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Danny Szetela

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Danny Szetela
Personal information
Full name Daniel Gregory Szetela[1]
Date of birth (1987-06-17) June 17, 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Clifton, New Jersey, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Morris Elite SC
Youth career
2002–2004 IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Columbus Crew 34 (0)
2007–2009 Racing Santander 0 (0)
2008–2009 → Brescia (loan) 26 (1)
2009 D.C. United 4 (0)
2013 Icon FC
2013–2017 New York Cosmos 104 (6)
2018–2019 New York Cosmos B 21 (6)
2020 New York Cosmos 3 (0)
2021– Morris Elite SC 9 (0)
International career
2003 United States U17 4 (2)
2005–2007 United States U20 7 (3)
2008 United States U23 4 (0)
2007–2008 United States 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2021

Daniel Gregory Szetela (born June 17, 1987) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Morris Elite SC in USL League Two.

Club career

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Columbus Crew

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In 2002, Szetela entered USSF's Bradenton Academy, graduating in May 2004. He then signed with Major League Soccer, but because he signed after the annual draft had taken place, his rights were made available to teams in a weighted lottery instead, with Columbus Crew ending up with his rights. His desire to play for his hometown club, the MetroStars, went unfulfilled. Joining in mid-season, Szetela appeared in eight regular season and two playoff games, while recording a solitary assist. In 2005, Szetela struggled to get on the field with the Crew. During 2006, he was beset by injury troubles and only saw four games for Columbus.

Europe

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On August 31, 2007, Szetela was signed by Racing de Santander, in the Spanish Primera División.[2] Szetela made his official debut with the Spanish club on November 14, in a scoreless draw against Málaga CF in the Copa del Rey. On January 29, 2008, Szetela was loaned out to Serie B side Brescia Calcio until June 30, 2008, with the option to purchase at the end. Szetela made his debut for Brescia Calcio on February 9, playing the last five minutes in a 4–2 comeback victory. He made ten appearances total in Serie B.

Szetela extended his loan to Brescia Calcio through June 2009 on July 18, 2008. He scored his first goal for Brescia, his first professional goal in league play, on October 18, 2008, against Triestina. He returned to Spain on July 13, 2009.[3] However, the Spanish side decided against renewing his contract.

D.C. United

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Szetela opted not to continue a career in Europe and returned to the States, signing a contract with Major League Soccer. His contract was picked up by D.C. United, who were second in the allocation order to sign returning U.S. international players.[4]

After suffering a severe knee injury in training camp prior to the 2010 MLS Season, Szetela underwent a partial meniscectomy on February 3, 2010, to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee; however, it was unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, on March 16, 2010, he was released by D.C. United.[5]

New York Cosmos

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He underwent a second failed operation in 2011 before having a third surgery later that year involving a meniscus transplant from a donor, which proved successful.[6]

Following two years of rehabilitation, Szetela returned to organized soccer in 2013, joining Icon FC, who at the time competed in the Garden State Soccer League of the USASA, the fifth-tier of American soccer.

After impressing in U.S. Open Cup play with Icon FC, Szetela earned a tryout with New York Cosmos of the NASL. After a successful tryout, Szetela signed a contract with the Cosmos on July 1, 2013.[7]

Szetela appeared in 13 games for the Cosmos during the 2013 season and scored his first goal with the Cosmos in a 4–0 victory against the Carolina Railhawks on October 12, 2013.[8] Szetela was named to the NASL Team of the Week in Week 8 and 11 of the 2013 season. He was in the starting lineup for the 2013 NASL Soccer Bowl and helped the Cosmos capture their sixth NASL title of all time, defeating the Atlanta Silverbacks 1–0.[9]

On January 7, 2014, Szetela signed a contract extension with the Cosmos.[10]

During the 2014 Spring season, Szetela scored one goal in eight appearances for the club and was named to the Spring Week 8 NASL Team of the Week.

He scored the game-winning goal in the team's 3–2 home victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks on September 13, 2014, earning NASL Team of the Week honors and scored again two weeks later in the team's 1–1 draw with FC Edmonton while once again being named to the NASL Team of the Week for his performance.[11][12]

He finished the 2014 regular season with three goals and one assist in 23 appearances (21 starts). Szetela finished the 2015 regular season with 29 appearances for the Cosmos.

