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MLS

Chivas USA has lands U.S. international John O'Brien

By Shane Killian
April 4, 2006

After eleven years in Holland, John O'Brien is coming home. The U.S. international has signed with Chivas USA after playing his entire professional career outside of the United States.

The deal seems to be a perfect fit for both sides. Chivas will get one of the most creative players to ever put on a U.S. jersey while O'Brien, 27, will receive valuable first team action leading up to the World Cup.

If healthy, which is always a big "if" with O'Brien, the California native is a lock to make the U.S. roster for Germany 2006. Moving to Chivas will give him the opportunity to show U.S. manager Bruce Arena that he is healthy and able to contribute in June.

"The addition of John adds valuable talent to our squad as we continue our 2006 season," said Chivas USA Head Coach Bob Bradley. "John's combination of experience, creativity and workrate will provide additional depth to our squad as well as valuable leadership for our young players."

O'Brien has vast experience at both the professional and international level. The midfielder has represented the United States national team on 28 occasions while recording three goals and four assists. In the 2002 World Cup he played every minute in the team's historic run to the quarterfinals and scored the memorable first goal in the team's 3-2 opening game victory against Portugal.

"I'm happy to be back home in Los Angeles," O'Brien said. "To Chivas USA's fans, I want to say that I promise to give one hundred percent to help the team win this year."

Professionally, O'Brien has played his entire career in the Dutch first division, having joined the youth system of powerhouse Ajax Amsterdam as a teenager in 1994 after being scouted in the United States and being invited to a tryout two years earlier. From 1999-2005, he was a mainstay at the Amsterdam club, playing 84 official matches. He played a key role for Ajax in the 2001-02 season, when the Amsterdam club won the double (league and cup titles) and he became the first American to play in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League when Ajax faced Milan in 2003. After a series of injuries limited his time with Ajax, O'Brien joined ADO Den Haag in 2005.

O'Brien should be ready to play this weekend against D.C. United and has also been named to the U.S. National Team roster for their game against Jamaica on April 11.