Austin Berry

Citizenship:    USA
Last Club:    University of Louisville
How Acquired:    Selected 9th overall (1st round) in 2012 MLS SuperDraft, January 12, 2012

One of the top young center backs in the country, Austin Berry joined the team as the Fire’s 2012 first round SuperDraft selection. Only the third Chicago Fire rookie to score in his debut, Berry earned his first start May 4 and went on the play every single minute for the remainder of the season en route to 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year honors, garnering more than 50 percent of club and media votes. A dangerous presence on set pieces, Berry provides the Men in Red with an aerial threat with this ability to score off headers. Now with a full season as a professional and two weeks of experience gained from training with La Liga side Atletico Madrid in the offseason, Berry returns to anchor the solid Fire backline in 2013.

2012: Started all 28 MLS Regular Season matches in which he appeared…Made his professional debut, earning the start against CHV 5/4…Became just the third rookie in Fire history to score in his debut, directing his volley past Chivas USA ‘keeper Dan Kennedy in the 25th minute of a 2-1 win at CHV 5/4…Scored off a header in the 72nd minute of a 2-1 loss to CLB 5/26…Scored the game-winning header in the 84th minute in a 2-1 win against TFC 8/4…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Started and played 49 minutes in the Fire’s 2-3 overtime loss to the Michigan Bucks 5/29…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Started and played the first half of the1-0 loss to Aston Villa 7/21...MLS RESERVE LEAGUE: Started five matches for the Fire reserves.

College:  2011: Started all 23 games in which he appeared…Scored one goal and added two assists…Named to the NSCAA All-American Third Team…Member of the BIG EAST First Team…Named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List…Candidate for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award…Named BIG EAST Defender of the Week Oct. 10…Led the Cardinals defense to 11 shutouts…2010: Started 23 games for the Louisville Cardinals… Ranked fifth on the team in scoring with five goals and two assists tallying 12 points on the season… Named an NSCAA Second Team All-American … Named Soccer America’s Second Team MVP… Earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors… Named to the All-BIG EAST First Team… Member of the Big East All-Tournament Team… Named to the Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament Team…Scored the game-winning goals against Kentucky and Rutgers, and scored the first goal against North Carolina in the national semifinal…Led the Cardinals to their first College Cup appearance…Started and went the full 90 in a 1-0 loss to Akron in the National Championship…Named to the College Cup All-Tournament Team 2009:  Started in six games for the defense… Scored a goal against Bowling Green in the season opener… Tallied an assist against IUPUI…Named to the UK Invitational All-Tournament team… Granted a medical redshirt from a season ending injury while playing against Notre Dame… 2008: Appeared as a starter in all 21 games… Had three goals… Scored the game winning goal against the third ranked Notre Dame… … Selected in the All-Big East Second Team… Assisted the Cardinal defense to achieve five shutouts… Ranked sixth on the team with six points…2007: Played in 21 games, starting in 14… Earned the role as a starter to strengthen the defense… Assisted the Cardinal defensemen to achieve eight shutouts throughout the season…Scored the game winner against Oral Roberts… Took a total of nine shots on the season, including three shots on goal… Named Big East Rookie of the Week on October 8th… Named a member of the Soccer America Team of the Week on October 8th…

USL Premier Development League: Played for the Chicago Fire Premier in 2010…Only player to appear in all 16 matches… Scored one goal… First selection from a record-setting 11 Chicago Fire Premier player draft class…

Prep:  Played all four seasons before graduating Summit Country Day… Helped his team to a 14-1-1 record and to become Regional finalists with 10 goals and six assists in his senior season… Named first team all-state in his senior season… Named Division III Player of the Year… Named a Cincinnati Enquirer All-Star… Scored three goals and had four assists as a junior, which brought his team to a 10-5-1 record… Lettered in basketball in 2003-2005…
 
Personal: Son of K. Gregg and Linda Berry… Grandfather played baseball for the University of Cincinnati and in the Minor League system… Graduated with a B.A. in Communications… Enjoys playing video games, especially Call of Duty and Halo… Favorite musical genre is Screamo…Favorite movie is Gladiator… Most influenced by his coaches at Louisville… Sister Ally plays soccer at Wake Forest University.