Ali Krieger

Ali Krieger

File:AliKrieger-US-June2014.jpg Krieger with United States Women's National Soccer Team, June 2014
Personal information
Full name	Alexandra Blaire Krieger
Date of birth	(1984-07-28) July 28, 1984
Place of birth	Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder Defender
Team information
Current team	Washington Spirit
Number	11
Youth career
2003–2006	Penn State Nittany Lions
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005	Northern Virginia Majestics	1	(0)
2006–2007	Washington Freedom	7	(0)
2007–2011	1. FFC Frankfurt	52	(1)
2009	→ Washington Freedom (loan)	10	(0)
2011–2012	1. FFC Frankfurt	11	(1)
2013–	Washington Spirit	40	(2)
2013	→ Tyresö FF (loan)	7	(0)
International career‡
2003–2004	United States U-19	4	(0)
	United States U-21/U-23
2008–	United States	79	(1)
Medal record FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Canada Team 2011 Germany Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 26, 2013 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 13, 2015

Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger (born July 28, 1984) is an American soccer player, FIFA Women's World Cup champion and silver medalist. Primarily a defender, she is a member of the United States women's national soccer team and currently captains the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League. Krieger was part of the defense that held opponents scoreless for a record 540 minutes and helped lead the United States to become 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup champions. She started in all seven matches for the United States in the 2015 tournament, and she played every minute of all six United States matches at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She recovered from a serious knee injury incurred in an Olympic-qualifying match for the 2012 Summer Olympics, but not in time to be selected for the competition itself in London.

Krieger played for Tyresö FF of Sweden's Damallsvenskan in 2013, on a short term contract. She previously spent five years in Germany with 1. FFC Frankfurt from 2007 to 2012, where she became fluent in German and won the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Early life

Krieger was born in Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Dumfries, Virginia. Coached by her father for 12 years, she played youth soccer on Prince William Soccer Inc. (PWSI) teams. Her team included eight core players who grew up and played together all 12 years. In high school, Krieger spent one year at Hylton High School before transferring to newly opened Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia. At Forest Park, she was a three-year team captain, led her team to their first undefeated regular season and was a three-time, first-team all district player. She was twice named an All-Virginia AAA selection and was an All-Met Honorable mention during her sophomore year. During her junior and senior years, she was a first team All-Met selection and as a senior was named The Washington Post's Player of the Year. Krieger was also honored as Gatorade's state player of the year in her final year at Forest Park.

Penn State University

Krieger attended Penn State University from 2003 to 2006 where she played for the Nittany Lions women's soccer team. With the team, she was a two-time All-American, a first team NSCAA All-American, co-defensive player of the year, team captain, Big-Ten Freshman of the year and a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. While at Penn State, her team won four consecutive Big Ten championships.

During her junior year, Krieger's leg was broken two days before the NCAA College Cup preventing her from playing during the top-level tournament. A few months later in January 2005, Krieger began experiencing shortness of breath and checked into the hospital as a precaution. Blood clots in her lungs were affecting her blood flow and had triggered six mini heart attacks. She subsequently made a full recovery and returned to play with the Nittany Lions the same year. During her senior season, she switched from the midfield position to defense and earned the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year award.

Playing career

Professional

1. FFC Frankfurt, 2007–11

File:2011-08 Ali Krieger.JPG

Ali Krieger with 1. FFC Frankfurt, 2011

In the summer of 2007, Krieger moved with fellow American Gina Lewandowski to 1. FFC Frankfurt, where she remained in the starting eleven since the beginning of the 2007 season, barring injury. In a game against FCR 2001 Duisburg on 24 February 2008, Krieger scored her first goal for FFC Frankfurt in the 73rd minute. While injured for most of the 2008–2009 season, she regained match fitness with Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. Following the conclusion of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Krieger returned to Germany in August 2009 and was slotted straight into the starting 11 for FFC Frankfurt. Having spent four years with FFC Frankfurt, Krieger became fluent in German and considered Germany her second home.

In February 2010, Krieger's contract with FFC Frankfurt was extended early for an additional year through June 2011, with a player's option year through 2012. Her contract allowed her to compete on the U.S. Women's National Team, and U.S. Women's World Cup team. In March 2011, Krieger announced she would not return to 1. FFC Frankfurt and would return to the United States to concentrate on earning a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team in preparation for the World Cup. She left open the possibility of playing again in Germany after the World Cup and the following year's Olympics. In her final game on March 26, 2011 for FFC Frankfurt against defending champion 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, Krieger played all ninety minutes as her team won the German Women's cup competition (DFB Pokal).

Krieger spent a few weeks traveling and making appearances following the World Cup. Despite the extensive travel demands required to be part of the U. S. Women's National Team during an Olympic qualifying year, Krieger missed her team and the high quality soccer she enjoyed in Germany. She decided in August 2011 to rejoin FFC Frankfurt, signing a two-year contract. In December 2012, Krieger requested and was granted release from her FFC Frankfurt contract to return to the United States. On January 11, 2013 she joined Washington Spirit in the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Washington Freedom, 2009

In September 2008, Krieger was named one of Women's Professional Soccer's initial twenty-one allocated players from the United States Women's National Team, having been assigned to Washington Freedom. However, due to her contract with 1. FFC Frankfurt, she was initially unavailable to join the Freedom. Frankfurt agreed to a transfer in June 2009 following the conclusion of their season, which allowed Krieger to return from injury and regain match fitness. Her first match for Washington Freedom was on June 13, 2009. Initially recovering from a foot injury suffered in Germany, she rounded into shape and played her best in the final games of the season helping to lead the Freedom in securing a playoff position.

