Steve Ralston

Steve Ralston (born June 14, 1974) is an American former soccer player and manager who played as a midfielder. He spent most of his playing career in Major League Soccer with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the New England Revolution, retiring in 2010 as the league's all-time career leader in assists, appearances (378), starts (372), and minutes played (33,143). He also held the U.S. record for professional appearances (412) in 2010. In 2020, Major League Soccer selected Ralston as one of the greatest players in league history.

Ralston served as assistant manager at several teams, including the Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes, including a brief stint as the interim head coach at the Earthquakes in 2018.

Club career Ralston was drafted 18th overall in the 1996 MLS College Draft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny out of Florida International University, and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the league, starting 31 matches in the club's inaugural campaign, scoring seven goals and notching two assists, and concluding the year as the first player in MLS history to win the Rookie of the Year Award. He also helped the club lift the first-ever Supporters' Shield. He started all 32 matches for the club, scoring five goals and recording a league-leading eighteen assists. In total, Ralston played for the Mutiny for six years, leaving only after the team was contracted in 2002. Ralston departed as the Mutiny as the club's all-time leader in games played (177) and points (130).

On January 11, 2002, Ralston was selected by the New England Revolution in the 2002 Allocation Draft. In his first year with the Revolution, Ralston led the league in assists with 19. He was named MLS Best XI for the second time, and an MLS All-Star for the third time. He helped the team reach the MLS Cup final for the first time, ultimately losing to the LA Galaxy on a Golden Goal in extra time.

Ralston was named an MLS All-Star in 2004, and won goal of the week twice - in week 15 and 19. In 2006, Ralston was a finalist for the MLS Fair Play Award. On July 14, 2007 against the New York Red Bulls, Ralston surpassed his former teammate Carlos Valderrama to become the MLS all-time leader in assists, with 115. In 2007 Ralston also helped the club win its first-ever silverware in the form of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup.

In 2008, Ralston was named MLS Player of the Week twice - in matchweeks four and five. In 2009 Ralston won the MLS Fair Play Award, and was named Revolution Humanitarian of the Year. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in September of the 2009 season.

Ralston's contract with the Revolution ended at the conclusion of the 2009 season, and he left the club to become the first-ever signing of new USSF Division 2 club AC St. Louis. Ralston was one of the team's starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka.

In Ralston's first appearance back with the New England Revolution, he suffered a left elbow dislocation. In July 2010, he announced his retirement.

Ralston ended his Major League Soccer career as the league's leader in minutes played (33,143), games started (372), appearances (378), and assists (135). In thirteen years in the league, he scored 76 goals and had 135 assists in 378 regular season matches, and added three goals and seven assists in 30 playoff matches. Due to a later injury, he was only listed as an alternate for the United States at the World Cup.

Coaching career In July 2010, Ralston took an assistant coaching job at the Houston Dynamo with his former Mutiny teammate Dominic Kinnear. On January 6, 2015, the San Jose Earthquakes announced Ralston would join Kinnear in San Jose and once again serve as his assistant coach.

Career statistics International

Scores and results list United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ralston goal.

Honors United States CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2005

New England Revolution

U.S. Open Cup: 2007

Individual MLS 50/50 Club MLS Rookie of the Year: 1996 2000, 2002 MLS Best XI (3): 1999, 2000, 2002 MLS Fair Play Award (3): 1999, 2000, 2009 MLS top assist provider: 1999, 2002, 2007