View source for Nate Jaqua

{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Nate Jaqua
| image               = Jaqua.jpg
| image_size          = 200
| caption = Jaqua with [[Seattle Sounders FC]] in 2009
| fullname            = Jonathan Jaqua
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1981|10|28}}
| birth_place         = [[Eugene, Oregon]], United States
| height              = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| position            = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub         =
| clubnumber          =
| collegeyears1       = 2000–2002
| college1            = [[Portland Pilots men's soccer|Portland Pilots]]
| collegecaps1        = 59
| collegegoals1       = 29
| years1              = 2003–2006
| clubs1              = [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]
| caps1               = 92
| goals1              = 21
| years2              = 2003
| clubs2              = → [[Minnesota Thunder]] (loan)
| caps2               = 2
| goals2              = 0
| years3              = 2007
| clubs3              = [[Los Angeles Galaxy]]
| caps3               = 10
| goals3              = 1
| years4              = 2007
| clubs4              = [[Houston Dynamo]]
| caps4               = 15
| goals4              = 6
| years5              = 2008
| clubs5              = [[SC Rheindorf Altach]]
| caps5               = 13
| goals5              = 5
| years6              = 2008
| clubs6              = [[Houston Dynamo]]
| caps6               = 14
| goals6              = 4
| years7              = 2009–2011
| clubs7              = [[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| caps7               = 66
| goals7              = 9
| totalcaps           = 212
| totalgoals          = 46
| nationalyears1      = 2006–2008
| nationalteam1       = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1       = 3
| nationalgoals1      = 0
| medaltemplates      =
| club-update         = November 7, 2011
| nationalteam-update = March 19, 2009
}}

'''Jonathan "Nate" Jaqua''' (born October 28, 1981, in [[Eugene, Oregon]]) is an American former [[Association football|soccer]] player.

==Career==

===High school===
Jaqua is a graduate of [[South Eugene High School]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Seattle Sounders |title=Jaqua at home with the Sounders FC {{!}} Seattle Sounders |url=https://www.soundersfc.com/news/jaqua-home-sounders-fc |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Seattle Sounders FC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2010-06-17 |title=Oregon sexual battery lawsuit against pro soccer player Nate Jaqua settled |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2010/06/oregon_sexual_battery_lawsuit.html |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}</ref> where he led his team to two Midwestern League titles and one co-championship with North Bend in 1996. South Eugene lost to South Medford High School in the Oregon Class 4A state title in 1998. He was named a Parade All-American twice and named Oregon 4A Player of the Year twice.

===College===
Jaqua played [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at the [[University of Portland]] from 2000 to 2002. He totaled 29 goals and 22 assists in his three years there was named West Coast Conference freshman of the year.

===Professional===
After his 2002 season, Jaqua signed a [[Project-40]] contract with [[Major League Soccer]] and entered the [[2003 MLS SuperDraft]], where he was selected third overall by [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]. Although Jaqua was expected to fill the hole in the Fire's lineup left by [[Josh Wolff]], [[Damani Ralph]] quickly took that position, and Jaqua was relegated to a reserve role, starting only five games, scoring two goals and two assists. Although Jaqua remained blocked at forward by Ralph and [[Ante Razov]] in the 2004 season, [[DaMarcus Beasley]]'s departure to [[PSV Eindhoven]] left an open spot in the Fire midfield, which Jaqua soon took. He finished the season having started 21 games for the team, while scoring four goals and two assists. Thereafter, Jaqua continued to be used as an outside midfielder from time to time, however the majority of his appearances came as a forward.

Jaqua was chosen to participate in the [[2006 MLS All-Star Game]], taking on [[Chelsea F.C.]] in an exhibition match at the Fire's home field, [[Toyota Park (Bridgeview)|Toyota Park]]. Jaqua played well in the event, which the MLS side won in shocking fashion, 1–0.

