Troy Perkins
A steady and resilient MLS goalkeeper whose standout season earned him top honors and a stint with the US national team.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American soccer player·Birthday: July 29·Millennials
Biography
Troy Perkins's path to professional soccer was unconventional, bypassing the standard college powerhouse route to climb through the USL ranks. His big break came with D.C. United in MLS, where his athleticism and command of the penalty area culminated in a stellar 2006 season that earned him the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award. That form opened the door to the United States national team, where he earned caps in a competitive era for American goalkeepers. Perkins's career was a testament to perseverance, featuring moves to clubs in Norway and Canada, and multiple returns to MLS franchises like Portland and Montreal. While not a longtime national team fixture, his story is one of a late-blooming talent who maximized his opportunity to reach the sport's highest levels in North America.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Troy was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Troy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Troy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2006 while playing for D.C. United.
- Earned seven international caps for the United States men's national soccer team.
- Won the MLS Supporters' Shield with D.C. United in 2006 and 2007.
Did You Know?
He played college soccer at the University of South Florida and the University of Evansville.
Before his MLS breakout, he played for the Portland Timbers when they were in the USL First Division.
He served as a backup goalkeeper for the US team at the 2007 Copa América.
“You have to earn your spot every single day, no matter what you did yesterday.”