After five years with the Cosmos, Szetela mulled retirement after the NASL suspended play for 2018.[13] After announcing that he would sign with NPSL side FC Motown in New Jersey, Danny instead re-signed with the Cosmos.[14]

Morris Elite SC

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Following the Cosmos hiatus during the NISA Spring 2021 season, Szetela signed with USL League Two side Morris Elite SC ahead of their inaugural season.[15]

International career

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In 2003, Szetela burst onto the world's stage during the Under-17 World Cup in Finland. The second-youngest player on the United States roster, he started all four American games, scoring two goals. In 2005, he was called up to the U.S. U-20 national team for the 2005 2005 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. He played two games in that tournament. On June 30, 2007, Szetela scored the opening goal in the United States' match against South Korea in the U-20 World Cup. Three days later he recorded two goals in a winning effort over Poland, the country of both his parents.

Szetela made his debut for the U.S. on October 17, 2007, as a late-match substitute against Switzerland, and set up Michael Bradley's game-winning goal. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the national team, and provided their first win over Switzerland in seven matches. For a while, Szetela, who has a Polish passport and speaks Polish, was unsure of his international allegiances, as his parents wanted him to play for Poland. However, after the former coach of Poland national team, Pawel Janas, stated publicly that "in Poland we have 200 players like Szetela," he decided to play for the U.S.[16] In July 2008, Szetela was named to the U.S. team that competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Personal life

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Szetela grew up in Clifton, New Jersey. His parents are Polish immigrants and the Szetela household was bilingual. His father Julian was an accomplished player in Poland before migrating to the U.S.[17] Danny Szetela was arrested Friday by Boonton Police on disorderly conduct charges. Clifton resident Danny Szetela, a former MLS player and rising star in the U.S. national team youth system, He was arrested Friday Feb 16, 2011. on disorderly conduct charges following a bar fight, according to the Boonton Police.His rise to stardom was cut short as he has a history of substance abuse specifically alcohol, till this day attends AA meetings in Booton.

Honors

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New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos B

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  2. ^ Galarcep, Ives (August 31, 2007). "Szetela agrees deal with La Liga's Racing Santander". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  3. ^ Rigg, Zac Lee (July 13, 2009). "U.S. int'l Szetela returns to Spain's Santander". CNN Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  4. ^ Galarcep, Ives (July 15, 2009). "Danny Szetela joins D.C. United". Soccer By Ives. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Galarcep, Ives (March 16, 2010). "Szetela waived by D.C. United". Soccer By Ives. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Bradley, Jeff (May 21, 2013). "US Open Cup: Former MLS starlet Danny Szetela using amateur club's run to resurrect career". MLS. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  7. ^ Lewis, Michael (July 1, 2013). "ANOTHER CHANCE FOR DANNY BOY: Cosmos sign ex-MLS player Szetela". Big Apple Soccer. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  8. ^ Lewis, Michael (October 12, 2013). "A GOAL TO REMEMBER: Danny Szetela scores in victory over RailHawks, 1st pro goal in almost five years". Big Apple Soccer. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Oops! Sorry, Something Went Wrong | Nasl".
  10. ^ Lewis, Michael (January 7, 2014). "THE COMEBACK KID COMES BACK: Cosmos extend Danny Szetela's contract". Big Apple Soccer. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Cosmos midfielder Danny Szetela on the sad state of U.S. Soccer". elitesportsny.com. Elite Sports NY. February 6, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  14. ^ "Danny Szetela returns, will captain Cosmos B". twiceacosmo.com. Vox Media. March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  15. ^ Staff, USLLeagueTwo com (March 16, 2021). "Danny Szetela Joins Morris Elite SC for the 2021 Season". USL League Two. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  16. ^ Michalak, Przemysław (November 12, 2013). "Polskie ślady na świecie (28). Danny Szetela. Janas mówił, że takich ma dwustu i... chyba się nie pomylił". 2x45.info (in Polish). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  17. ^ "Danny Szetela S".
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