| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Grella[1] | ||
| Date of birth | January 23, 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Glen Cove, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Brentford | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Duke Blue Devils | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007 | Long Island Rough Riders | 17 | (10) |
| 2008 | Cary RailHawks U23's | 3 | (2) |
| 2009–2011 | Leeds United | 30 | (1) |
| 2010 | → Carlisle United (loan) | 10 | (3) |
| 2011 | → Swindon Town (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2011– | Brentford | 9 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| United States U-18 | |||
| United States U-20 | |||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18.05, 26 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Michael Grella (born 23 January 1987) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Brentford. He plays as a striker.[2] He was a United States Under-20 International and a highly rated talent in USA. During his first full year with Leeds, Grella was a prominent substitute for the squad which won promotion to The Championship.
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Grella was born in Glen Cove, New York and had a highly successful youth career. He was a 2003 and 2004 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player and the 2004 NSCAA National High School Player of the Year for the Glen Cove Big Red. He led his club team, the Albertson Red Storm, to both the 2003 and 2004 USYSA National Championships and the Red Storm Academy to the 2004 Super Y-League Championship. Grella played college soccer for Duke University where he was a 2008 first team All American.
During the 2007 collegiate offseason, he played for the Long Island Rough Riders in the fourth division USL Premier Development League. In 2008, he played for the Cary RailHawks U23's.
In February 2009, he was drafted in the third round (34th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC. However, Grella decided against signing for the Canadian club, and instead tried his luck at playing in Europe. Grella went on trial with Leeds United in January 2009, and scored a hat-trick for the club's reserves on the 21st of that month against Barnsley FC.[3] He also scored a goal in a behind closed doors game, with news of a permanent deal pending. He signed a full-time contract for Leeds United on transfer deadline day, 2 February 2009, until the end of the 2009–10 season.[4]
He made his Leeds debut on February 14, 2009, after coming on as a 74th minute substitute for Lee Trundle in a 1–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.[5] His first season in professional football was mainly spent making short cameos as a substitute during Leeds fight for promotion. He came on late in Leeds' playoff semi final against Millwall but was unable to grab a goal so far during his first team appearances for Leeds.
Grella scored his first senior goal for Leeds in a pre-season friendly against Burnley. On 10 August 2009 he was voted Man Of The Match in a League Cup match against Darlington although he didn't score. He signed a new long term contract with Leeds.
Grella had to wait just over seven months for his first league start. Replacing the injured Jermaine Beckford in the starting line up for the visit of Stockport County to Elland Road on 5 September 2009, it took him just eight minutes to score his first league goal, curling in an opportunistic effort from the edge of the penalty area.[6]
With seven subs required for the 2009–10 season Grella has found himself used mainly as a substitute in games, coming on as a substitute to try make an impact in games.
Grella scored for Leeds after coming on as a late substitute in the 2–0 FA Cup win against Oldham.[7] He repeated this FA Cup goalscoring form on 8 December 2009 in the FA Cup replay against Kettering Town, coming on as a substitute during the second period of extra time. Grella's introduction changed the pace of the game (which had previously been 1–1), as he scored twice as Leeds won the game 5–1, taking his tally to four for Leeds.[8] Grella started for Leeds in the Football League Trophy game against Accrington Stanley. Grella was substituted in the same game and replaced by Sam Vokes. Grella was an unused substitute for Leeds' victory away to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.[9] Grella started Leeds' Football League Trophy Northern Area Final first leg against Carlisle United, and he was substituted late in the second half by Luciano Becchio.
Grella's fifth goal of the season for Leeds came in Football League Trophy Northern Area Final second leg against Carlisle United. With Grella coming on as a second half substitute and scoring the late winner to send the tie to penalties, one of which Grella converted in the shootout, but Leeds ended up crashing out of the tournament after losing 6–5 on penalties.[10] After coming on as a first half substitute against Norwich City, Grella was given a start against Swindon Town after Luciano Becchio's head injury ruled him out. Grella dropped back onto the bench for the rest of the season, and was limited to late substitute appearances. Leeds were promoted as League 1 runners up after beating Bristol Rovers. Over the course of the season Grella was unable to break up the 48 goal partnership that consisted of Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio and had to settle for a role mainly as a substitute.
