Career

Professional

Ralston was drafted 18th overall in the 1996 MLS College Draft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny out of Florida International University, and proceeded to become the first MLS player to win the Rookie of the Year Award. 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 AC St. Louis. Ralston was one of the team's starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka.

After AC St. 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. His last was for the squad that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. 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 FIFA 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

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	January 18, 2003	Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, USA	Canada	4 - 0	4 - 0	Friendly
2.	July 19, 2003	Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, USA	Cuba	3 - 0	5 - 0	2003 Gold Cup
3.	March 30, 2005	Legion Field, Birmingham, AL, USA	Guatemala	2 - 0	2 - 0	Q 2006 World Cup
4.	September 3, 2005	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, USA	Mexico	1 - 0	2 - 0	Q 2006 World Cup

Coaching career

After his signing with AC St. 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.

Personal life

Ralston is married to Rachel. They have 2 daughters and 1 son

Career statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1996	Tampa Bay Mutiny	Major League Soccer	31	7			5	1
1997			29	5			1	0
1998			30	5			0	0
1999			32	5			2	0
2000			30	5			2	0
2001			25	7			0	0
2002	New England Revolution		27	5			7	1
2003			26	4			3	0
2004			30	7			3	1
2005			21	1			4	0
2006			30	6			3	0
2007			26	4			4	0
2008			21	8			0	0
2009			20	7			0	0
2010	A.C. St. Louis	USSF D2	2	0			0	0
2010	New England Revolution	Major League Soccer	1	0			0	0
Total	USA		381	76			34	3

Honors

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions (2): 2005, 2007

Tampa Bay Mutiny

• MLS Supporters' Shield (1): 1996

New England Revolution

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2007
• North American SuperLiga (1): 2008

Individual

• MLS Rookie of the Year: 1996
• MLS Fair Play Award: (3) 1999, 2000, 2009
• MLS Best XI selection (2) 1999, 2000
• MLS All-Star Game starter: 2000
• MLS All-Star Game reserve: 1997

[ Source: Wikipedia ]