Mike Petke

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Mike Petke
Mike Petke
Personal information
Full name Mike Petke
Date of birth January 30, 1976 (1976-01-30) (age 32)
Place of birth    Bohemia, NY, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position defender
Club information
Current club Colorado Rapids
Number 12
Youth clubs
1995-98 Southern Conn. State
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1998-02
2003-05
2005–
MetroStars
D.C. United
Colorado Rapids
137 (5)
58 (5)
69 (1)   
National team2
2001-2003 United States 2 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 4 November 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 4 November 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Mike Petke (born January 30, 1976 in Bohemia, New York) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.

After playing college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University, Petke was drafted by the MetroStars in the first round of the 1998 MLS College Draft. He spent the next five years with the Metros, becoming the only constant under an ever-changing regime of coaches and players. A fan favorite who often dyed his hair, Petke is the MetroStars all-time leader in games played with 134 (157 in all competitions).

Petke gained notoriety on August 20, 2000, just four days after Tampa Bay Mutiny forward Mamadou Diallo broke the ribs of Metro goalkeeper Mike Ammann. Petke, who rarely scored goals, got one in the Metro win over Colorado, and unveiled a t-shirt that said August 16th: Crime of the Century on the front and Revenge is Coming on the back. While such support for a fallen comrade was welcomed by teammates and Metro fans, it was frowned at by the league and Petke was fined for his efforts. Diallo, however, received no disciplinary action following the injuries to Ammann.

Petke, a three-time MLS All-Star, did not have a good season in 2002 and was traded to D.C. United with a draft pick and an allocation for Eddie Pope, Jaime Moreno, and Richie Williams. He won the MLS Cup with DC during the 2004 season. Petke was then traded to the Colorado Rapids in May 2005 in a three-team deal. In eight years in MLS, he has scored ten regular season goals and added four assists.

Petke currently has two caps with the US national team, the first coming June 7, 2001 against Ecuador.

On June 28, 2007, at a game against DC United, Petke tripped and possibly fractured his ankle. He was attempting to take the ball from a DC player when the ball hit his foot, twisting it. He limped off of the field, in a great deal of pain, and immedietly received medical attention. Later on in the match, it was confrmed that Petke would be getting x-rays as soon as the game was over.

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