Daniel Welsh

COACHES' BREAKDOWN: "Has been playing right centerback at UCSB, but should probably move out to right back at the MLS level. Scottish, so he's tough. Reads the game well. Extremely athletic, can run anybody down. Can take a touch and beat guys on the run, can get up and down the line, and is good at defending. ... A little bit below Joe Sofia ... Good not great."

COLLEGE: 2013: For the second straight season, Welsh anchored the UCSB center back pairing after dealing with injuries to Peter Schmetz ... Appeared in all but one game for the Gauchos, starting 18 ... Allowed one goal or less in five of six games to close the season after pairing with Nick DePuy in the back ... Named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Nov. 12 after shutting down Cal Poly's Mackenzie Pridham in a nationally televised 2-0 win over the Mustangs ... Saw time at right back for short spells in the middle of the season ... 2012: Started 17 games on the backline for the Gauchos, tied for the most among the team's defenders ... Contributed to four UCSB clean sheets ... Named to the All-Big West Second Team... 2010-11 (at UMBC): Attended University of Maryland Baltimore County for his first two years of college… Garnered 2011 NSCAA All-Northeast Region Third Team, 2011 All-America East Second Team, and 2010 America East All-Rookie Team honors while playing with the Retrievers… Scored two goals during his freshman campaign and made a total of 29 starts in two seasons with UMBC… Helped his team to an America East Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance in 2010… Was named to the 2011 America East All-Tournament Team and the BWI Classic All-Tournament Team.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Attended Stewart's Melville College, competing in track and field and winning Edinburgh District Gold in the 800m and 400m... Also won District Gold in cross country... Played and served as the captain for the Scotland U18 National Team… Played with Livingston F.C. and won the National U19 League Championship as his team set a record with 94 goals scored across 20 games… Also won the National U19 League Cup Tournament and made a National SFA Youth Cup U19 Semifinals appearance, losing to eventual-winners, Celtic F.C.… Advanced to the National SFA Youth Cup U19 Semifinals while playing for Inverness F.C.… While playing for Cowdenbeath F.C., he won the National U17 League Championship, the National U17 League Cup Tournament and the Manchester International Cup… Also played for Hearts F.C.… Noteworthy opposition includes Galtasaray, Udinese, Parma, Aresenal, Liverpool, Sporting Lisbon, Celtic and Rangers. 

PERSONAL: Daniel Welsh was born on March 25, 1991 in Dundee, Scotland… Parents are Brian and Susan Welsh… Has two younger siblings, Michael and Christopher… Majored in sociology… Can’t do without his phone… Cheers for Manchester City and his favorite athletes are Lionel Messi and Vincent Kompany… Favorite movie is “Braveheart”… Enjoys watching FOX Soccer… Favorite read is George Best’s autobiography.