From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Daniel ("Danny") Benjamin Califf (born March 17, 1980 in Montclair, California) is an American professional football (soccer) player, who plays as a defender for Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga. He has played 13 games and scored one goal for the United States men's national soccer team.

Califf played college soccer at the University of Maryland from 1998 to 2000. As a freshman, Califf started all 24 of the team's games, and was named to the Soccer America All-Freshman team for helping to lead the Terrapins to the Final Four. As a sophomore, he started 20 games, and was named an NSCAA third-team All-American.

After his sophomore season, Califf signed a Project-40 contract with MLS and entered the 2000 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected sixth overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Califf was immediately slotted into the Galaxy's starting lineup, appearing in 18 games, 16 of them starts, as a rookie. Over the next three years, Califf would establish himself as one of the best central defenders in the league, starting 69 games for the Galaxy while helping the team to win a U.S. Open Cup in 2001 and a MLS Cup in 2002. Califf struggled with injuries in 2004, and was able to make only 10 starts, playing 855 minutes.

Califf was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for an allocation prior to the 2005 season. He then regained his old form and even improved, being named to the MLS Best XI for the first time. Califf has scored seven league goals and four assists in six years in MLS. He left the Quakes after just one season to sign with Aalborg BK (AaB) in the Danish Superliga. In his first full season at AaB, Califf played 30 of 33 games, and helped the team win bronze medals in the 2006-07 Superliga season. Califf scored his first AaB goal on the last match day of the season, as bronze medal contenders Odense BK were defeated 3-1. After the season, during AaB's Intertoto Cup campaign, Califf was named club captain.

He won the CIF championship with the Orange High Panthers in 1996. Califf has played for the United States national team at every level from the U-17's to the senior team. He has appeared in the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship, the 1999 World Youth Championship, and the 2000 Olympic team. Additionally, he has appeared in 12 games for the full national team, getting his first cap against South Korea on January 19, 2002. Califf played in the 2003 Confederations Cup, the 2002 and 2003 Gold Cups and the 2007 Copa America. Califf scored his only international goal against Haiti on March 16, 2004. He served as captain for the Red, White & Blue on July 5 when the United States lost 1-0 to Colombia during their final group game in Venezuela (2007 Copa America).

• (Danish) AaB profile
• Career stats at Danmarks Radio