Servando Carrasco

Career

Carrasco spent his childhood living in Tijuana, Mexico, and attended St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California. Until the age of 19, he played for his high school and San Diego Surf Soccer Club, one of the most competitive soccer clubs in California. During that time, he was recognized as Western League Player of the Year, CIF Player of the Year, and the San Diego Union-Tribune All-County Player of the Year. He also participated in the Olympic Development Program and the Premier Development Program.

College

In 2007, Carrasco accepted a scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley. During his first year, Carrasco recorded seven points on two goals and three assists. He scored his second goal of the season against Washington in the opening minutes of the game; he added an insurance goal for Cal against San Diego increasing the Bears' lead to 2–0; and he earned several assists against UCLA, Stanford and University of San Francisco.

In 2008, Carrasco was named All-Pac-10 second team and Pac-10 All-Academic second-team. He started in all but one game and scored three goals for the year, tying him for second best on the team. He was one of two Cal players to have seven assists during the season, including one assist on the game-winning goal against Oregon State University.

In 2009, despite suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for a number of games, Carrasco still earned a second straight All-Pac-10 second-team selection and a Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention. He had one goal.

In 2010, Carrasco was senior co-captain of the Berkeley squad with good friend A. J. Soares, a defender with Viking FK. He was named NSCAA Third Team Far West Region, First Team All-Pac-10, Third Team Pac-10 All American, and Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention. Carrasco scored seven goals and had three assists.

Throughout his 4 years at UC Berkeley, he scored 13 goals.

Professional

On January 13, 2011, Carrasco was drafted in the second round (27th overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC. During his short time with the Sounders, Carrasco has already been compared to Seattle’s current holding midfielder, Osvaldo Alonso, who is considered to be one of the league’s best in his position. He signed with Seattle on March 2, 2011, and made his debut on March 19, in a game against the New York Red Bulls.

Carrasco scored his first career goal for Seattle on June 8, 2013, on a penalty kick in a 3–2 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Carrasco was traded to the Houston Dynamo from Seattle in exchange for Adam Moffat on September 13, 2013. Carrasco was then traded from the Houston to Sporting Kansas City for the 30th pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. On July 20, 2015, Carrasco was traded to Orlando City SC in exchange for midfielder Amobi Okugo. On April 9, 2017, Carrasco scored his first goal for Orlando and second overall career goal when he headed home from a corner in a 1-0 win v New York Red Bulls.

Personal life

While born in the United States, Carrasco spent most of his early childhood growing up in the Mexican city of Tijuana. When he was seven, his family moved back to the United States for a better opportunity. His mother, Gloria, is a two-time survivor of breast cancer. Carrasco married Alex Morgan, also a soccer player who plays on the Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League, on December 31, 2014.