Editing Brian Ching (section)

==Club career==

===Los Angeles Galaxy (2001) and Seattle Sounders (2001–2002)===
{{Rquote|right|My first year in the league, I'm on the team with Cobi Jones, Cienfuegos, Alexi Lalas, Robin Fraser, Kevin Hartman, Matt Reis, Sasha Victorine, and Brian Mullan. For those guys to all be on one team my first year in the league, now that I look back on it, that was pretty special. Significant guys that have done a lot for U.S. soccer, to be on that team was a gift for me.|Brian Ching on his first year in MLS<ref>{{cite interview
 |subject        =Brian Ching
 
 |interviewer    =Sebastian Salazar
 |title          =The MLS Experience – 1-on-1 with Brian Ching: Part Two 
 |url            =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgZxtomJNpQ
 |work        =[[Houston Dynamo]] on [[YouTube]]
 |location           =Houston, Texas
 |date           =December 4, 2013
 |access-date     =December 16, 2013
 }}</ref>}}

Ching began his professional career when the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] drafted him as the 16th overall pick of the [[2001 MLS SuperDraft]].<ref name="2001superdraft">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2001|title=MLS SuperDraft Tracker 2001|work=MLSsoccer.com|publisher=[[Major League Soccer]]|access-date=December 11, 2013|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231029/https://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2001|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="LAdraft">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/club/history/superdraft|title=LA Galaxy Draft History|work=lagalaxy.com|publisher=[[Los Angeles Galaxy]]|access-date=December 11, 2013|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231028/https://www.lagalaxy.com/club/history/superdraft|url-status=dead}}</ref> Los Angeles chose midfielder [[Brian Mullan]] and forward [[Isaias Bardales Jr.]] in the first round, 9th and 11th respectively, before picking Ching with their fourth pick in the second round.<ref name="2001superdraft" /> Ching was the first ever [[Native Hawaiians|Hawaiian]] selected in the MLS draft.<ref name="gonzagahall" />

Ching joined a roster that included [[National Soccer Hall of Fame|U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame]] players [[Cobi Jones]], [[Alexi Lalas]], and [[Paul Caligiuri]], Mexico's top World Cup scorer [[Luis Hernández (footballer, born 1968)|Luis Hernández]], [[Mauricio Cienfuegos]], [[Ezra Hendrickson]], [[Danny Califf]], [[Kevin Hartman]] and was coached by [[Sigi Schmid]]. Ching wore the number 9 jersey with Los Angeles.<ref name="LAalumni">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/club/alumni/roster|title=LA Galaxy Alumni Roster|work=lagalaxy.com|publisher=[[Los Angeles Galaxy]]|access-date=December 11, 2013|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231033/https://www.lagalaxy.com/club/alumni/roster|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ching made his MLS debut against San Jose on April 7, 2001, as a member of the starting lineup.<ref name="GalaxyWaiveChing">{{Citation
| url = http://www.lagalaxy.com/r20020213.html
| title = L.A. Galaxy Waive Brian Ching
| access-date = December 14, 2013
| publisher  = [[Los Angeles Galaxy]]
| year   = 2002
| author = Los Angeles Galaxy Communications
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020817141705/http://www.lagalaxy.com/r20020213.html
| archive-date=August 17, 2002
}}</ref> During the [[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001 season]], Ching appeared in eight games (starting one) and recorded one goal and one assist.<ref name="LA01stats">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/stats/season?season_year=2001&season_type=REG&group=GOALS&op=Search&form_id=mls_stats_individual_form|title=2001 LA Galaxy Statistics| work=lagalaxy.com| publisher=[[Los Angeles Galaxy]]|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref>

