How it all came to be...
Brian Dunseth was raised in Upland, California and started playing in the local American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). Dunseth ended up really enjoying soccer and started playing club for the Upland Celtics. As Dunseth got better, he played on different teams which included the Claremont Stars, Diamond Bar Warriors and finally the California Flyers. He was fortunate to have a lot of good coaches along the way who helped him get better each year.
Dunseth played everything growing up, but soccer ended up being the sport that he thought was more fun for him. He took his talents to Damien High School where he enjoyed a successful four-year soccer career as a midfielder and forward. Out of high school, Dunseth did not receive an athletic scholarship, but ended up choosing Cal-State Fullerton to attend school and play soccer. He played the 1995 and 1996 seasons at Fullerton, and it was during his freshman year that the coaches decided to put him in at defender. He learned the position fast and during his sophomore season in 1996, Dunseth scored one goal and added four assists from a defensive position.
After two seasons at Cal-State Fullerton, Dunseth joined Major League Soccer when he was assigned to New England Revolution on June 5, 1997. Dunseth played in five games, starting one in his rookie season for the Revs. The next year, Dunseth started 15 of his 18 games during his first full season with New England. During the same year, Dunseth was selected to be a member of the Project-40 team and toured England with them. He was the second member of Project-40 to be signed to the League. The 2000 season with the Revs proved to be very successful on many levels. In Dunseth's fourth season in MLS, he appeared and started in 22 matches. Dunseth missed some MLS games due to 2000 Olympic Qualifying with the United States Under-23 National Team and was selected as the captain. He finally scored his first MLS career goal, the game-tying strike, in the 1-1 OT draw with Miami on April 30.
In 2001, New England traded Dusneth to the Miami Fusion in exchange for Jay Heaps and a second round 2003 MLS SuperDraft pick on June 20, 2001. After playing eight games for the Revs, Dunseth made his Fusion debut versus Columbus Crew on June 30. After just one season with the Fusion, Dunseth was selected in the First Round (Seventh overall) of the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft by Columbus on Jan. 11, 2002. Dunseth appeared in 27 matches for Columbus, starting 26 of them and was named the Crew's 2002 U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year for his contributions to the greater-Columbus community. The next season there came yet another team change for Dunseth. After 19 games with Columbus, where Dunseth registered one goal and one assist, he headed to the Dallas Burn via a trade with Columbus Crew for a conditional 2004 MLS SuperDraft pick on Aug. 21, 2003. With Dallas, Dunseth scored one goal and had one assist. After the 2003 season, his seventh in the MLS, Dunseth decided to take his talents abroad. He signed as a free transfer with Bodens BK of the Swedish Superettan and was named the 2004 MVP in Norrbotten by the leading local paper. According to Dunseth, his success in Sweden made him a better player. He described international play as very different because there are no weak players on any teams and different countries play different styles. Although the travel is tough, Dunseth got the chance to travel to countries he might never have gone to. Dunseth describes playing in Sweden "a great experience but you have to be willing to be away from home and to learn a different culture."
After a successful international experience, he took his talents back to the United States and the MLS. He was traded from the Dallas Burn, now known as FC Dallas, to Real Salt Lake in exchange for RSL's Fourth Round 2007 MLS SuperDraft pick on Jan. 1, 2005. Dunseth really enjoys being a part of Real Salt Lake. Dunseth explains that having a lot of MLS veterans on the new team along with international players, amazing rookies and an outstanding coaching staff is a great foundation and the good people surrounding the team will give everyone a fresh start.
One thing that someone might not know about Brian Dunseth is that he dabbles in fashion when he's not out on the soccer field. In 2004, he started his own fashion line called bumpypitch which serves as a line of clothing specifically for soccer players. Dunseth's vision was that skaters and snowboarders have their own fashion line, so why not soccer players? His clothing line includes shirts, hats and hoodies for men and women.
Coach Ellinger's Call...
"Brian was the captain of the Olympic team in Sydney who is a great leader. He is a strong defender and good in the air and one on one tackling. He brings a lot of bite to the position and can definitely get forward and score on set pieces. Brian is also a perfectionist who works really hard to get better everyday."
Field Vision: Midfielder Leighton O'Brien says...
"Brian has good leadership qualities both on and off the field. He can strike the ball with both feet and is extremely good in the air. He can read the game very well which helps me and the players around him."
Things you need to know...
Nickname:
Dunny
Hobbies:
Reading, coaching and mountain biking
Most memorable moments:
U-20 World Championship in Malaysia and the 2000 Olympics
Favorite music:
Reggae and hip-hop
Favorite movie:
What Dreams May Come
Favorite food:
Mexican
Favorite book:
Bible
Favorite TV show:
The OC
Favorite athlete outside of soccer:
Dennis Rodman
Greatest accomplishments:
My friends and family
Charities/causes:
All of them
