Josh Wolff

MLS EXPERIENCE:

2011: At the tender age of 34, Wolff put together one of his finest professional campaigns in his first season with D.C. United. Setting a single-season career-high in games played (30), the veteran striker started 23 matches for Ben Olsen’s side, adding five goals and seven assists. He finished the campaign tied for the team lead in assists with MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario, his best total in that catergory since 2005. Wolff notched United’s first goal of the season on 3/19 against Columbus, and he played a major role in the club’s 2-1 home win over Seattle on 5/4 by providing the opening strike and an assist on Charlie Davies’ goal. He scored the game-tying goal on 8/18 at Toyota Park against his former club, earning United a 1-1 draw in Chicago.

2010: After a career season in 2009, Wolff scored two goals and recorded three assists in his final campaign in Kansas City. The veteran forward saw action in 25 matches, earning the starting nod in 16 contests for the Wizards.

2009: In his 2009 campaign with the Kansas City Wizards, Wolff led his club in goals (11) for the third time in his career and the first time since 2005. Those 11 strikes were a career-high for the MLS veteran. Wolff also set personal records in games played (27) and shots (62).

2008: Wolff returned to the Kansas City Wizards on 6/30 after a stint with the German club 1860 Munich. The veteran wasted little time in finding his form, scoring the game-tying goal in his first game back with Kansas City at the Columbus Crew on 7/17. Wolff finished the season making 12 appearances (11 starts), tallying three goals and three assists in League play.

2006: In 2006, Wolff recorded five goals and two assists in 19 games (18 starts), missing a portion of the season due to time spent with the U.S. National Team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. In September, Wolff earned a trial with English Championship club Derby County, but ultimately his transfer was declined due to visa issues. He secured a move to German side 1860 Munich in December.

2005: Wolff continued having MLS success by putting together a spectacular 2005 campaign, leading the Kansas City Wizards in both goals (10) and assists (10). The 10 goals tied a career-high for Wolff, while his 10 assists were a new career mark for the for the eight-year veteran. Wolff missed 10 MLS games while with the U.S. National Team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

2004: In 2004, Wolff found some luck as he was finally able to put together a healthy season. The explosive forward enjoyed a career year, leading the Kansas City Wizards in goals with 10 strikes, tying a career-high. He also set career-highs for games started (25), minutes played (2,252), points (27) and assists (7). Wolff’s efforts were rewarded by being named to the Western Conference All-Star Team, his second All-Star selection. Memorably, in the 2004 U.S. Open Cup Final versus the Chicago Fire on 9/22, Wolff drew a foul at the top of the area that lead to Igor Simutenkov’s game-winning free-kick in the 95th minute.

2003: Prior to the 2003 season, Wolff was acquired by the Kansas City Wizards in a trade that gave the Chicago Fire the third overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. Once again, Wolff missed significant time throughout the year with injuries including a torn meniscus in his right knee, an ankle injury and a fractured rib. In total, the star forward made 13 appearances (nine starts), tallying two goals and one assist on the season.

2002: A string of injury-riddled seasons continued for Wolff as he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee versus the Kansas City Wizards on 8/14, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. In spite of only playing in 14 games, Wolff remarkably finished second on the Chicago Fire with five goals in 2002. He also earned his first All-Star selection by being named to the Eastern Conference All-Star squad.

2001: Despite only playing in three games due to a left-foot stress fracture, Wolff tallied two goals for the Chicago Fire in three League appearances.

2000: Wolff appeared in 25 games for the Chicago Fire in 2000, making a career-high 20 starts. The forward scored seven goals in addition to adding a career-high five assists. Three of his goals were game-winning strikes for the Fire. He was also the U.S. Open Cup’s second-leading scorer with 6 goals and 2 assists, including the “golden goal” in the semifinal. Wolff appeared in the final 20 minutes of the 2000 MLS Cup against Kansas City on 10/15.

1999: Wolff continued his scoring ways in 1999 by recording 10 goals for the Chicago Fire, good for second most on the roster behind Ante Razov. He appeared in 28 straight games (17 starts) before tearing his left ACL, which kept him off the field for six months.  Wolff also tallied two assists on the season.

1998: Wolff took MLS by storm during his rookie season with the Chicago Fire, scoring an MLS rookie record eight goals in only 14 games (14 starts). He also scored one Open Cup goal and drew a penalty kick in the U.S. Open Cup Final versus the Columbus Crew to help Chicago to its first title in 1998. The forward tallied his first career MLS assist versus the Kansas City Wizards on August 29. Wolff played in all five of Chicago’s playoff games (three starts), for a total of 262 minutes in an MLS Cup-winning campaign.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2007-2008: In Wolff’s only season outside of Major League Soccer, the forward played in Germany for 1860 Munich of the Second Bundesliga. Wolff scored two goals during his tenure with the club in 34 appearances, and was waived after one season.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

1998-2008: Wolff has made 52 appearances for the U.S. National Team, scoring nine goals and adding five assists. His last international outing was on 2/1/08. The forward gained immense experience as a two-time member of U.S. World Cup squads in Korea/Japan (2002) and in Germany (2006). Wolff made two appearances for the U.S. at the 2002 World Cup and assisted on Brian McBride’s game-winning goal against Mexico that propelled the U.S. into the quarterfinals. He also scored the game-winning goal in the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica on 2/2/02. In the first game of the final World Cup qualifying phase against rival Mexico on 2/28/01, Wolff scored a goal and added an assist in the United States’ 2-0 victory. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, he played every minute of the United States’ six games en route to scoring two goals for the Americans. Wollf was the recipient of the first-ever Chevrolet/U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year Award in 1998.

COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

1995-1997: Wolff played for three seasons at the University of South Carolina alongside United States National Team star Clint Mathis. He tallied 21 goals and eight assists in 43 games before departing after his junior season for Major League Soccer. He was named to the Soccer America All-Freshman Team in 1995.

ACQUIRED

Signed with D.C. United after being selected with the first pick in Stage 2 of the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft