| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Szetela | ||
| Date of birth | June 17, 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Passaic, New Jersey, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | IMG Soccer Academy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2007 | Columbus Crew | 34 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Racing Santander | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | → Brescia (loan) | 26 | (1) |
| 2009 | D.C. United | 4 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003 | United States U-17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | United States U-20 | 7 | (3) |
| 2008 | United States U-23 | 4 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | United States | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 March 2010. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Daniel "Danny" Szetela (born June 17, 1987 in Passaic, New Jersey) is a former American soccer player.
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In 2002, Szetela entered USSF's Bradenton Academy, graduating in May 2004. He then signed with Major League Soccer. His desire to play for his hometown club, the MetroStars, went unfulfilled. Because he signed with MLS after the annual draft had taken place, his rights were made available to teams in a weighted lottery, with Columbus Crew ending up with his rights. Joining in mid-season, Szetela appeared in eight regular season and two playoff games, while recording a solitary assist. In 2005, Szetela struggled to get on the field with the Crew. During 2006, he was beset by injury troubles and only saw four games for Columbus.
On August 31, 2007, Szetela was signed by Racing de Santander, in the Spanish Primera División.[1] Szetela made his official debut with the Spanish club on November 14, in a scoreless draw against Málaga CF in the Copa del Rey. On January 29, 2008, Szetela was loaned out to Serie B side Brescia Calcio until June 30, 2008, with the option to purchase at the end. Szetela made his debut for Brescia Calcio on February 9, playing the last five minutes in a 4-2 comeback victory and made ten appearances total in Serie B.
Szetela extended his loan to Brescia Calcio through June 2009 on July 18, 2008. He scored his first goal for Brescia, his first professional goal in league play, on October 18, 2008, against Triestina. He returned to Spain on July 13, 2009.[2] However, the Spanish side decided against renewing his contract.
Szetela opted not to continue a career in Europe and returned to the States and signed a contract with Major League Soccer. His contract was picked up by D.C. United, who were second in the allocation placements to sign returning U.S. international players.
On 20 March 2010 D.C. United released the midfielder who is now a free agent.[3]
In 2003, Szetela burst onto the world's stage during the Under-17 World Cup in Finland. The second-youngest player on the United States roster, he started all four American games, scoring two goals. In 2005, he was called up to the U.S. U-20 national team for the 2005 2005 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. He played two games in that tournament. On June 30, 2007, Szetela scored the opening goal in the United States' match against South Korea in the U-20 World Cup. Three days later he recorded two goals in a winning effort over Poland, the country of both his parents.
Szetela made his debut for the USA on October 17, 2007, as a late-match substitute against Switzerland, and set up Michael Bradley's game-winning goal. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the national team, and provided their first win over Switzerland in seven matches. For a while, Szetela, who has a Polish passport and speaks Polish, was hesitating, as his parents wanted him to play for Poland. However, after the former coach of Polish national team, Pawel Janas, stated publicly that "in Poland we have 200 players like Szetela,"[4] he decided to play for the U.S. In July 2008, Szetela was named to the U.S. team that competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Szetela's early career was marked by adversity, including losing his father, and moving far from home at a young age. Also, Szetela was childhood friends with Giuseppe Rossi who has chosen to play for the Italy national football team.
Szetela, along with his two brothers, was arrested on February 11, 2011 after been involved in a bar room brawl in Boonton, New Jersey.[5]
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