Andrei Gotsmanov

Andrei Gotsmanov
Personal information
Full nameAndrei Sergeevich Gotsmanov
Date of birth6 May 1986
Place of birthMinsk, Soviet Union
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing positionMidfielder
Youth career
2004–2008Creighton Bluejays
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2009402 FC
2009Minnesota Thunder1(0)
2010–2011NSC Minnesota Stars38(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 4, 2012.
† Appearances (Goals).

Andrei Gotsmanov (born 6 May 1986 in Minsk) is a Belarusian footballer.

Career

College

Gotsmanov grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota and played college soccer at Creighton University, with whom he earned the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Award and was named MVC Tournament MVP.[1] Moreover, Gotsmanov was also awarded a first-team selection on the 2008 NSCAA/adidas Men's Division I All-America Team, as well as a Hermann Trophy semi-finalist.[2]

Professional

Gotsmanov was drafted in the second round (24th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution,[3] but opted to finish college before turning pro.

After graduating Gotsmanov attempted to re-join Revolution, but was unsuccessful as the Revolution would have had to drop a player from their squad in order to sign him.[1] As a result, Gotsmanov went on trial with Sweden's Mjällby AIF. Despite scoring twice in a friendly for Mjällby, he was not offered a contract.

Upon his return from Sweden, Gotsmanov played with the Nebraska-based amateur team 402 FC which qualified for the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; he scored in the team's 3-2 first round loss to Minnesota Thunder,[4] but impressed Thunder's coaches with his performance. He signed Thunder in July 2009, and made his debut for them on 11 July 2009, in a 3-0 win over Montreal Impact.[5] On 17 February 2010 signed with new founded NSC Minnesota Stars of the USSF Division 2.[6] He re-signed with the club, now playing in the North American Soccer League, on 22 March 2011.[7]

Personal

Andrei is the son of former professional footballer Sergey Gotsmanov, a four-time Belarusian Footballer of the Year who played for the Soviet Union at the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship. He was born in Minsk, then part of the Soviet Union, but came to the United States with his family in 1996 when his father signed to play for Minnesota Thunder. He also has an older brother, Sasha, who played for the Colorado Rapids and the former professional club Minnesota Thunder.

References

External links