Ching started and played the full match in his [[Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|U.S. Open Cup]] debut, a 5–0 victory over the [[Nashville Metros]] at [[Titan Stadium (Cal State Fullerton)|Titan Stadium]] on June 27, 2001, in the second round.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd2_0627la.html
| title = Galaxy Crush Nashville in Second Round
| access-date = December 14, 2013
| publisher = [[Major League Soccer]]
| year = 2001
| author = MLSNet.com
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010713085309/http://mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd2_0627la.html
| archive-date = July 13, 2001
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Ching went the full 90 again in Los Angeles' 3–1 victory over the [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders Select]] where he provided the assist to Isaias Bardales' 81st-minute goal, the Galaxy's third of the match.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd3_0711la.html
| title = Galaxy Advance to Open Cup Quarterfinals
| access-date = December 14, 2013
| publisher = [[Major League Soccer]]
| year = 2001
| author = MLSNet.com
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010714174149/http://www.mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd3_0711la.html
| archive-date = July 14, 2001
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Those would be Ching's only appearances in the 2001 tournament as the Los Angeles Galaxy went on to win their first U.S. Open Cup trophy in franchise history.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.mlsnet.com/content/01/mls1026opencup.html
| title = Galaxy Win First Open Cup Title
| access-date = December 14, 2013
| publisher = [[Major League Soccer]]
| year = 2001
| author = MLSNet.com
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20011119055227/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/01/mls1026opencup.html
| archive-date = November 19, 2001
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

Ching made his [[MLS Cup Playoffs]] debut in a 4–1 loss in Game 2 of the quarterfinals against the [[New York Red Bulls|New York-New Jersey MetroStars]] on September 27, 2001, after coming on as an 88th minute substitution for Cobi Jones.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/news/2001/09/26/stars_galaxy_ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011123132601/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/news/2001/09/26/stars_galaxy_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2001|title=MetroStars use second-half outburst to take series lead| magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> Ching appeared for a second time in the playoffs in the Galaxy's 1–0 overtime win in Game 2 of the MLS semifinal series against the [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] on October 14, 2001, entering the game in the 91st minute for [[Sasha Victorine]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/news/2001/10/14/fire_galaxy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011107224724/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/news/2001/10/14/fire_galaxy/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2001|title=L.A. up 4-1 in points against Chicago after 1-0 OT win| magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> The Galaxy advanced to the [[MLS Cup 2001|2001 MLS Cup final]] and tied 1–1 with the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] in regulation before [[Dwayne De Rosario]]'s [[golden goal]] in the 96th minute ended the match.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/2001/mls_cup/news/2001/10/21/mlscup_gamer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011109114802/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/mls/2001/mls_cup/news/2001/10/21/mlscup_gamer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2001|title=Golden goal lifts Quakes over Galaxy 2-1 in MLS Cup| magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref>

After signing [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruiz]], the Galaxy waived Ching on February 13, 2002, to comply with the MLS roster limits.<ref name="GalaxyWaiveChing" /> One month later, he signed with the [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]] of the [[A-League (1995–2004)|A-League]] where scored four goals and provided one assist in seven games the previous year when he was on loan from Los Angeles.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=46
| title = Sounders Nab Brian Ching from MLS 
| access-date = December 14, 2013
| publisher  = Seattle Sounders Professional Soccer Club
| year   = 2002
| author = Bart Wiley
| url-status = usurped
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020613185505/http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=46
| archive-date=June 13, 2002
}}</ref> Ching finished the 2002 season second in the A-League in scoring with 16 goals and eight assists, and was selected as a member of the A-League All-League first team.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=177
| title = Four Sounders Receive All-League Honors 
| access-date = December 14, 2013
| publisher  = Seattle Sounders Professional Soccer Club
| year   = 2002
| author = Bart Wiley
| url-status = usurped
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021206235027/http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=177
| archive-date=December 6, 2002
}}</ref>

