John DiRaimondo

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John DiRaimondo
Personal information
Full name John DiRaimondo
Date of birth April 23, 1986 (1986-04-23) (age 22)
Place of birth    St. Louis, MO, United States
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Colorado Rapids
Number 28
Youth clubs
2003-2006 St. Louis
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2005-06
2007-present
Chicago Fire Premier
Colorado Rapids
22 (5)
2 (1)   
National team2
U.S. U-17 National Team
U.S. U-20 National Team

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 5 April 2008.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 29 March 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

John DiRaimondo, born on April 26, 1986 in St. Louis, MO, is an American soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder in Major League Soccer for the Colorado Rapids.

Contents

[edit] Youth

DiRaimondo went through an accelerated high school program at St. Louis University High that allowed him to graduate a year early alongside fellow soccer player and childhood friend Brian Grazier. He was selected for the U.S. Under-17 National Team after his freshman year and managed to score two goals for the Under-17 World Cup qualifier in Guatemala. While on the team, DiRaimondo lived in Florida and was roommates with Grazier. In 2003 he was named as the Parade Magazine All-American and competed in the McDonald’s All-American game. DiRaimondo received Student-Athlete of the Year in 2001 and completed high school being on the honor roll all four years.

[edit] College

DiRaimondo attended St. Louis University; in 2003 he scored four goals and got ten assists while being named second-team NSCAA All-Midwest Region. That same year he was named to the Virginia Adidas Classic All-Tournament team and competed for the U.S. Under-17 National Team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. In 2004 he scored four goals and got three assists while being named first team All-Conference. DiRaimondo also played with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in a tour of Korea in June. In 2005 he scored a career high of nine goals and ten assists while being named first team All-Conference and All-Region. He also made it to the Hermann Trophy Watch list. In his last year of college, DiRaimondo scored five goals and got five assists while being named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist. ESPN the Magazine named him Academic All-American.

During his college years he also played with Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.

[edit] Pro Career

DiRaimondo was drafted by Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids on January 18, 2007 and was drafted by Minnesota Thunder of the United Soccer League - I (USL - 1) on January 24, 2007. He made his debut for the Rapids on March 29, 2008 and scored his first professional goal the following week against the Kansas City Wizards.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[1] [2] [3]