Craig Waibel

Outlook

An original Dynamo player, fan favorite, and sturdy defender at right back.

MLS Experience

2009: Veteran appeared in 13 games, including eight starts, and scored one goal … Made first start of the season and scored second-half goal from a corner kick in 3-1 win vs. SJ on 5/23 … Started four consecutive games from 5/23-6/10, helping Dynamo to four wins … Started on 6/20 vs. RSL but left after eight minutes due to hamstring injury … Started consecutive games on 7/11, 7/18, and 7/25 … 08-09 Champions League: Started second leg of quarterfinal series at Atlante on 3/3 … Open Cup: Did not appear … 09-10 Champions League: Played all 90 minutes in four of six group stage games … Became eighth Dynamo player to make 100 starts for club in all competitions when he started at Pachuca on 9/16.

2008: Started 14 games at right back and notched three assists … Made back-to-back starts on 5/28 and 5/31 after being injured in Champions' Cup match on 4/9 … Played left-footed cross to Brian Ching for goal vs. FCD on 6/26 … Played through ball that led to Ching's goal vs. RSL on 8/16 … Earned assist by setting up Nate Jaqua on 9/7 vs. KC … Champions' Cup: Played both Champions' Cup quarterfinal matches … Started Champions' Cup second leg at Saprissa on 4/9 but re-aggravated hamstring injury and left in sixth minute … SuperLiga: Started all five games in run to tournament final … Flick header set up Bobby Boswell for game-winning goal on 7/29 vs. Pachuca in semifinal … Scored in championship game shootout at NE on 8/5 … Champions League: Started four of six matches … Scored twice in 4-4 tie at Pumas on 9/30, his first goals since scoring twice on 10/14/06 against COL … Reserves: Made five starts on the back line for the Dynamo Reserves.

2007: Veteran defender played in 21 games, making 18 starts, and recorded two assists … Named Dynamo's Humanitarian of the Year for second consecutive season in Houston and fifth straight year overall … Returned from injury on 5/26 at DC and set up Dwayne De Rosario's goal in 2-1 loss … Also recorded an assist in 2-1 loss vs. LA on 10/7 … Playoffs: Started all four games in the playoffs … Made sterling play to set up clinching goal in Western Conference final vs. KC on 11/10, beating a defender and threading a pass to Dwayne De Rosario in the penalty area … Also assisted on winning goal in the MLS Cup final on 11/18, passing to Brad Davis before his cross set up De Rosario … Champions' Cup: Started all four matches … Played the full 90 minutes in both legs of the quarterfinal series vs. Puntarenas … Received a yellow card and conceded a penalty kick in the first leg at Puntarenas on 2/21 … SuperLiga: Played every minute of the group stage, helping Houston to a 2-0-1 record and spot in the semifinals, which he missed due to injury … Reserves: Started four games for the Dynamo Reserves.

2006: Scored a career-high five goals … Earned Dynamo's Humanitarian of the Year award … First goal came on 4/22 vs. RSL in a 2-1 victory … Scored game's only goal in 1-0 Houston win vs. FCD on 8/12 … Scored his third goal on 9/10 at LA in 2-1 victory … Notched his first career two-goal game in the season finale on 10/14 vs. COL in a 3-3 draw … Had an own goal vs. NE on 7/22 in a 1-1 tie … Playoffs: Earned yellow card in MLS Cup against New England … Open Cup: Did not appear until starting 3-1 semifinal loss at LA on 9/6.

2005: Named the Earthquakes' Humanitarian of the Year for the third straight season … Made season debut on 4/2 vs. NE, starting and playing 90 minutes … Recorded assist on 4/23 vs. KC … Suffered torn LCL and ACL on 5/10 vs. Santa Clara in scrimmage and was placed on season-ending injury list after only six games.

2004: Named the Earthquakes co-Humanitarian of the Year … Scored first career goal on 5/8 vs. MET … Left game on 7/7 vs. FCD due to right hamstring strain … Entered as a sub in the 89th minute on 8/14 at KC to play for first time since 7/7 vs. FCD … Started and played 67 minutes on 9/4 at NE, recorded an assist on game-winning goal … Playoffs: Played 90 minutes vs. KC on 10/24 … Played 90 minutes at KC on 10/30 … Champions' Cup: Played 90 minutes on 3/17 at Alajuelense… Open Cup: Played 20 minutes on 8/4 at Minnesota.

2003: Named the Earthquakes 2003 Humanitarian of the Year … Made Earthquakes MLS debut on 4/12 at COL and earned yellow card … Registered first two assists of Earthquakes career on 7/2 at MET … Playoffs: Entered as a sub in 72nd minute on 11/1 at LA and received yellow card … Started and played 89 minutes on 11/9 vs. LA … Played 81 minutes on 11/15 vs. KC … Started and played 51 minutes on 11/23 in MLS Cup final vs. CHI and received a yellow card … Champions' Cup: Started and played 63 minutes at CSD Municipal on 3/16 … Played full 90 minutes vs. CSD Municipal on 3/26 … Open Cup: Played 63 minutes on 8/5 at Seattle.

2002: Appeared in 12 games for the LA Galaxy, registering one assist … Started and played 94 minutes on 5/4 at KC and recorded first assist of season … Playoffs: Played 28 minutes on 10/2 in win over KC and registered an assist … Started and played 90 minutes on 10/9 in win over COL.

2001: Played for LA Galaxy during its winning campaign in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in January … Signed by the Los Angeles Galaxy on May 4, 2001 as a Discovery Pick … Appeared in nine games with Los Angeles, starting two matches … Made first appearance with Galaxy on 5/19 vs. FCD, coming on as a substitute in the 91st minute for Adam Frye … Recorded his first MLS assist on 8/18 versus TB, setting up Cobi Jones in the 79th minute.

2000: Called up by the Colorado Rapids on 4/28 … Made MLS debut on 4/29 against KC … Played 57 minutes on 5/17 at NE … Began training with LA Galaxy in December 2000.

Other Professional Experience

Started and played 27 regular season games for the A-League's Seattle Sounders in 2000 and scored three goals … Scored one goal in three playoff games in 2000 … Netted one goal in 27 regular season matches and three playoff games with Seattle Sounders in 1999 … Third on Sounders in minutes played with 2,316 in 1999 … Drafted by Seattle in the first round of the 1999 A-League Draft with the 17th selection overall.

College

Scored four goals and registered one assist during his career at the University of Washington … Scored all of his points during his senior year … Started 42 of 56 career games at Washington … Named first-team All-Mountain Pacific Soccer Federation and third-team All-Far West as a senior.

Youth Club

Spokane (WA) Falcons, coached by Ardi Kohel

Personal

Married wife Julie in 2001 … Co-winner of the A-League's 1999 Community Relations Player of the Year Award … Siblings include twin brother Chad, older brother Dave and older sister Jennifer … Speech communication major at University of Washington … Nicknamed "Waibs" … Enjoys country music, golf, doing crossword puzzles, and playing Scrabble … Served as color analyst on San?Jose Earthquakes radio broadcasts in 2005 … Favorite soccer memory is quarterfinal win over the Galaxy in 2003 … If not playing soccer, would play hockey because "it's the single greatest sport on earth."