===San Jose Earthquakes (2003–2005)===
The first time the Earthquakes coaching staff got a good look at Brian Ching was facing him in the [[2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup#Third round|July 17, 2002, third round match]] of the U.S. Open Cup when San Jose defeated the Seattle Sounders 4–3 after [[Sudden death (sport)#Association football|sudden death extra time]].<ref name="testimonialannouncement">{{cite AV media
 | people =[[Dominic Kinnear]] (speaker)
 | title =Brian Ching Testimonial Announcement
 | medium =[[YouTube]]
 | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYKz8qbjSo8&t=13m50s
 | access-date =December 18, 2013
 | date =September 24, 2013
 | time =13:50
 | location =[[BBVA Compass Stadium]], [[Houston, Texas]]
 | publisher =[[Houston Dynamo]]
 | quote =2002 Open Cup game, Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes. It was the first time we really got a good look at Brian Ching and we felt that Eddie Robinson, at the time, was the most physical and dominating center back in MLS. I thought Brian gave him a good little run around, and a good little throw down every once in a while. It was one of the best physical match-ups I've seen in a soccer match. After the game, the one thing we spoke about is how can we get this guy to come and play for us. We made a trade to get Brian in the 2003 supplemental draft. Little did I know, in 2003, how much success that draft would bring us and I think it goes down, possibly, as one of the best trades ever made in Major League Soccer.
}}</ref> Kinnear, assistant coach at the time, and head coach Frank Yallop were impressed with how Ching matched up with Earthquakes defender [[Eddie Robinson (soccer)|Eddie Robinson]], considered one of the best defenders in MLS at the time.<ref name="testimonialannouncement"/> Ching began training with the Earthquakes the following January.<ref name="chingsupplemental">{{Citation
| url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/022803release.htm
| title =San Jose Acquire Brian Ching in MLS SuperDraft
| access-date = December 18, 2013
| publisher  = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| year   = 2003
| author = San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030605105411/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/022803release.htm
| archive-date=June 5, 2003
}}</ref> On February 11, 2003, San Jose traded [[Devin Barclay]] to [[D.C. United]] in exchange for the first overall pick in the [[2003 MLS supplemental draft]]<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/021103release1.htm
| title =San Jose Acquire Brian Ching in MLS SuperDraft
| access-date = December 18, 2013
| publisher  = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| year   = 2003
| author = San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030605102844/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/021103release1.htm
| archive-date=June 5, 2003
}}</ref> and on February 28, 2013, they used that pick to draft Ching.<ref name="chingsupplemental" />

Ching made his official Earthquakes debut in [[Guatemala City]] on March 16, 2003, playing a full match in a 4–2 [[2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|Champions' Cup]] loss to [[C.S.D. Municipal]].<ref name="MLSbio">{{cite news|title=Brian Ching|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/brian-ching|access-date=18 December 2003|newspaper=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref> He played his first Earthquakes home game in the second leg against Municipal where he scored the first goal in the 35th minute.<ref name="MLSbio" /> Ching made his first Earthquakes start in the MLS regular season on April 12, 2003, at [[Colorado Rapids]] and scored 53 seconds into the game. He would miss five games due to a right hamstring strain before returning to the starting lineup to score two goals for his first multi-goal game in MLS on July 2, 2003, at the [[MetroStars]]. He played 90 minutes in his first encounter against his old club Seattle Sounders on August 5 but the 1–0 loss eliminated San Jose from the [[2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2003 Open Cup]].<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching left the August 16, 2003, game at [[New England Revolution]] with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on August 19 and missed the rest of the [[2003 San Jose Earthquakes season|2003 season]] as the San Jose Earthquakes went on to win the [[MLS Cup 2003|2003 MLS Cup]]. Ching scored a then-career-high six goals and two assists during 2003. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week for April 12 and May 3, 2003.<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching returned from injury in the [[2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2004 Champions' Cup]] as a sub in both legs against eventual champion [[L.D. Alajuelense]]. Ching made his first start of the season on May 1 vs. D.C. United. Ching finished with a career-high 12 goals in MLS, sharing the [[MLS Golden Boot]] with [[Eddie Johnson (American soccer player)|Eddie Johnson]]. He was named to the [[MLS Best XI]] and recognized as the [[MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award|MLS Comeback Player of the Year]]. He also finished as the Earthquakes scoring champion and Most Valuable Player for the [[2004 San Jose Earthquakes season|2004 season]].<ref name="MLSbio" />

