James Riley (soccer)

James Riley

Riley waving to the crowd at Qwest Field
Personal information
Full name	James Riley
Date of birth	(1982-10-27) October 27, 1982 (age 34)
Place of birth	Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Free Agent
Youth career
1998–2001	Colorado Rush
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2004	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	82	(3)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003	Carolina Dynamo	12	(1)
2004	Colorado Springs Blizzard	5	(2)
2005–2007	New England Revolution	70	(1)
2008	San Jose Earthquakes	24	(0)
2009–2011	Seattle Sounders FC	84	(1)
2012	Chivas USA	32	(0)
2013	D.C. United	21	(0)
2014	LA Galaxy	4	(0)
2015	Colorado Rapids	16	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 2, 2015.

James Riley (born October 27, 1982) is a retired American soccer defender who spent eleven seasons in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the New England Revolution (2005–2007), San Jose Earthquakes (2008), Seattle Sounders FC (2009–2011), Chivas USA (2012), DC United (2013), LA Galaxy (2014) and Colorado Rapids (2015). He has been the MLS' director of player relations since May 2016.

Riley played college soccer at Wake Forest University, and in the USL Premier Development League with both Carolina Dynamo and his hometown team, Colorado Springs Blizzard.

New England Revolution drafted Riley in the second round of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, and he acquitted himself well in his rookie season, playing various positions and scoring a goal. He continued to keep himself in the mix in defense, starting the majority of the games in 2006 and 2007.

Riley was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft and subsequently made 24 appearances for the team before being taken by the Seattle Sounders FC in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft. He stayed with Seattle through the 2011 season, helping the club win three consecutive U.S. Open Cup championships.