John Wolyniec

John Wolyniec

Personal information
Full name	John Wolyniec
Date of birth	(1977-01-24) January 24, 1977
Place of birth	Staten Island, New York, United States
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Forward
Youth career
1995–1998	Fordham Rams
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999	Long Island Rough Riders	27	(15)
1999	MetroStars	4	(1)
2000–2001	Chicago Fire	19	(2)
2000	→ MLS Pro-40 (loan)	3	(0)
2000	→ Milwaukee Rampage (loan)	4	(3)
2001	New England Revolution	1	(0)
2001	Rochester Raging Rhinos	15	(1)
2002	Milwaukee Rampage	26	(10)
2002	Chicago Fire	2	(1)
2003–2005	MetroStars	63	(17)
2005–2006	Columbus Crew	18	(3)
2006	Los Angeles Galaxy	10	(1)
2006–2010	New York Red Bulls	75	(8)
Total		267	(62)
National team‡
2004	United States	2	(0)
Teams managed
2015–	New York Red Bulls II
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 27, 2010. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 4, 2009

John Wolyniec (born January 24, 1977) is a former American soccer player who is the coach for the New York Red Bulls II.

Career

Youth and Amateur

Wolyniec attended Monsignor Farrell High School and played four years of college soccer at Fordham University, where he led the nation in goals in 1997 and 1998.

Professional

Wolyniec was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the MetroStars in the 1999 MLS College Draft, but being a high pick was not enough to keep him 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. That season, the Fire sent him on loan with the MLS Project 40^[1] and the Milwaukee Rampage where he scored three goals in four games.^[2][3] Back with the Fire, 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.^[4]

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 D.C. United. He finished the year with five MLS goals (seven in all competitions).

On May 26, 2004 Wolyniec scored two goals and assisted on another in a 3-1 victory over Boavista F.C. of the Portuguese Liga.^[5] 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 Los Angeles Galaxy in a four-player deal. In August, he was traded again, joining New York Red Bulls for his third stint with the club formerly known as MetroStars.

The 2007 and 2008 seasons saw Wolyniec primarily as a reserve player for New York, managing to score 3 goals in 21 appearances in 2007 and being held scoreless in 19 regular season appearances in 2008. With the Red Bulls barely qualifying for the 2008 MLS Playoffs, Coach Juan Carlos Osorio surprisingly inserted Wolyniec into the starting lineup for the club's first leg match against the defending champion Houston Dynamo, Wolyniec would assist on Juan Pablo Angel's goal in a match that ended 1-1. With New York needing a victory to advance out of the first round for the second time in team history, Osorio repeated the same lineup that drew 1-1. Wolyniec was again a key figure scoring the third goal in a 3-0 rout of Houston in Robertson Stadium. Wolyniec continued his fine play in the Western Conference Final, helping set up the Red Bulls' lone goal in the 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, and thus advancing to the club's first ever MLS Cup Final.^[6] In the MLS Cup Final, Wolyniec scored the Red Bulls lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew. During the 2009 season Wolyniec was the only New York player to score in all competitions that the club participated in (League, US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League). On May 12, 2010 Wolyniec had his first multi-goal game for the New York Red Bulls scoring two goals in a 3-0 victory over New England Revolution in a 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification match.^[7] On May 26, 2010 Wolyniec recorded another two goals in a 3-0 victory over Colorado Rapids leading the club to the Round of 16 of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.^[8]

Wolyniec was waived by New York on July 30, 2010 to make room on the roster for new signing Thierry Henry.^[9] On September 9, 2010, Wolyniec announced his retirement from professional soccer in order to take a position in the Red Bull Academy.^[10] Wolyniec ended his Red Bulls career beloved by supporters and ranks among the all-time club leaders in games played. On February 15, 2013 was promoted to Reserve Team Coach/Player Development Coordinator by the club.^[11]

International

Wolyniec earned a call-up to the U.S. national team in 2004, getting his first cap against Denmark on January 18, 2004.^[12] He earned a total of two caps.

Coaching

In 2015, Wolyniec was named the first ever coach of New York Red Bulls II, the United Soccer League affiliate of the New York Red Bulls. In 2016, Wolyniec coached the Red Bulls II to both the best regular season record in league history. He then led the club to the championship, beating Swope Park Rangers 5-1 in the final.

Career statistics

^[13]

Titles

Season	Team	Title
2000	Chicago Fire	US Open Cup
2001	Rochester Raging Rhinos	USL A-League
2002	Milwaukee Rampage	USL A-League
2008	New York Red Bulls	MLS Western Conference (Playoffs)

References

External links

• MLS player profile
• Wolyniec's wonder goal
• John Wolyniec at National-Football-Teams.com