Chandler Hoffman
Jon Chandler Hoffman (born August 17, 1990 in Birmingham) is a professional soccer forward formerly with Birmingham Legion FC and Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.
Hoffman, the son of Jon and Angie Hoffman, was valedictorian of his 2008 class at Oak Mountain High School, and was also a two-time Alabama high school soccer player of the year and a star for the Birmingham United club team. He played college soccer at the University of California at Los Angeles between 2009 and 2011. He was an NSCAA third-team All-American, a first-team NSCAA All-Far West selection, a first-team All-Pac-12 honoree, and Pac-12 All-Academic.
Hoffman also played in the USL Premier Development League for the Panama City Pirates in 2009 and the Orange County Blue Star in 2010 and 2011.
After his junior season at UCLA, Hoffman accepted a Generation Adidas contract from Major League Soccer. He attended the MLS Player Combine in January 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was selected in the 1st Round (13th overall) by the Philadelphia Union in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.
Hoffman made his professional debut on March 31, 2012 when he started for Philadelphia in a regular season home game, a scoreless tie, against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Hoffman was loaned to USL Pro's Harrisburg City Islanders for two matches in April 2012. He scored the Union's game-winning goal in a friendly on May 9, 2012 against the European club, FC Schalke 04.
On the eve of the 2013 season, Hoffman was traded to Los Angeles Galaxy for a conditional 2014 MLS SuperDraft pick.
On December 18, 2014, Hoffman was selected by Houston Dynamo in stage two of the 2014 MLS Re-Entry Draft. He signed with the club eight days later.
After his release from Houston, Hoffman joined United Soccer League side Louisville City on December 28, 2015. In 2016, he led Louisville City in both goals and points.
Hoffman left Louisville at the end of the 2016 USL season. On November 17 he signed with United Soccer League side Real Monarchs.
In July 2018 Hoffman was signed as the USL startup Birmingham Legion's first player and played during the inaugural 2019 season.
On July 3, 2020, Hoffman joined Orange County SC on loan for the 2020 season. He rejoined the Legion for the playoffs.
On February 19, 2021, Hoffman was signed by the Los Angeles Force of the National Independent Soccer Association.
References
- Crenshaw Jr, Solomon (January 13, 2012) "Oak Mountain alum Chandler Hoffman, first soccer player from Alabama drafted by MLS, thought he may have been picked in top 10." The Birmingham News
- Jasner, Andy (March 31, 2012) "Rookie Hoffman's Union debut "something special"" Philadelphia Union
- Inabinett, Mark (July 30, 2018) "Chandler Hoffman coming home as Birmingham Legion FC's first player." The Birmingham News
External links
- Chandler Hoffman website
- Chandler Hoffman at mlssoccer.com