Sean Nealis (born January 13, 1997) is an American professionalsoccer player who plays as adefender for theNew York Red Bulls ofMajor League Soccer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sean Nealis | ||
| Date of birth | (1997-01-13)January 13, 1997 (age 28) | ||
| Place of birth | Massapequa, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | New York Red Bulls | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2018 | Hofstra Pride | 72 | (4) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018 | Westchester Flames | 5 | (0) |
| 2019– | New York Red Bulls | 135 | (3) |
| 2019 | New York Red Bulls II | 20 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 25, 2024 | |||
Career
editYouth and college
editBorn inMassapequa, New York, Nealis began playing soccer at the age of seven.[2] In his junior year of high school, he led theMassapequa Chiefs to aNYSPHSAA Class AA Championship. Nealis attendedHofstra University, where he was a member of the varsity soccer team for four years. During his senior season he was recognized as the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year.[3] In 2018, Nealis played five games in thePDL withWestchester Flames.
He is the younger brother of formerGeorgetown Hoyas,Long Island Rough Riders andNew York Cosmos defender,Jimmy Nealis. His older brother, Connor, played forBinghamton University. Nealis' younger brother,Dylan, was a member of theGeorgetown Men's Soccer National Championship Team in 2019 and was drafted third overall byInter Miami in the 2020MLS SuperDraft. Dylan later joined his brother as a Red Bull in 2021.[4]
New York Red Bulls
editOn January 11, 2019, Nealis was drafted in the second round of the2019 MLS SuperDraft, by theNew York Red Bulls.[5] After a strong preseason with the club, Nealis signed an MLS contract on February 17.[6] On February 27, 2019, Nealis made his professional and New York Red Bulls debut coming on in the second half forAaron Long in 3–0 victory overAtlético Pantoja in the2019 CONCACAF Champions League.[7] A few days later, on March 2, 2019, Nealis made his league debut with the club, appearing in a 1–1 draw withColumbus Crew.[8] On May 11, 2019, Nealis scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory overFC Dallas.[9]
Nealis became a regular starter for New York during the 2021 season. On August 25, 2021, he signed a three-year contract extension, with an additional option year.[10] On October 23, 2021, Nealis scored the winning goal for New York in a 2–1 victory overColumbus Crew.[11]
Toward the end of the 2022 season, New York once again handed Nealis a contract extension through the 2026 season with an option for 2027.[12] Nealis was named team captain for New York for the 2023 season. On September 23, 2023, Nealis scored his first goal of the season, the go ahead goal in a 5–3 victory overD.C. United.[13]
Nealis scored the only Red Bull goal in a 2–1 loss to theLA Galaxy inMLS Cup 2024.
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 19 November 2021.[14]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Westchester Flames | 2018[15] | PDL | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| New York Red Bulls | 2019 | MLS | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2021 | 28 | 1 | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||||
| 2022 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 39 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 28 | 0 | — | 2[f] | 0 | 5[g] | 1 | 35 | 1 | |||
| Total | 135 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 158 | 4 | ||
| New York Red Bulls II (loan) | 2019 | USL | 20 | 3 | — | — | 1[h] | 0 | 21 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 160 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 184 | 7 | ||
- ^Appearance(s) inCONCACAF Champions League
- ^Appearance(s) inMLS Cup Playoffs
- ^Appearance(s) inMLS Cup Playoffs
- ^Appearance(s) inLeagues Cup
- ^Appearance(s) inMLS Cup Playoffs
- ^Appearance(s) inLeagues Cup
- ^Appearance(s) inMLS Cup Playoffs
- ^Appearance(s) inUSL Championship Playoffs
References
edit- ^"Sean Nealis". New York Red Bulls. RetrievedAugust 22, 2022.
- ^"Sean Nealis Hofstra Bio - 2018 Men's Soccer Roster".GoHofstra.com. Hofstra University Athletics. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^"CLOSE TO HOME: Red Bulls grab Hofstra's Nealis in 2nd round of the draft".frontrowsoccer.com. Front Row Soccer. January 11, 2019. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^Bulls, New York Red."New York Red Bulls Acquire Defender Dylan Nealis From Nashville SC".New York Red Bulls. RetrievedAugust 7, 2023.
- ^"Red Bulls select Roy Boateng, Janos Loebe, Sean Nealis and Rece Buckmaster in the first two rounds".newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. January 11, 2019. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^"New York Red Bulls Sign MLS SuperDraft Pick Sean Nealis".newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. February 17, 2019. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^"RBNY dispatch "explosive" Atletico Pantoja in CCL, turn focus to Santos".mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. February 28, 2019. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^"New York Red Bulls Grab Point in Columbus".newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. March 2, 2019. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^"Nealis, White Help Red Bulls Past FC Dallas 3-1".Fox Sports. May 11, 2019. RetrievedMay 11, 2019.
- ^"New York Red Bulls sign Sean Nealis to multi-year contract extension".MLSSoccer.com. RetrievedAugust 28, 2021.
- ^"Columbus Crew falls 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls".columbuscrew.com. Columbus Crew. October 23, 2021. RetrievedOctober 23, 2021.
- ^"New York Red Bulls Sign Long Island Native Sean Nealis to New MLS Contract".
- ^"Red Bulls Pour On Goals in 5-3 Defeat of D.C."www.newyorkredbulls.com.
- ^"Sean Nealis - USL League Two Profile".uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. RetrievedMay 14, 2020.
- ^"Westchester Flames - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - # - Sean Nealis -".www.uslleaguetwo.com. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2021.
External links
edit- Sean Nealis at Soccerway