Santino Quaranta

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Santino Quaranta
Personal information
Date of birth	October 14, 1984 (age 22)
Place of birth	Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Height	6'1
Position	midfielder
Club information
Current club	Los Angeles Galaxy
Number	25
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2001-06 2006–	D.C. United Los Angeles Galaxy	62 (14) 12 (3)
National team**
2005–	United States	11 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 October 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 9 July 2006.

Santino Quaranta (born October 14, 1984 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American soccer player, who currently plays striker for Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

Quaranta was drafted eighth overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, after having exceptional success with the US U-17 national team academy based in Bradenton, Florida. At 16 years, four months, Quaranta surpassed fellow D.C. player Bobby Convey as the youngest player in the history of MLS, a record which would subsequently be taken by another fellow United player, Freddy Adu. Quaranta immediately excelled in MLS, registering five goals and one assist in just 16 games during the 2001 season. Unfortunately, in the subsequent three seasons, Quaranta has been beset by injuries, and his promise has somewhat faded. Although he started all eleven games he played in during the 2002 season, Quaranta missed almost two-thirds of the season with injuries; things did not improve in 2003, when he only played in 12 games, and have not been much better in 2004, when he only played once. With fitness restored, Quaranta returned to form in 2005; Santino netted 5 goals and 5 assists in 18 games played, third highest on the club for goals scored.

Quaranta was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy from D.C. United for a partial allocation and a conditional draft pick on August 9, 2006 ^[1]. In his first match with the Galaxy the next day, Quaranta entered as a substitute and scored the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win over Houston.

Quaranta has played internationally for the Under-17 and Under-20 United States national soccer teams, but while he was dominant for the U-17's, he was not able to secure a starting place on the U-20's (although he did play in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship). After coming back from injuries in 2005, Quaranta received his first cap for the senior team July 7, 2005 in a Gold Cup match against Cuba. He converted a penalty kick in the United States' shootout victory over Panama in the Gold Cup championship game but has yet to score an international goal.

Quaranta partially attended Baltimore's Archbishop Curley High School for his Freshman and Sophomore years, where he started both years, and was recognized as one of the top players in the state. He has a daughter, Olivia Naomi, born in 2003.^[2]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Goff, Stephen. "United Trades Quaranta To Los Angeles", Washington Post, August 9, 2006, retrieved August 9, 2006.
2. ^ Connolly, Marc. "Quaranta showcasing talent for U.S. team", MLSnet.com, August 16, 2005, retrieved December 4, 2006.

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

Los Angeles Galaxy - Current Squad
1 Cronin | 3 Miglioranzi | 4 Jazic | 5 Albright | 6 Gardner | 8 Vagenas | 9 Gonzalez | 10 Donovan | 11 Glinton | 12 Roberts | 13 Jones | 14 Marshall | 16 Veris | 18 Martino | 21 Gordon | 22 Hartman | 23 Kirk | 24 Sturgis | 25 Quaranta | 26 Glen | 28 Hansen | 31 Saunders | – Cannon | – Jaqua | – Randolph | Coach: Yallop