Jeff Cassar (born February 2, 1974 in Livonia, Michigan) is an American soccer goalkeeper, who currently plays for F.C. Dallas of Major League Soccer.
Cassar played college soccer at Florida International University, where he was roommates with Steve Ralston. Following his graduation, he was selected 8th overall in the 1996 MLS College Draft by the Dallas Burn. Although Cassar made the team, Mark Dodd took firm hold of the starting position, and Cassar only appeared in two games that season. After spending all of the 1997 season injured with a torn ACL, Cassar was selected 10th overall in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft by the Miami Fusion. Cassar started much of the Fusion's inaugural season, appearing in 21 games, all starts, and compiling a GAA of 1.95. After splitting starting duties with Garth Lagerway in 1999, Cassar lost his job to Nick Rimando, and would start just ten games for Miami in 2000 and 2001. Upon Miami's contraction at the end of the 2001 season, Cassar was again selected by the Burn in the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft, but failing to make the team, went looking for work overseas. Cassar found a job as the backup for the Bolton Wanderers in England, and would remain with the team from March to June of 2002.
Cassar returned to the United States at the end of the English season, and signed with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the A-League, for whom he appeared in six games. Cassar joined Dallas for a third time the next year, signing on as a backup for D.J. Countess following Matt Jordan's departure for Europe. Cassar appeared in seven games for the Burn in 2003, doing a passable, if unexceptional, job for the team. Following the 2003 season, the Burn brought in a new coach, Colin Clarke, who traded away Countess and replaced him with Scott Garlick. Although Garlick began the season as the team's starting goalkeeper, an injury midseason gave Cassar the opportunity to sieze the position, which he did with a series of impressive performances; he ended the season as the club's starting goalkeeper, having made 19 starts.
See also
Last updated: 08-26-2005 11:34:54