After the 2006 season, Jaqua was not protected by Chicago in the [[2006 MLS Expansion Draft]]. Expansion side [[Toronto FC]] selected Jaqua in the November 17, 2006, draft but weeks later traded him to [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] in exchange for a partial player allocation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121501454.html|title=Galaxy Trade Goalie, Acquire Forward|website=washingtonpost.com}}</ref> On July 2, 2007, Los Angeles traded Jaqua to [[Houston Dynamo]] in exchange for [[Kelly Gray]] and a second-round pick in the [[2008 MLS SuperDraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2007/07/dynamo-deal-kelly-gray-to-l-a-for-nate-jaqua/|title=Dynamo deal Kelly Gray to L.A. for Nate Jaqua|date=3 July 2007}}</ref>

He signed with [[Austria]]n side [[SC Rheindorf Altach]] on January 28, 2008, but was released despite performing well with the club. On July 13, 2008, he re-signed with [[Houston Dynamo]]. However, on November 26 of that year, he was selected by [[Seattle Sounders FC]] in the first round of the [[2008 MLS Expansion Draft]].<ref>{{cite news |title=MLS announces expansion in Seattle |date=2008-11-26 |url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20081126&content_id=206969&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325072359/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20081126&content_id=206969&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-03-25 |work=MLS.net |access-date=2008-11-26 }}</ref>

Jaqua stayed with Seattle through the 2011 season. At season's end, the club declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the [[2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft]]. Jaqua was selected by [[New England Revolution]] in stage two of the draft on December 12, 2011. He was offered a contract but did not sign with New England.

===International===
Jaqua has played for the U-18, U-20, and U-23 [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national teams]]. He got his first cap for the senior team on January 29, 2006, against [[Norway national football team|Norway]] and nearly scored in the U.S. victory.

==Honors==

===Chicago Fire===
*'''[[Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup]] (2):''' [[2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2003]], [[2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2006]]
*'''[[Major League Soccer]] Eastern Conference Championship (1):''' [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]]
*'''[[Major League Soccer]] Supporters' Shield (1):''' [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003]]

===Houston Dynamo===
*'''[[Major League Soccer]] MLS Cup (1):''' [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]
*'''[[Major League Soccer]] Western Conference Championship (1):''' [[2007 Major League Soccer season|2007]]

===Seattle Sounders FC===
*'''[[Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup]] (3):''' [[2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2009]], [[2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2010]], [[2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2011]]

===Individual===
* '''U.S. Open Cup Player Of The Tournament 2010'''

==Personal life==
Jaqua grew up on a ranch located on the McKenzie River in Oregon. He is the son of [[Jon Jaqua]], a former [[National Football League]] player who played for the [[Washington Redskins]]. Jaqua also has a brother Josh who played soccer at New Mexico and Portland.
He said if he could not be a professional soccer player that he would be an Olympic skier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soundersfc.com/Team/Players/Nate-Jaqua.aspx |title=Nate Jaqua - Seattle Sounders Football Club |access-date=2009-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330044253/http://www.soundersfc.com/Team/Players/Nate-Jaqua.aspx |archive-date=2009-03-30 }}</ref> Jaqua married Violet Pham of Portland, Oregon, in 2014.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{MLS player|nate-jaqua}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071010012349/http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=players&id=106 Profile on Yanks Abroad]}}
*{{NFT player|13263}}

{{FireFirstPick}}
{{2003 MLS SuperDraft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaqua, Nate}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Austria]]
[[Category:Houston Dynamo FC players]]
[[Category:LA Galaxy players]]
[[Category:Minnesota Thunder players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Eugene, Oregon]]
[[Category:Portland Pilots men's soccer players]]
[[Category:SC Rheindorf Altach players]]
[[Category:Seattle Sounders FC players]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:University of Portland alumni]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Oregon]]
[[Category:A-League (1995–2004) players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:South Eugene High School alumni]]
[[Category:United States men's youth international soccer players]]
[[Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players]]
[[Category:United States men's under-23 international soccer players]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC draft picks]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]