Background
Zusi was born on August 18, 1986.
Zusi was born on August 18, 1986.
Zusi played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park. During his college career, Zusi played in 89 games, recording 28 goals and 20 assists, and helped Maryland win the National Championship in 2005 and 2008, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2008 National Semi-Final and Championship Games. He graduated with a degree in criminology.
During his college years Zusi also played with Central Florida Kraze in the USL Premier Development League.
He is of Albanian descent. College Professional Zusi was drafted in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2009 Master of Library Science SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. He made his professional debut on March 21, 2009, in Kansas City"s first game of the 2009 Master of Library Science season against Toronto Football Club. Zusi enjoyed a breakout season in 2011 helping the renamed Sporting Kansas City franchise to an Eastern Conference championship and earning a call-up to the United States. national team
His efforts were rewarded by Sporting with a new four-year contract announced on February 16, 2012.
In the 2012 season he led the league in assists with 15. During the 2012-2013 offseason, Zusi trialed with English Premier League side West Ham United.
International career On January 25, 2012, Zusi scored his first international goal in the ninth minute against Panama in a 1–0 victory. Zusi was named to the national team"s Hexagonal roster for the February 6, 2013 match against Honduras.
He entered the game as a second half substitute.
On October 15, 2013, Zusi scored a stoppage-time equalizer against Panama in a World Cup qualifier. Though the United States had already qualified, Zusi"s goal meant that Mexico would advance to the next round at Panama"s expense. As a result, a group of Mexico fans later presented Zusi with a framed photo and plaque with the words San Zusi ("Saint Zusi").
On June 16, 2014, in the United States" first game in the 2014, Zusi provided the assist from a corner kick for John Brooks" game winning goal in the 2-1 victory against Ghana.
On June 22, 2014, in the United States" second game in the 2014, Zusi provided the assist for Clint Dempsey"s goal in the 2-2 draw against Portugal. International goals.