Sockers Re-sign Captain Kraig Chiles

The San Diego Sockers today announced the signing of forward Kraig Chiles to a three-year Major Arena Soccer League contract, keeping the free agent forward with his original team. As per club and MASL rules, details of the contract will not be announced. 

“I’m back!” said Chiles of the deal. 

Chiles, 36, is the only player currently under club contract for the 2020-21 MASL campaign who was an original member of the Sockers during their professional restart in 2009. San Diego’s all-time leading goal scorer, Chiles has netted 408 goals and 580 points in 191 career matches with the Sockers in the PASL and MASL, the highest total for any active player. 

“Kraig is our captain, our top forward, and one of the best pure scorers in the history of the sport,” said Sockers general manager Sean Bowers of the re-signing, “We have always intended for Kraig to play his entire career in San Diego, and with this contract, we hope to make that goal a reality.”

Last season, Chiles once again led the Sockers in scoring, netting 22 goals and 33 points in 19 matches before the MASL halted play due to the COVID-19 epidemic. It was his 11th consecutive season of 20+ goals scored. A three-time MVP of the PASL, Chiles scored career highs in 2012-13 with 56 goals and 72 points. He has been the club’s captain since 2015. 

“It’s been an honor to play for the Sockers and to be so closely associated with a championship organization with so much history in our city,” Chiles remarked, “I still have something left in the tank and want to do everything I can to bring the Ron Newman Cup back to our city where it belongs.”

An SDSU graduate and standout on the college pitch, Chiles went on to play in MLS for Chivas USA in 2008 before converting to the indoor sport when the Sockers returned to play. He’s a four-time PASL champion in San Diego, with three US Open Cup championships, and a WMF World Cup title in 2015. Chiles is the Director of Coaching for the Cardiff Mustangs and runs the youth soccer program for MCRD San Diego. 

The San Diego Sockers concluded the 2019-20 MASL season with a record of 16-5 before the league suspended play due to the COVID pandemic. Follow news on the league at maslsoccer.com for the latest on plans to resume play. Follow all Sockers news and information at SDSockers.com.