Editing Clint Mathis (section)

==Club career==
Mathis was drafted sixth overall by [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] in the first round of the [[1998 MLS College Draft]].<ref name="Bliss">{{cite news |title=MLS: 1998 Collegiate Draft First Round |url=http://www.socceramerica.com/article/18234/mls-1998-collegiate-draft-first-round.html |publisher=Soccer America |date=31 January 1998 |access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> After two and a half years with Los Angeles, Mathis was awarded to the MetroStars in the dispersal draft after the Galaxy signed Mexican forward [[Luis Hernández (footballer, born 1968)|Luis Hernández]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/05/15/hernandez-deal-as-complicated-as-m-l-s/|title=Hernandez Deal As Complicated As M-l-s|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 15, 2000 }}</ref><ref name="5 goals" />

Mathis immediately took his game to a new level, flashing an "[[I Love New York|I ♥ NY]]" shirt<ref name="Mathis Memories">{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2010/08/04/top-10-mathis-most-memorable-moments|title=Top 10: Mathis' most memorable moments|publisher=New York Red Bulls|date=3 August 2010|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> after scoring goals and breaking the MLS record by scoring five goals in a game against [[Dallas Burn]] on August 26, 2000.<ref name="5 goals">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-27-sp-11246-story.html|title=MetroStars' Mathis Sets Record With Five-Goal Game|newspaper=LA Times|date=27 August 2000|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> He finished second in the league in scoring with 16 goals and 14 assists and was named to the [[MLS Best XI]].<ref name="recordbook">{{cite web |title=MLS Fact and Record Book |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/mls-fact-and-record-book |website=[[Major League Soccer]] |access-date=August 3, 2018 |page=163 |archive-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716023458/https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/mls-fact-and-record-book |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2001 saw Mathis score seven goals in his first six games, including the league's eventual Goal of the Year on a half-field run against Dallas. In June, he tore his [[Anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]], which ended his season. He never recovered his pre-injury form and scored only 13 goals in his remaining two seasons with the MetroStars.

After the 2002 MLS season, elite German club [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] attempted to acquire Mathis but was blocked by MLS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/jun/16/worldcupfootball2002.sport11|title=Mathis pick of the crop|work=The Guardian|date=16 June 2002|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> On January 22, 2004, Mathis left the MetroStars to sign on a free transfer with [[Hannover 96]] of the German [[Bundesliga]].<ref name="Hannover">{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/metrostars-forward-clint-mathis-inks-deal-with-hannover-96/n-2995898|title=MetroStars Forward Clint Mathis Inks Deal With Hannover 96|publisher=Our Sports Central|date=22 January 2004|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> Mathis left the Metros after playing in 67 games (66 starts), scoring 33 goals and contributing 21 assists.<ref name="Hannover" />

Mathis played well in his first season in Germany, scoring on his debut and went on to score four goals in his first five games.<ref name="Mathis Memories" /> But soon after, his manager was fired and replaced by [[Ewald Lienen]]. In his second Bundesliga season, Lienen often kept Mathis on the bench. On September 25, 2004, upon entering Hannover's match against [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke]] as a very late substitute, Mathis scored the game-winning goal almost immediately.<ref name="Lienen" /> In celebration, he ran to the sideline and tapped his watch at Lienen.<ref name="Lienen">{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2010/06/28/clint-mathis-leads-hannover-96-victory-escapes-fine-outburst|title=Clint Mathis Leads Hannover 96 to Victory Escapes Fine for Outburst|publisher=Colorado Rapids|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> Mathis escaped being fined for the outburst and later confirmed the gesture was meant the way it was widely interpreted - that Lienen should have played him earlier.<ref name="Lienen" /> He started the next game but afterwards never played with the first team again. In December, he was transferred back to MLS, joining expansion club [[Real Salt Lake]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/rsl-welcomes-american-soccer-icon-clint-mathis-to-salt-lake-city/n-3114376|title=RSL Welcomes American Soccer Icon Clint Mathis to Salt Lake City|publisher=Our Sports Central|date=6 January 2005|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

Mathis said he returned to fulfill a promise made to RSL head coach [[John Ellinger]]. His initial season in Utah was a major disappointment, as Mathis only managed to score three goals the entire year. However, when he did score he did so in style: all three goals earned praise as MLS Goal of the Week. In December 2005, he was traded to Colorado in exchange for [[Jeff Cunningham]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/352067/mathis-traded-for-cunningham|title=Mathis traded for Cunningham - ESPN FC|date=November 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110040444/http://www.espnfc.com/story/352067/mathis-traded-for-cunningham |archive-date=November 10, 2014 }}</ref>

On March 29, 2007, Mathis was traded from [[Colorado Rapids]] to [[New York Red Bulls]] for a [[2008 MLS SuperDraft]] fourth-round draft pick and a conditional draft pick in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=102827|title=Rapids trade Mathis to Red Bulls}}</ref> In his first home game, he notched a goal and an assist to lead New York to a 3–0 rout of [[FC Dallas]]. As of November 2014, Mathis is New York's third all-time goal scorer with 45 in all competitions.

Mathis was traded to Los Angeles Galaxy on November 19, 2007, for a third round pick in the [[2008 MLS SuperDraft]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/la-galaxy-acquire-veteran-clint-mathis | title = LA Galaxy acquire veteran Clint Mathis | publisher = mlsnet.com | access-date = August 3, 2012}}</ref> He made his debut for the Galaxy in a friendly at [[Telstra Stadium]] against [[Sydney FC]] in front of 80,000 fans. He scored the first goal in the Galaxy's match versus [[Wellington Phoenix]].

In January 2008, during the European transfer window he left the Galaxy, signing with [[Ergotelis F.C.|Ergotelis]] in Greece.<ref name="Mathis Memories" /> Ergotelis sat at the bottom of the table in the Greek First Division. Down 2–1, Mathis came on to make his debut as a second-half substitute and in the 91 minute of stoppage time down a goal, the ball popped to Mathis outside the box and he struck a powerful left footed volley that the keeper could only deflect into the back of the net, earning a crucial point against fellow [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] battlers [[Apollon Kalamarias F.C.|Apollon Kalamarias]].<ref name="Mathis Memories" />

[[Real Salt Lake]] signed Mathis in August 2008 after acquiring his MLS rights from Los Angeles in exchange for a conditional draft pick, which became a third-round selection in the [[2011 MLS SuperDraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=4014364&nid=481|title=ksl.com - RSL adds veteran Clint Mathis|website=www.ksl.com}}</ref>

After 11 years in [[Major League Soccer]], Mathis won the [[MLS Cup]] with [[Real Salt Lake]] in [[MLS Cup 2009|2009]], defeating Los Angeles Galaxy in a 1–1 draw that was decided in overtime by penalties, with Mathis scoring the first penalty kick goal.<ref name="Seattle">{{cite news |last=Miguel Romero |first=José |date=November 23, 2009 |title=Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2010334062_mlscup23.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105160757/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sounders/2010334062_mlscup23.html |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Mathis was traded back to Los Angeles on January 14, 2010, in exchange for a swap of first-round picks in the [[2010 MLS SuperDraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/west/story/galaxy-reacquire-mathis-select-midfielder-stephens-011410|title=Galaxy reacquire Mathis, select midfielder Stephens|date=January 14, 2010}}</ref>

On August 3, 2010, Mathis announced he would retire from professional soccer after the Galaxy's exhibition match against Real Madrid on Saturday August 7, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/2457/galaxy-clint-mathis-retiring-after-real-madrid|title=GALAXY: Clint Mathis retiring after Real Madrid|publisher=ESPN|date=3 August 2010|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>