 | |||
| 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 Americansoccer player who currently plays forMorris Elite SC inUSL League Two.
In 2002, Szetela enteredUSSF'sBradenton Academy, graduating in May 2004. He then signed withMajor 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, theMetroStars, 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.
On August 31, 2007, Szetela was signed byRacing de Santander, in the SpanishPrimera División.[2] Szetela made his official debut with the Spanish club on November 14, in a scoreless draw againstMálaga CF in theCopa del Rey. On January 29, 2008, Szetela was loaned out toSerie B sideBrescia Calcio until June 30, 2008, with the option to purchase at the end. Szetela made his debut forBrescia Calcio on February 9, playing the last five minutes in a 4–2 comeback victory. He made ten appearances total inSerie B.
Szetela extended his loan toBrescia 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, againstTriestina. He returned toSpain on July 13, 2009.[3] However, the Spanish side decided against renewing his contract.
Szetela opted not to continue a career in Europe and returned to the States, signing a contract withMajor League Soccer. His contract was picked up byD.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 the2010 MLS Season, Szetela underwent a partial meniscectomy on February 3, 2010, to repair atorn meniscus in his right knee; however, it was unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, on March 16, 2010, he was released by D.C. United.[5]
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, joiningIcon FC, who at the time competed in theGarden State Soccer League of theUSASA, the fifth-tier of American soccer.
After impressing inU.S. Open Cup play with Icon FC, Szetela earned a tryout withNew York Cosmos of theNASL. 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 theCarolina 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 withFC 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 sideFC Motown in New Jersey, Danny instead re-signed with the Cosmos.[14]
Following the Cosmos hiatus during theNISA Spring 2021 season, Szetela signed withUSL League Two sideMorris Elite SC ahead of their inaugural season.[15]
In 2003, Szetela burst onto the world's stage during theUnder-17 World Cup inFinland. The second-youngest player on theUnited States roster, he started all four American games, scoring two goals. In 2005, he was called up to theU.S. U-20 national team for the 20052005 World Youth Championship in theNetherlands. He played two games in that tournament. On June 30, 2007, Szetela scored the opening goal in the United States' match againstSouth Korea in theU-20 World Cup. Three days later he recorded two goals in a winning effort overPoland, the country of both his parents.
Szetela made his debut for theU.S. on October 17, 2007, as a late-match substitute againstSwitzerland, and set upMichael 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 the2008 Beijing Olympics.
Szetela grew up inClifton, 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]
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