Jarrod Smith

Jarrod Smith ( born June 20, 1984 in Havelock North ) is a New Zealand soccer player. The striker will play the 2009 season with the Seattle Sounders. His father Ian Smith was a successful cricketer.

Club career

Smith began his active career at the Napier City Rovers and played after 2002 Manawatu AFC. In early 2003 he left New Zealand and moved to the West Virginia University at the local college team, the Mountaineers to play. In four seasons at the University reach him 32 goals in 74 games, including 14 goals in 16 games in his final season at the University.

In 2007 he was selected in the first place by the Canadian MLS team Toronto FC in the MLS Supplemental Draft. In August 2007 he signed for Crystal Palace Baltimore, but was immediately awarded to New Zealand in Hawke's Bay United. After his return he received in early 2008 by Toronto a developmental contract and came during the season to a total of 20 missions. In 2008 he was selected in the MLS Expansion Draft by the Seattle Sounders, the 2009 disputed their first MLS season. Smith was dismissed in July 2009 after an operation out of his contract, up to this time he came only two appearances in the U.S. Open Cup.

National

Smith played for the New Zealand U -20 team and was in the squad of U- 23 in the qualification for the 2004 Summer Olympics, when they narrowly failed to Australia.

In February 2006, he was in a friendly match against Malaysia made ​​its debut in the New Zealand national team. In the summer of 2006 he took part in the New Zealand tour of Europe and came in friendlies against Hungary, Georgia, Estonia and Brazil used. During qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa four times Smith has been used and is with the team in the play- off matches for the World Cup. In the summer of 2009, he was part of the New Zealand squad at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, remained during the tournament, but without use.