Joey Gjertsen
FullnameJoseph Gjertsen
Birth dateJune 13, 1982 (age 44)
Birth placeTacoma, Washington, United States
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
PositionMidfielder
Collegeyears 12001
College 1Tacoma Titans
Collegegoals 131
Collegeyears 22002
College 2Yavapai Roughriders
Collegeyears 32003–2004
College 3Evergreen State Geoducks
Years 12005–2007
Clubs 1Vancouver Whitecaps
Caps 174
Goals 118
Years 22007–2009
Clubs 2Montreal Impact
Caps 266
Goals 24
Years 32010–2012
Clubs 3San Jose Earthquakes
Caps 336
Goals 32
Years 42014–2019
Clubs 4Tacoma Stars (indoor)
Caps 478
Goals 440
Years 52015–2016
Clubs 5Seattle Sounders FC U-23
Caps 511
Goals 56
Pcupdate26 November 2019

Joey Gjertsen (born June 13, 1982) is an American professional soccer player.

Career

College

Gjertsen started his college soccer at Tacoma Community College where he produced 31 goals and a school record 14 assists in his freshman campaign. He then transferred to Yavapai College where he won a NJCAA national championship. Transferring once again, he enjoyed a successful two-year career at The Evergreen State College, earning All-American honors, All-Region Team and Region I Player of the year honors in 2004. He was named as the Conference Player of the Year, as he led the league with 27 goals in 2003. It was during that same season that he once scored 5 goals and an assist in one game, as well as hitting three consecutive hat-tricks. At Evergreen, Gjertsen holds the record with 54 career goals after spending only two of his four years at the college.[1]

Professional

Gjertsen found instant professional success after signing with Vancouver Whitecaps in 2005. He was named Team Rookie of the Year, earning 27 caps (15 starts) and finding the back of the net three times. 2006 proved to be an even better year for Gjertsen, as he played in all 28 games (26 starts) and led the team in scoring with 31 points (12 goals and 7 assists). He success earned him First Team USL honors, announced in September 2006. On September 29, 2006, Gjertsen was named USL MVP at the league's championship weekend banquet in Rochester, New York.[2] Gjertsen was instrumental in the Whitecaps' first USL-1 championship, won in 2006. His first half cross was deflected into the goal by a Rhinos defender for the first Whitecaps goal, and he assisted on another in Vancouver's 3–0 defeat of the Rochester Rhinos.[3]

Gjertsen was traded to Montreal Impact on July 26, 2007, along with midfielder David Testo for midfielder José Roberto Gomes Santana and forward Alen Marcina.[4] On October 24, 2007, he signed a two-year deal with the club.[5]

He played an important role by starting all 10 games in Montreal's 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League run, scoring in the first leg of Montreal's preliminary round tie against Real Estelí of Nicaragua, which saw Montreal through to the Group Stage. In the final Group Stage match, Gjertsen scored against Atlante F.C. of Mexico in a match which Montreal eventually lost 2–1. He added four assists during this tournament.

In the 2009 USL final, he was influential in Montreal's success, scoring the game-winning goal in the second leg of the Championship series against his former Whitecaps.

On January 20, 2010, Gjertsen signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.[6]

Gjertsen remained with San Jose through 2012, but after missing that entire season due to R. Patellar Tendon surgery he was released on November 28, 2012.[7] Gjertsen subsequently entered the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft and became a free agent after going undrafted in both rounds of the draft.

References

  1. ^ mlssoccer. "Joey Gjertsen | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2026-04-27.
  2. ^ "Canada.Com | Homepage | Canada.Com"
  3. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  4. ^ IMPACT ACQUIRES JOEY GJERTSEN AND DAVID TESTO Archived 2010-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Montreal re-sign 2006 USL-1 MVP". Archived from the original on 2008-05-31. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  6. ^ Gjertsen ne sera pas de retour en 2010 (in French)
  7. ^ "Quakes decline options on five players | San Jose Earthquakes". Archived from the original on 2012-12-12.