Charlie Davies back at full strength ahead of 2014 MLS Cup

Revolution forward Charlie Davies is still only 28-years-old but one would be hard-pressed to find any other local professional athlete, who has experienced so many ups and downs in his life. The Manchester, New Hampshire native starred at the Brooks School in North Andover before taking Boston College by storm and then skipping his senior year to pursue a lucrative soccer career in Europe, beginning in Sweden. Now he leads New England into the 2014 MLS Cup after scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw (advancing 4-3 on aggregate) against New York in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship last Saturday at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution take on the Galaxy Sunday in Carson, California (3 p.m., ESPN) as the club searches for its first ever MLS title.

A little more than five years has passed since that fateful night when Davies was riding in a car in Washington D.C. that struck a metal guardrail on the George Washington Parkway, killing a fellow passenger and leaving Davies with a litany of injuries: lacerated bladder, fractured right tibia and femur, fractured elbow, multiple facial fractures and bleeding in the brain.

Even in the aftermath of a crushing playoff defeat last Saturday, Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke couldn’t help but feel good for Davies and all that he’s been able to overcome.

“He has that speed, he’s an opportunist with pace,” noted Petke, himself a former MLS defender. “It’s great to see him back after what he went through. The old Charlie is back over the last two years. I’m proud of him.”

Davies had been one of the rising stars on the U.S. National Team (four goals, three assists in 17 matches) in the late 2000s. Davies and Jozy Altidore were a pair of dynamic young strikers the likes of which the U.S. hadn’t seen in years. That was all lost in an instant as his career, not to mention his life was in serious jeopardy. After months of rehab and recovery, Davies returned to his French club (Sochaux). That began a series of transfers as he was loaned to MLS (DC United), back to Sochaux, then Denmark (Randers FC) and then finally the Revs in August of 2013.

Just surviving the accident and getting back on the field was an amazing accomplishment, but it says something about Davies that he’s been able to regain his form after so many obstacles were thrown at him. Both on the field and in the locker room after the game on Saturday, there were many great scenes to take in when it came to the Revolution. But it’s hard to top Davies’ raw emotion and joy.

“Words can’t really describe it, I feel like I can get back to the player that I used to be,” Davies said. “It’s always tough when you’re not playing, but coming into this season, I had to battle through and I finally got myself fit. The guys in this locker room have pushed me to succeed, which goes a long way. For us to finally get a Cup would be extremely special, the ultimate achievement for me.”