In 2005, Ching scored seven goals in 16 games and tallied a career-high five assists in MLS play. He registered a goal or an assist in five straight games before missing 15 matches with a hamstring injury. He ended the regular season having recorded a goal or assist in six straight games.<ref name="MLSbio" /> The San Jose Earthquakes finished the [[2005 San Jose Earthquakes season|2005 season]] with the best regular season record, clinching the [[Supporters' Shield]].<ref name="quakeshistory">{{Citation
| url   = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/club/history
| title = San Jose Earthquakes History
| publisher  = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| access-date = December 18, 2013
}}</ref> After the most successful regular season in team history with an 18–4–10 record and 64 points, the Earthquakes were placed on hiatus on December 15, 2005, with the franchise moving to Houston.<ref name="quakeshistory" />

===Houston Dynamo (2006–2013)===
Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Ching moved to Houston for the [[2006 Houston Dynamo season|2006 season]]. He scored four goals in Houston's first-ever game on April 2, 2006, against the [[Colorado Rapids]], becoming the seventh player in MLS history to score four goals in a single game. Ching found out he had been selected to U.S. world cup team on May 2 and celebrated with a game-deciding goal the following MLS fixture, May 6, against rival club [[FC Dallas]]. Ching missed six MLS games while he was with the U.S. national team at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. His bicycle kick on September 30 vs. [[D.C. United]], which would later be awarded the [[MLS Goal of the Year Award]], was the deciding goal in a 1–0 win that secured Houston's first ever MLS playoff spot.<ref name="MLSbio" />

In the [[2006 MLS Cup Playoffs]], Ching scored the series-winning goal with a header in stoppage time of the 2–0 win vs. [[Chivas USA]] in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals. He was named MVP of the [[2006 MLS Cup|MLS Cup 2006]] after scoring the tying goal in the 114th minute, less than one minute after [[New England Revolution]] had taken a 1–0 lead, and scoring the winning penalty kick in the penalty kick shootout.<ref name="MLSbio" />

In 2007, Ching ended the season tied for the team lead with seven goals despite missing 10 games entirely due to injuries and national-team call-ups. He contributed in the [[2007 MLS Cup Playoffs]] with two playoff goals but sat out the [[MLS Cup 2007|2007 MLS Cup final]] after straining his calf in the Western Conference final. He led Houston's comeback from a 2–0 aggregate deficit in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinal vs. [[FC Dallas]] on November 2, setting up [[Stuart Holden]]'s goal in the 67th minute and then scoring himself from a [[Dwayne De Rosario]] through ball in the 72nd minute to tie the series. In extra time, of that game, he scored from close range in the 97th minute to give Houston the lead for good.<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching was a staple in the Dynamo lineup during international competition. In the [[2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup]] he set up the series-winning goal against [[Puntarenas F.C.]] when his header hit the post and [[Kelly Gray]] scored on the rebound. Ching scored the opening goal in the semifinal first leg vs. [[C.F. Pachuca]] on March 15, heading in a [[Craig Waibel]] cross. In the semifinal second leg at [[Estadio Hidalgo]] on April 5, he set up the first Houston goal by keeping the ball in on the sideline, leading to [[Brian Mullan]]'s goal and later scored in the 79th minute to give Houston a 4–3 aggregate lead before Pachuca rallied to win in extra time. Ching also participated in the [[2007 North American SuperLiga|2007 Superliga]], playing in all three group stage matches. He set up goal just 11 seconds into match vs. [[Monarcas Morelia]] on July 29, passing to [[Joseph Ngwenya]] for the fastest goal in Dynamo history. Ching scored the only goal in 1–0 win vs. [[D.C. United]] on August 1 and hit the post with the fourth penalty kick in the Dynamo's semifinal shootout loss vs. Pachuca on August 14.<ref name="MLSbio" />

