John Wolyniec

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John Wolyniec
Personal information
Full name John Wolyniec
Date of birth January 24, 1977 (1977-01-24) (age 31)
Place of birth    Staten Island, NY, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current club Red Bull New York
Number 15
Youth clubs
1995-98 Fordham
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1999
1999
2000-01
2001
2002
2002
2003-05
2005-06
2006
2006-
Long Island Rough Riders
MetroStars
Chicago Fire
New England Revolution
Milwaukee Rampage
Chicago Fire
MetroStars
Columbus Crew
Los Angeles Galaxy
Red Bull New York
0? (15)
04 0(1)
21 0(2)
01 0(0)
26 (10)
02 0(1)
66 (17)
18 0(3)
10 0(1)
35 0(6)   
National team2
2004 United States 02 0(0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 12 January 2008.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 1 December 2006.
* Appearances (Goals)

John Wolyniec (born January 24, 1977 in Staten Island, New York) is an American soccer forward, who currently plays for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer.

Wolyniec played college soccer at Fordham University, where he led the nation in goals in 1997 and 1998. The MetroStars drafted him with the seventh overall pick in the 1999 MLS College Draft, but being a high pick was not enough to keep John on the squad, as he was cut before playing any games. Wolyniec signed with the Long Island Rough Riders of the A-League and led the team in goals. In the midst of the worst season in league history, the Metros called him up for a late season stretch and he promptly scored in his first game with the team.

In 2000, the Chicago Fire re-drafted Wolyniec with the 44th overall pick of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. He scored just one goal all year, and, after scoring one early in 2001, was traded to the New England Revolution for Eric Wynalda. New England promptly cut John after he played one game. He spent the next two years in the A-League, with the Rochester Rhinos in 2001 and with the Milwaukee Rampage in 2002. He was named the MVP of the league final during his time with the Rampage.

Then-MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley re-acquired Wolyniec in the 2003 MLS Supplemental Draft. Wolyniec came into his own during his second stint with the team, scoring a number of key goals, including two overtime game-winners and a late winner in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals against DC United. He finished the year with five MLS goals (seven in all competitions) and earned a call-up to the U.S. national team, getting his first cap against Denmark on January 18, 2004.

Even as the team signed a trio of foreign strikers in 2004, he kept his starting place, scored ten goals to tie for the team lead, and began to mature into a team leader. But after scoring two goals in eight games in 2005, he was traded to the Columbus Crew in exchange for prolific scorer Ante Razov. After scoring three goals for the Crew, Wolyniec was dealt in May 2006 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in a four-player deal. In August, he was traded again, joining Red Bull New York for his third stint with the club now formerly known as MetroStars.

[edit] See also