On January 22, 2008, Jim Curtin joined Chivas USA in a trade with the Chicago Fire, with whom Curtin had spent his entire MLS career. A fan favorite for the Fire, he was an important part of the team’s defense for six seasons after he was selected with the 29th pick of the 2001 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

A starter in the 2004 MLS All-Star game, Curtin has played a total of 151 games in the league, including 70 straight from October 2003 to May 2005, and won Chicago’s “Defender of the Year” award in 2004. The back also was also a member of the 2003 and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-winning teams with the Fire.

A Philadelphia native, Curtin is also a noted philanthropist, having worked with the Urban Initiatives soccer program, a non-profit organization that works with inner-city and underprivileged children. He was also the Chicago Fire’s honoree at the 2006 Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards for his charity work.

UNIVERSITY

A two-time first team All-Big East selection after his junior and senior seasons at Villanova… Named second team All-Big East as a sophomore … As a freshman in 1997, took home Big East Rookie of the Year honors.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Beginnings:
I started probably like most guys at about five or six years old. I’m actually from a football family, but was fortunate enough to play soccer at an early age and just stuck with that.

Family:
Mom, Dad, and a sister Katie, a brother Jeff (who plays for the Chicago Fire). I’m the oldest; my sister’s in the middle and my brother’s the youngest. I have a wife, her name is Jen, and a brand new baby girl named Ryan Marie Curtin (born 2/6/08).

Food:
I know it’s not healthy, but I have to go with a Philly cheesesteak. I’m from Philadelphia so every time I get back I hit my favorite cheesesteak place in Philly with my buddies.

Other sports:
I played lots of other sports growing up; I played baseball, basketball, whatever was in season I played. I did that all the way through high school and then in college just decided on soccer.