Clint Mathis

Mathis was drafted sixth overall by Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round of the 1998 MLS College Draft. 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.Mathis immediately took his game to a new level, flashing an "I ♥ NY" shirt after scoring goals and breaking the MLS record by scoring five goals in a game against Dallas Burn on August 26, 2000. He finished second in the league in scoring with 16 goals and 14 assists and was named to the MLS Best XI. 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 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 Bayern Munich attempted to acquire Mathis but was blocked by MLS. On January 22, 2004, Mathis left the MetroStars to sign on a free transfer with Hannover 96 of the German Bundesliga. Mathis left the Metros after playing in 67 games (66 starts), scoring 33 goals and contributing 21 assists. 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. 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,…

Mathis earned his first cap for the United States national team on November 6, 1998, against Australia. His first goal came on November 15, 2000, in a 4–0 win over Barbados. He was a contributor for the United States national team in the early stages of qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring the game-winning goal against Honduras and setting up Josh Wolff's game-winning goal against Costa Rica. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Mathis shaved his hair into a mohawk and scored a goal in the United States' 1–1 draw with South Korea.

On January 31, 2014, Mathis was announced as assistant coach of the MLS Chicago Fire and head coach Frank Yallop.

In 1999, Mathis played himself in an episode of The Jersey called "Be True to You" where Morgan Hudson (played by Courtnee Draper) uses a magical jersey by jumping into his body. In 2002, Mathis became the first male soccer player in eight years to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in its World Cup preview issue. Mathis was also on the cover of ESPN MLS Extratime in 2002, and Backyard Soccer 2004. Mathis is married to former soccer player Tracey Winzen.