He made his first appearance in The Championship when he came on in the opening fixture as a second half substitute in the loss to Derby County and remained on Leeds' bench as an unused substitute in the opening fixtures. After the arrival of Ross McCormack and the emergence of Davide Somma saw Grella dropped down the pecking order at Leeds, Grella was set to go out on loan in order to gain some more first team experience, on transfer deadline day he turned down a loan move to League Two side Oxford United.[11] To help maintain match fitness, Grella played 90 minutes in Leeds' 3–1 behind closed doors friendly win against Middlesbrough on 14 September, scoring a brace in the process.[12] On 22 September 2010, Grella turned down the opportunity of joining Bradford City on loan.[13] Simon Grayson revealed his disappointment that Grella turned down the loan move as he wanted him to get a regular run of games out on loan.[14][15]
On 12 October 2010, Grella joined Carlisle United on a month's loan to gain some more first team experience and gain regular football.[16] He joined fellow Leeds loanee Ľubo Michalík who was already at the club.[16] Grella made his debut as a second half substitute against Exeter City, he started the next game against Charlton, and scored his first goal for Carlisle against Charlton Athletic.[17] He scored in his second consecutive game against Bristol Rovers.[18] Leeds refused permission for Grella to play for Carlisle in the FA Cup against Tipton Town.[19] After impressing during his first month at Carlisle, Grella's loan was extended to 1 January 2011, with Leeds including a 24 hour recall clause if he is needed.[20][21][22] Carlisle had requested to loan Grella for the entire season but had that request turned down by Ken Bates.[23] On 20 November, Grella scored his third goal for Carlisle against Walsall.[24]
On 20 January 2011, Scottish Premier League side Motherwell announced they had signed Grella on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season.[25] Grella returned to Leeds the following day, however, when it became clear that he could not play for Motherwell as he had already played for two different clubs (Leeds and Carlisle) earlier in the season.[25]
On 24 February 2011, Grella agreed to join Swindon Town on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. Grella scored his first goal for Swindon against Dagenham & Redbridge on 12 March.[26] This spell ended on 12 April after Grella decided he was being overlooked since Paul Hart took charge, despite making five starts in seven games.[27] He returned to Leeds but was unable to play for Leeds until his loan at Swindon had expired at the end of the season.
Leeds chairman, Ken Bates announced on 12 May that Grella was to be transfer listed by Leeds as he didn't figure in the clubs future plans.[28]
On 8 June, Grella was given permission to train with American team New York Cosmos, the move is with a view to a permanent deal.[29][30] However, Grella said whilst it was an interesting opportunity he was looking to stay at a club in England.[31] After training with the Cosmos, Grella returned to pre-season training with Leeds, but revealed on his Twitter that he was 99% sure he would be leaving Leeds.[32] Grella played against Bradford Park Avenue in a pre season friendly, he then played for a Leeds 11 in a behind closed doors friendly against Leicester City scoring twice.[33] He then was set to play for a Leeds reserve 11 against Farsley Celtic.[34]
On the 26th of August 2011, Mike Grella joined League One side Brentford on an emergency loan deal. [35] Grella's contract with Leeds United is due to be terminated later in the week so that Grella can sign a permanent deal. [36]
On the 8th of November, 2011, on his first full start for the club, Grella hit four goals in a six nil victory over Bournemouth in the JPT Trophy.
He has represented the United States at both under-18 and under-20 level. He holds both US and Italian passports. Grella admitted he was looking to be called up by the full USA national side, and was hoping to break into the World Cup squad, but he said his lack of playing time at Leeds has made the opportunity of a call up very slim.[37] Grella was left out of the USA squad for the 2010 World Cup, after failing to earn a cap for the full international side before the tournament.
He spends his time off with his family--- mother Grazia, father Michael Sr., and brother Frank--- back in Glen Cove, NY. His family is originally from Sturno, province of Avellino in Italy.
| England | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Play-Offs | Total | Discipline | ||||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| 2011–12 | Brentford | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | – | – | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | Leeds United | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | League One | 17 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 29 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||
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