | 2001 (loan) | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| 2002 | 25 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 29 | 17 | 8 | |||
| Total | 31 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 20 | 9 | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2003 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 7 | 2 |
| 2004 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 13 | 5 | |
| 2005 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 8 | 5 | |||
| Total | 56 | 25 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 28 | 12 | |
| Houston Dynamo | 2006 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 26 | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2007 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 25 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 14 | 7 | |
| 2009 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2010 | 20 | 7 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 3 | |||
| 2011 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 6 | 2 | |||
| 2012 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 6 | 5 | |
| 2013 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 169 | 56 | 22 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 6 | 5 | 224 | 69 | 29 | |
| Career total | 264 | 101 | 43 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 7 | 5 | 339 | 118 | 52 | |
Note that:
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2003[39] | 1 | 0 |
| 2004[40] | 4 | 2 | |
| 2005[41] | 6 | 0 | |
| 2006[42] | 9 | 2 | |
| 2007[43] | 5 | 1 | |
| 2008[44] | 7 | 4 | |
| 2009[45] | 11 | 1 | |
| 2010[46] | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 45 | 11 | |
| Result | Competition | Location | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | August 18, 2004 | Independence Park,Kingston, Jamaica |  Jamaica | 1 – 1 | 1 – 1 | |
| 02. | October 9, 2004 | Gillette Stadium,Foxborough, USA |  El Salvador | 1 – 0 | 2 – 0 | |
| 03. | February 19, 2006 | Pizza Hut Park,Frisco, USA |  Guatemala | 2 – 0 | 4 – 0 | |
| 04. | May 26, 2006 | Cleveland Browns Stadium,Cleveland, USA |  Venezuela | 1 – 0 | 2 – 0 | |
| 05. | June 9, 2007 | Home Depot Center,Carson, USA |  Trinidad and Tobago | 2 – 0 | 2 – 0 | |
| 06. | June 15, 2008 | Home Depot Center,Carson, USA |  Barbados | 3 – 0 | 8 – 0 | |
| 07. | June 15, 2008 | Home Depot Center,Carson, USA | Barbados | 8 – 0 | 8 – 0 | |
| 08. | September 10, 2008 | Toyota Park,Bridgeview, USA | Trinidad and Tobago | 2 – 0 | 3 – 0 | |
| 09. | June 21, 2008 | RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., USA |  Cuba | 4 – 1 | 6 – 1 | |
| 10. | July 8, 2009 | RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., USA |  Honduras | 2 – 0 | 2 – 0 | |
| 11. | February 24, 2010 | Raymond James Stadium,Tampa, Florida, USA | El Salvador | 1 – 1 | 2 – 1 |
TheHouston Dynamo re-signed Ching in March 2013 to serve as a player/coach in this his last year playing.[47] Under his last contract with the MLS club, Ching served the title of assistant coach.[48]
On December 23, 2013, theHouston Dash named Ching as the inaugural managing director theNWSL franchise.[49][50] Ching manages the day-to-day duties on both the business and technical sides under the supervision of Dash and Dynamo team president Chris Canetti.[49] The role shares similar responsibilities as the general manager tag, with the addition of branding Ching as "the face of the team" so that he can gin up sales and awareness by making himself publicly available as the face of the organization.[50][51] While his focus will be primarily with the Dash, Ching will also advise Canetti and head coachDominic Kinnear as needed on the technical side with the Dynamo.[49]
Note: Only regular season matches are shown for the MLS teams
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | Win % | |||
| Houston Dynamo (assistant) | March 2013 | December 2013 | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 041.18 |
| Houston Dash (managing director) | December 2013 | January 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | !— |
| Total | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 041.18 | ||
On September 24, 2013, theHouston Dynamo and Dynamo Charities announced a Brian Ching Testimonial Match to celebrate the career of the retiring forward, with proceeds from the match to benefit Ching's charitable initiative, The House That Ching Built.[52] The match, which took place on December 13, 2013, featured historical Dynamo players as well as Ching's old teammates from other MLS clubs and the U.S. national team. Ching's Orange Team won 6–4 and Ching scored five goals to close the curtain on his career.[53]
          Orange |      White |
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Man of the Match: | Match rules
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My legacy? I just want to be known as a hardworking guy who overachieved and is a winner. I think there's always been more talented people out there and whatnot. But I've accomplished a lot, more than I ever thought I would, because of my desire and my desire to compete.
