John Wolyniec

John Wolyniec

Personal information
Full name	John Wolyniec
Date of birth	January 24, 1977 (1977-01-24) (age 32)
Place of birth	Staten Island, New York, United States
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	New York Red Bulls
Number	15
Youth career
1995–1998	Fordham Rams
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999	Long Island Rough Riders	27	(15)
1999	MetroStars	4	(1)
2000–2001	Chicago Fire	19	(2)
2000	→ MLS Pro-40 (loan)	3	(0)
2000	→ Milwaukee Rampage (loan)	4	(3)
2001	New England Revolution	1	(0)
2001	Rochester Raging Rhinos	15	(1)
2002	Milwaukee Rampage	26	(0)
2002	Chicago Fire	2	(1)
2003–2005	MetroStars	63	(17)
2005–2006	Columbus Crew	18	(3)
2006	Los Angeles Galaxy	10	(1)
2006–	New York Red Bulls	71	(8)
National team‡
2004–	United States	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 October, 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 April, 2009

John Wolyniec (born January 25, 1977 in Staten Island, New York) is an American soccer player who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth and Amateur

Wolyniec attended Monsignor Farrell High School and played four years of college soccer at Fordham University, where he led the nation in goals in 1997 and 1998.

Professional

Wolyniec was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the MetroStars in the 1999 MLS College Draft, but being a high pick was not enough to keep him on the squad, as he was cut before playing any games. Wolyniec signed with the Long Island Rough Riders of the A-League and led the team in goals. In the midst of the worst season in league history, the Metros called him up for a late season stretch and he promptly scored in his first game with the team.

In 2000, the Chicago Fire re-drafted Wolyniec with the 44th overall pick of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. That season, the Fire sent him on loan with the MLS Project 40^[1] and the Milwaukee Rampage where he scored three goals in four games.^[2][3] Back with the Fire, he scored just one goal all year, and, after scoring one early in 2001, was traded to the New England Revolution for Eric Wynalda. New England promptly cut John after he played one game. He spent the next two years in the A-League, with the Rochester Rhinos in 2001 and with the Milwaukee Rampage in 2002. He was named the MVP of the league final during his time with the Rampage.

Then-MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley re-acquired Wolyniec in the 2003 MLS Supplemental Draft. Wolyniec came into his own during his second stint with the team, scoring a number of key goals, including two overtime game-winners and a late winner in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals against DC United. He finished the year with five MLS goals (seven in all competitions)

Even as the team signed a trio of foreign strikers in 2004, he kept his starting place, scored ten goals to tie for the team lead, and began to mature into a team leader. But after scoring two goals in eight games in 2005, he was traded to the Columbus Crew in exchange for prolific scorer Ante Razov. After scoring three goals for the Crew, Wolyniec was dealt in May 2006 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in a four-player deal. In August, he was traded again, joining Red Bull New York for his third stint with the club now formerly known as MetroStars. The 2007 and 2008 seasons saw Wolyniec primarily as a reserve player for New York, managing to score 3 goals in 21 appearances in 2007 and being held scoreless in 19 regular season appearances in 2008. With the Red Bulls barely qualifying for the 2008 MLS Playoffs, Coach Juan Carlos Osorio surprising inserted Wolyniec into the starting lineup for the clubs first leg match against the defending Champion Houston Dynamo, Wolyniec would assist on Juan Pablo Angel's goal in a match that ended 1-1. With New York needing a victory to advance out of the first round for the second time in team history, Osorio repeated the same lineup that drew 1-1. Wolyniec was again a key figure scoring the third goal in a 3-0 rout of Houston in Robertson Stadium. Wolyniec continued his fine play in the Western Conference Final, helping set up the Red Bulls loan goal in the 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, and thus advancing to the clubs first ever MLS Cup Final. In the MLS Cup Final, Wolyniec scored the Red Bulls loan goal in a 1-3 loss to the Columbus Crew.

International

Wolyniec earned a call-up to the U.S. national team in 2004, getting his first cap against Denmark on January 18, 2004.

Career statistics

[1]

Titles

Season	Team	Title
2000	Chicago Fire	US Open Cup
2001	Rochester Raging Rhinos	USL A-League
2002	Milwaukee Rampage	USL A-League
2008	Red Bull New York	MLS Western Conference (Playoffs)

See also

• List of current MLS players

References

External links

• MLS player profile
• Wolyniec's wonder goal
• National Football Teams statistics