Troy Dayak

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Troy Dayak giving autographs

Troy Dayak (born January 21, 1971 in Walnut Creek, California) was an American soccer player who played as central defender. He spent his entire Major League Soccer career with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Dayak (nicknamed Cowboy) had a notable youth soccer career playing in the U-16, U-20 and U-23 United States national soccer teams. He was part of the U-20 team to place fourth in the World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia. He also represented the USA in 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He also earned 11 caps for the senior national team.

Troy forewent college and signed with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks of the A-League at age 17, becoming the youngest player ever to sign in the A-League. He helped the Blackhawks win the Championship in 1991. In 1993, Troy signed with the Cleveland Crunch of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), helping lead them to the title. In 1995, he signed with the San Jose Grizzlies indoor team.

In 1996, he was selected by MetroStars in second round of the Inaugural MLS Draft (19th overall). Troy, who had strong roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, refused to sign with the league and move his family to the New York area. Therefore, he was traded by the MetroStars to the San Jose Clash (later to be named the Earthquakes) in exchange for Rhett Harty and first round pick in 1996 College Draft.

He was a solid starter for the Clash until, in August of 1997, he suffered a violent collision snapping his head backwards. Troy's neck was already aggravated due to two previous neck injuries, and he was very close to becoming paralyzed. Troy was told that he would never play again. Nonetheless, in October of 1997, he underwent surgery that fused a piece of bone from Troy's hip onto his 5th and 6th vertebrae.

After a long march to recovery, he rejoined the Clash in 1998 only to be waived at the end of the season. In 1999 Dayak signed with the San Francisco Bay Seals of the A-league. Early in the 1999 season, Dayak suffered a major knee injury damaging his medial collateral ligament (MCF) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). After a difficult recovery complicated by infection, Troy rejoined the Seals for the 2000 campaign as a player and coach. He was honored that season when he made the A League all stars.

In 2001 Troy was signed by Frank Yallop, new head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes. When not suffering from a multitude of injuries (upper back sprain, shoulder sprain, neck sprain, abdominal strain, sports hernia, food poisoning), Troy has been a solid starter for the Quakes, helping lead the team to two MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003. Dayak earned the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2001. Dayak has scored eight goals and added seven assists in his seven years in the league.

Troy has announced that he would retire after the 2005 MLS season. Even before his retirement became official, he was named head coach for the MISL expansion franchise, the California Cougars, who are based in Stockton, California. On Saturday, January 27, 2007, he was fired by the California Cougars because in the previous game he received a red card. He also wasn't doing a very good job coaching.

Troy owns a retail soccer store in Tracy, California, as well as an alfalfa farm.