Samuel Strong (born August 23, 1996) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Rajpracha FC in the Thai League 2.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Strong | ||
| Date of birth | August 23, 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Santa Barbara, California, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rajpracha | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Real So Cal | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos | 30 | (2) |
| 2017 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 14 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015 | Ventura County Fusion | 3 | (0) |
| 2017 | Ventura County Fusion | 12 | (3) |
| 2018–2019 | Fresno FC | 17 | (0) |
| 2020 | Hartford Athletic | 15 | (2) |
| 2021 | San Diego 1904 | 16 | (1) |
| 2022 | Monterey Bay | 4 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Central Valley Fuego (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2023 | Central Valley Fuego | 6 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Rajpracha | 23 | (8) |
| International career | |||
| 2015 | United States U23 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 14, 2023 | |||
Career
College & Amateur
Born in Santa Barbara, Strong played youth soccer with Santa Barbara Soccer Club and Real So Cal. He also played one season of high school soccer with San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara where he graduated in 2014. Strong received a scholarship to play college soccer at UC Santa Barbara between 2015 and 2016, where he scored 2 goals in 30 appearances for the Gauchos.[1] In November 2016, Strong was charged with felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving. Strong had seen a UCSB parking official placing a clamp on one of his tires in a campus parking lot and responded by getting into his car and driving away, nearly hitting the officer. He was subsequently dismissed from the UCSB soccer team.[2] Strong later played one season of soccer at Coastal Carolina University in 2017.[3]
While at college, Strong played with USL PDL side Ventura County Fusion in 2015[4] and 2017.[5]
Professional
Strong signed with 2nd division United Soccer League side Fresno FC on December 21, 2017, ahead of their inaugural season.[6] He made his professional debut on July 25, 2018, starting in a 0–0 draw with Oklahoma City Energy.[7] On December 2, 2019, Strong signed with Hartford Athletic.[8]During his time with Hartford Athletic, Strong was the 2020 club defender of the year as voted by the fans.
Strong signed with 3rd division National Independent Soccer Association club San Diego 1904 FC on August 6, 2021, he scored on his debut in a match vs Maryland Bobcats on August 8, 2021.[9]
Strong was announced as a signing for 2nd division USL Championship expansion side Monterey Bay FC on February 14, 2022.[10] Strong returned to Fresno on July 22, 2022, by way of a loan to Central Valley Fuego FC for the remainder of the 2022 USL League One season.[11] His contract option was declined by Monterey Bay at the end of the season.[12]
In March 2023, it was announced that Strong had signed with Central Valley Fuego on a permanent deal.[13] In July 2023 Strong and Central Valley Fuego mutually parted ways. Later that month Strong signed a contract with Rajpracha FC of the Thai League 2, being the first time Strong has played for a team outside of the United States. Strong scored in his Thai FA Cup, Thai League Cup and Thai League debut.