Career
At the time of his retirement, Ralston was Major League Soccer"s all-time career leader in assists (135). He also was the Master of Library Science record holder for appearances (378), starts (372) and minutes played (33,143). He also holds the United States. record for professional appearances (412).
Professional
Ralston played for the Mutiny for six years, leaving only after the team was contracted in 2002.
He was Tampa Bay"s all-time leader in games played (177) and points (130). he then joined the New England Revolution. In his first year with the Revolution, Ralston led the league in assists with 19.
In thirteen years in the league, he scored 76 goals and had 135 assists in 378 regular season matches, and added three goals and five assists in 30 playoff matches. He also served as captain for several seasons with New England.
Soon after leaving New England, Ralston became the first ever signing of new USSF Division 2 club Air Corps Saint Louis.
Ralston was one of the team"s starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka. After Air Corps Saint Louis ran in to financial difficulties, Ralston agreed to leave by mutual consent and immediately joined up with his former club New England Revolution. In Ralston"s first appearance back with the New England Revolution, he suffered a left elbow dislocation.
In July 2010, he announced his retirement.
International
Ralston appeared for the United States national team 36 times over an 11 year span and scored 4 international goals. His first cap came on January 17, 1997 against Peru.
He was never selected to a World Cup roster. Ralston had a break out year for the United States national team in 2005 by earning 15 caps.
He scored the game-winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on September 3, 2005.
The victory for the United States clinched qualification in the 2006 Fédération internationale de football association World Cup. Despite his national team performances in 2005 he was only listed as an alternate for the United States at the World Cup. International goals
After his signing with Air Corps Saint Louis was named as the new Assistant Coach of the club
In July 2010, Raltson took an assistant coaching job at the Houston Dynamo with his former teammate Dominic Kinnear from the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
On January 6, 2015, the San Jose Earthquakes announced Ralston would join Kinnear in San Jose and once again serve as his assistant coach.