Michael Stephens (soccer)
Michael Francis Stephens (born April 3, 1989) is an American soccer player playing for Chicago Fire.
Career
College and Amateur
Stephens grew up in Naperville, Illinois, attended Edison Academic Center, and played four years of college soccer at UCLA. He was honored as UCLA's Rookie of the Year in 2006, while also being selected to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman first team and to Soccer America's All-Freshman second team, playing in all 24 games in his rookie season.
He was named to the Soccer America MVP second-team in 2008, and became only the third player in Bruin history to earn Pac-10 Player of the Year honors. As a senior, he was named to the All-Pac-10 First-team and was a NSCAA All-Far West second-team honoree. He finished his UCLA career with 81 appearances, 11 goals and 20 assists.
During his college years Stephens also played two seasons with Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.
Professional
Stephens was drafted in the first round (16th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy. He made his professional debut on March 27, 2010, in Galaxy's opening game of the 2010 MLS season against New England Revolution.