[[File:Houston-dallas.jpg|thumb|Ching dribbles by two [[FC Dallas]] defenders in a match at [[Robertson Stadium]] in April 2008]]During the [[2008 Houston Dynamo season|2008 season]], Ching established team and personal records with 13 goals in the regular season and five assists in 25 games. Ching ranked fifth in the league in goals. In the team's second visit to San Jose since relocating to Houston, Ching scored a game-tying goal in second half and celebrated by pointing to the Dynamo crest in front of San Jose fans. In the final [[2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|CONCACAF Champions' Cup]] he set up two of Houston's three goals in the quarterfinal second leg vs. [[CSD Municipal]]. In the [[2008 North American SuperLiga|2008 Superliga]] he appeared in three games, starting the semifinal vs. Pachuca and the championship game at [[New England Revolution]]. In the [[2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League|inaugural CONCACAF Champions League]], Ching appeared as a substitute at [[San Francisco F.C.]] and started vs. [[C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo]], scoring the game's only goal to help Dynamo reach the quarterfinals.<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching's performance during the [[2009 Houston Dynamo season|2009 season]] earned him Dynamo's Golden Boot for the third straight year with eight goals and three assists. He became seventh Dynamo player to make 100th starts for the club in all competitions and assisted on [[Cam Weaver]]'s game-tying goal in the 80th minute of a 2–1 loss at [[Columbus Crew]] on September 13. In the [[2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League]] Ching played all 90 minutes of both legs of the quarterfinal series vs. [[C.F. Atlante]]. He appeared in five games of the [[2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League]], making three starts. In the [[2009 MLS Cup Playoffs]], he netted the game-winning goal in 95th minute of a 1–0 overtime win vs. Seattle, swiveling to volley a shot into the left side netting for his 50th Dynamo goal in all competitions.<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching ran into disciplinary trouble during the 2009 campaign. In July 2009, Ching was fined $500 by MLS for his comments regarding the officiating of the Dynamo's 2–1 loss to [[Seattle Sounders FC]] (a game Ching did not play in due to participation in the [[2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]). On his [[Twitter]] page, Ching referred to the referee as "a joke" and "a cheat" for calling a [[Fredy Montero]] shot cleared off the line a goal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=661315&sec=mls&cc=5901 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720235613/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=661315&sec=mls&cc=5901 |archive-date=2009-07-20 |title=Dynamo's Ching fined for anti-ref "tweet" - MLS - ESPN Soccernet}}</ref> Ching scored the opening goal from a [[Brad Davis (soccer)|Brad Davis]] free kick in 3–2 win vs. [[Real Salt Lake]] on August 19 but was ejected in the 82nd minute for hard foul, the first [[Penalty card#Red card|red card]] in the 162 games of his MLS career. He was ejected again in next MLS game, a 0–0 tie vs. [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] on October 18, for raising his hand to the face of an opponent.<ref name="MLSbio" />

In 2010, Ching shrugged off injuries and national team disappointment to score seven goals and add three assists in 20 games, making 16 starts, to win the team's Golden Boot for the fourth straight year. His August 21 bicycle kick against [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago]] was named ESPNSoccernet.com's MLS Goal of the Year and Dynamo Goal of the Year. He took over as the Dynamo team captain after the retirement of [[Wade Barrett (soccer)|Wade Barrett]]. He was named as [[Don Garber]]'s Commissioner's Pick for the [[2010 MLS All-Star Game]] in Houston, a game where he came on as second-half substitute and scored with a header to cut the deficit to 2-1 vs. [[Manchester United F.C.]]<ref name="MLSbio" /> The Dynamo missed the playoffs in 2010.