Washington Spirit, 2013–present

In January 2013, Krieger was allocated to the Washington Spirit for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League, along with goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and midfielder Lori Lindsey via the NWSL Player Allocation. Krieger appeared in 18 games and started 16, tallying 1 goal and playing 1,412 minutes for the Washington Spirit, playing both outside back and in the midfield.

Tyresö FF, 2013

After signing a short term contract through November 2013, Krieger played her first game for Tyresö FF on August 21, 2013 just days after the end of the NWSL season. She joined U.S. national teammates Christen Press, Ashlyn Harris, Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg on the team. During her seven appearances for the club, the team went undefeated. While some American players delayed their return from Sweden, to try and win the UEFA Women's Champions League, Krieger and Harris returned to the Washington Spirit for the start of the 2014 campaign.

International

United States Women's National Soccer Team

File:2011 United States women's national soccer team players with Hillary Clinton.jpg

2011 United States women's national soccer team players, Jillian Loyden, Nicole Barnhart, Lori Lindsey, and Ali Krieger, with United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Krieger made her first appearance with the United States women's national soccer team in the Four Nations Cup in China, on 16 January 2008 against Canada. She was named in October 2010 to the 18 player roster of the U. S. Women's National Team to play in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Cancun, Mexico. She started all four matches, helping the U.S. Women's National Team win the Algarve Cup in March 2011.

Krieger scored the fifth and decisive penalty kick after extra time against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. The match, played on July 10, 2011, marked the 12 year anniversary of the United States Women's National Soccer Team's championship win against China, also ending in a shootout. She was one of only four players for the United States to start and play all 600 minutes of the tournament. She was named to Fox Soccer's Best 11 as the best right back in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

File:Alexandra Krieger.jpg

Krieger during a friendly against Ireland in San Jose

Krieger was named to the roster of the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, but suffered ACL and MCL tears in her right leg in the first match against the Dominican Republic, jeopardizing her participation in the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She returned to Germany and immersed herself in an intensive rehabilitation program. By the middle of May she began rebuilding the strength in her knee and was running, training and kicking a soccer ball. Krieger was available to be selected to the Olympics, however the final team roster was named early prior to her complete recovery.

In December 2012, she returned to the United States to concentrate on the United States Women's National Team and in her first camp since her devastating injury the year before moved right into her starting spot on the defensive back line. New USWNT coach Tom Sermanni, commenting on her play against Scotland on September 2, 2013 said, "The way she played tonight is the way she is in training. She’s solid. She’s uncompromising. She’s one of those players you wouldn’t want to be playing against week in and week out. So it’s great to see that energy and enthusiasm coming back in this squad.”

Krieger played almost every minute of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, including every minute of the finale against Japan. She helped the U.S. team record five shutouts over the course of the seven-game run.

International goals

	Key (expand for notes on “international goals” and sorting)
Location	Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred Sorted by country name first, then by city name
Lineup	Start – played entire match on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time (c) – captain Sorted by minutes played
Min	The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal.
Assist/pass	The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information.
penalty or pk	Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.)
Score	The match score after the goal was scored. Sorted by goal difference, then by goal scored by the player's team
Result	The final score. Sorted by goal difference in the match, then by goal difference in penalty-shoot-out if it is taken, followed by goal scored by the player's team in the match, then by goal scored in the penalty-shoot-out. For matches with identical final scores, match ending in extra-time without penalty-shoot-out is a tougher match, therefore precede matches that ended in regulation
aet	The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation
pso	Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parenthesis; the match was tied at the end of extra-time
	Light-yellow background color – match at an invitational tournament
NOTE: some keys may not apply for a particular football player

Goal	Date	Location	Opponent	Lineup	Min	Score	Result	Competition
1	2013-03-08	Albufeira	China PR	Start	32	2–0	5–0	2013 Algarve Cup – group stage

Honors

• 2015: Women's World Cup Champion
• 2011: Fox Soccer's Best of Eleven 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
• 2008: UEFA Women's Champions League Championship
• 2008 & 2011: German Cup Championship
• 2008: Bundesliga (women) Championship
• 2007: W-League Championship (Washington Freedom)
• 2006: NCAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year (Penn State)
• 2004: "Big Ten Freshman of the Year" (Penn State)
• 2003: Gatorade's Virginia State Player of the Year (Forest Park High School)
• 2003: First Team All-Met and Player of the Year (Forest Park High School)
• 2002: First Team All-Met (Forest Park High School)

In popular culture

Video Games

Krieger was featured along with her national teammates in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series in FIFA 16, the first time women players were included in the game.

Ticker Tape Parade and White House Honor

Following the United States' win at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Krieger and her teammates became the first women's sports team to be honored with a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City. Each player received a key to the city from Mayor Bill de Blasio. In October of the same year, the team was honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.

External links

• Ali Krieger – FIFA competition record
• Official website
• US Soccer player profile
• Washington Spirit player profile
• Washington Freedom (WPS) player profile
• Washington Freedom (W-League) player profile
• 2008 Summer Olympics player profile dead link
• Ali Krieger on Twitter