— Brian Ching in an interview with theHouston Chronicle[4]
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders
San Jose Earthquakes
Houston Dynamo
United States
Individual
Each fall since 2012, Ching andKroger honored members of the Houston community who were chosen as "Ching's Champions."[55] The Ching's Champions initiative was started by Ching and Kroger as a way to pay tribute to those members of the Houston community who perform selfless acts for others. Each of the winners gets to take part in a shopping spree with Ching at a Houston-area Kroger.
Eight champions were selected in 2012 from the group of nominees and each winner received a Ching's Champions medal and a four-minute shopping spree at Kroger. The 2012 winners collected over $7,700 worth of groceries.[55] In 2013, the five "champions" were able to secure over $9,000 of groceries and merchandise during the 250-second shopping spree.[55][56]
In 2009, Ching made a commitment to give back to his adopted community by raising money to build an affordable home through HoustonHabitat for Humanity.[57] With the support of Dynamo Charities and MLS W.O.R.K.S., Ching has raised $75,000 to sponsor the build through personal appearances, events, individual giving and corporate partnerships.[57]
The funds raised exceeded Ching's initial goal and allowed Houston Habitat to upgrade the home with green features, including solar panels and a solar hot water heater through a grant fromGreen Mountain Energy. The Milby Park build was completed in 2010 and welcomed the Urbano family with a home dedication in May 2011.[57]
Along with the announcement of the testimonial match to be played in honor of his retirement at the end of the 2013 season, Ching committed to fundraise $85,000 to build a "green" house for another local Houston family in need.[58] Almost half of the donations for the 2013 project were provided by Dynamo ownersAnschutz Entertainment Group, Brenner Sports & Entertainment andGolden Boy Sports & Entertainment.[58]
On March 8, 2012,BBVA Compass announced Ching as their social-media ambassador to promote causes important to Ching, his team and the bank.[59] Among other things like charity work and appearances, Ching uses Facebook and Twitter to encourage his followers to contribute to "Building a Better Houston", BBVA Compass' community-service initiative with the Dynamo.[59]
PLEX is the performance center of Ching and other athletes like fellow Dynamo alumniStuart Holden,NFL quarterback and Katy productAndy Dalton, and NFL defensive endJulius Peppers.[60]
PUMA was the official match boots provider for Ching.[61] As one of PUMA's sponsored Major League Soccer players, Ching kicked offBreast Cancer Awareness Month 2011 in limited-edition Project Pink v1.11 boots, showing support for his female counterparts during the Dynamo's home game on October 1 versus theChicago Fire.[62]
Ching hosted his own sports segment onKHOU, "Kickin' It with Brian Ching", on which he offered up advice on everything soccer from becoming a professional soccer player to befriending theStairMaster."[63][64][65]
2002 Open Cup game, Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes. It was the first time we really got a good look at Brian Ching and we felt that Eddie Robinson, at the time, was the most physical and dominating center back in MLS. I thought Brian gave him a good little run around, and a good little throw down every once in a while. It was one of the best physical match-ups I've seen in a soccer match. After the game, the one thing we spoke about is how can we get this guy to come and play for us. We made a trade to get Brian in the 2003 supplemental draft. Little did I know, in 2003, how much success that draft would bring us and I think it goes down, possibly, as one of the best trades ever made in Major League Soccer.
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| Preceded by | Houston Dynamo captain 2010–2012 | Succeeded by |
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