Steve Purdy (born July 30, 1985) is an American‑born professional soccer defender who has represented the United States at youth level and El Salvador at senior international level. Born in Bakersfield, California, Purdy developed his early football skills in the United States before attending the University of California, Berkeley, where he played for the California Golden Bears men's soccer team from 2005 to 2007.
Club career
After college, Purdy signed with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2008, although he did not make a first‑team appearance for the club. He subsequently joined the USL Premier Development League side FC Tucson in 2009, recording 12 appearances. In 2010, he signed with the USL Second Division club NSC Minnesota Stars (later Minnesota United FC), where he made 27 league appearances during the season. Purdy continued his professional career with the San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 2012 to 2013, adding 38 caps and scoring two goals. In 2014 he returned to the NASL, joining the Tampa Bay Rowdies and appearing in 18 matches. His later playing years included stints with lower‑division clubs, after which he announced his retirement from professional football.
International career
Purdy was eligible to represent both the United States and El Salvador through his heritage. He earned caps for the United States U‑20 and U‑23 teams, participating in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. In 2010, he switched his senior international allegiance to El Salvador, making his debut in a friendly against Honduras on August 12, 2010. He subsequently earned a total of 8 caps for the El Salvador national team, featuring in CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification matches and other international fixtures.
Personal life
Beyond his playing career, Purdy has been involved in coaching and youth development programs, contributing to soccer initiatives in both the United States and El Salvador. He holds a degree in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.