Ching was limited to 1,242 minutes in 20 appearances due to injury in 2011, the lowest minute total of his Houston career, but still tied for team lead with five goals. He started all four matches the Dynamo took part in the [[2011 MLS Cup Playoffs]], scoring a goal and adding an assist, to help lead the Dynamo back to the [[MLS Cup]] final. He started and set up the game-winning goal with left-footed through ball in 2–1 first-leg win at [[Philadelphia Union]] and scored the game-winning goal with header from a [[Brad Davis (soccer)|Brad Davis]] free kick in a 1–0 win the second-leg, scoring the final MLS goal at [[Robertson Stadium]]. Ching started the Eastern Conference championship match at [[Sporting Kansas City]] and closed the night by hoisting the trophy as team captain after the 2–0 win. He made his second career start in an MLS Cup final at Los Angeles, who denied the Dynamo the title with a narrow 1–0 victory.<ref name="MLSbio" />

====Montreal Impact, return to Houston and retirement (2011–2013)====
Ching was left exposed by Houston in the [[2011 MLS expansion draft]] and was selected by expansion side [[Montreal Impact (2012–2020)|Montreal Impact]] less than a week after playing in the [[MLS Cup 2011|MLS Cup final]].<ref name=Chingdrafted2011>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Randy|title=Montreal Impact wants to build team the right way for MLS debut|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Montreal+Impact+wants+build+team+right+debut/5785812/story.html|access-date=May 16, 2012|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=November 29, 2011|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231030/https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Montreal+Impact+wants+build+team+right+debut/5785812/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ching was traded back to Houston on February 16, 2012, for a first-round draft pick in the [[2013 MLS SuperDraft]], after training with Montreal for about a month, coincidentally playing a preseason game against the [[Houston Dynamo]].<ref name=MontrealHoustontrade2011>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Randy|title=Impact sends Brian Ching to Houston for pick in 2013 draft|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Impact+sends+Brian+Ching+Houston+pick+2013+draft/6164243/story.html|access-date=May 16, 2012|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=February 16, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231026/https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Impact+sends+Brian+Ching+Houston+pick+2013+draft/6164243/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ching started opening day on for the Dynamo for the sixth time in seven years and nearly scored at [[Chivas USA]] when his first-touch volley off a long cross from Brad Davis hit inside of post and caromed away for near goal. Ching made his 200th MLS appearance (136th with Dynamo) in 3–1 loss to [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] on June 10. Ching made his 150th Dynamo start in all competitions against D.C. United on April 28, the 4th Dynamo to reach this milestone. Ching drew and converted a penalty in the 83rd minute on June 30 vs. Philadelphia, his second goal of the year and first at [[BBVA Compass Stadium]]. The goal against Philadelphia was his 20th career game-winning goal. He would go on to set a career-high with 30 games in 2012 regular season, tying his career-high of five assists.<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching signed a deal in early 2013 to return to the Dynamo as a player-coach and later announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2013 season.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ortiz|first=Jose de Jesus|date=2013-09-23|title=Brian Ching ready for retirement|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Brian-Ching-ready-for-retirement-4836327.php|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Chron|language=en-US}}</ref> Ching officially announced his intention to retire at the end of the [[2013 Major League Soccer season]] on September 24, 2013, although he played his final professional minutes in a 4–1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, September 8, 2013. He made two more appearances on the match day squad, his last being in a [[CONCACAF Champions League]] game on September 25, 2013, but was an unused substitution.

Ching did not feature in the Dynamo's [[2013 MLS Cup Playoffs]] run as he was not called up to the matchday squad for any of the playoff games. The Dynamo were eliminated by [[Sporting Kansas City]] in the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]] championship game on November 23, 2013,<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/11/match-recap-houston-dynamo-1-sporting-kansas-city-2
| title = Match Recap: Houston Dynamo 1, Sporting Kansas City 2
| work = Steve Brisendine
| publisher = [[Houston Dynamo]]
| access-date = December 19, 2013
| archive-date = January 22, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231034/https://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/11/match-recap-houston-dynamo-1-sporting-kansas-city-2
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> thus bringing an official end to Ching's 12-year MLS career.