John Wolyniec
John Wolyniec with New York Red Bulls in 2010
Personal information
Full name John Wolyniec
Date of birth (1977-01-24) 24 January 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Staten Island, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1998 Fordham Rams
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998 Brooklyn Knights[1][2] 7 (3)
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)
International career
2004 United States 2 (0)
Managerial career
2015–2021 New York Red Bulls II
2022– San Jose Earthquakes (technical director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Wolyniec (born January 24, 1977) is an American professional soccer coach, executive, and former player. He is currently the technical director of the San Jose Earthquakes.

During his playing days, Wolyniec played for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls three separate times: In 1999 as the MetroStars, from 2003 to 2005 as the MetroStars, and from 2006 until he retired in 2010. He also played for MLS clubs Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, and Los Angeles Galaxy. He also played for USL A-League clubs Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Milwaukee Rampage, winning titles with them in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Wolyniec also represented the United States national team in 2004, earning two caps.

After retiring as a player, Wolyniec was appointed head coach of New York Red Bulls II, the reserve side for the New York Red Bulls. In his second season as head coach, Wolyniec guided Red Bulls II to both the regular season and championship titles.

Youth and amateur

Wolyniec is native of Staten Island, New York City and attended Monsignor Farrell High School before playing four years of college soccer at Fordham University, where he led the nation in goals in 1998.[3][4] He is of Polish descent.[5]

Playing career

Professional

Wolyniec was drafted by the MetroStars as the seventh–pick overall in the 1999 MLS College Draft. However, despite being a high pick, he was cut before playing any games. Wolyniec then 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 MetroStars 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[6] and the Milwaukee Rampage where he scored three goals in four games.[7][8] 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. Wolyniec was cut after he playing one game. He spent the next two years in the A-League, with the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 2001 and with the Milwaukee Rampage in 2002. He was named league MVP during his time with the Rampage.[9]

In 2003, then MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley re-acquired Wolyniec in the 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]

Wolyniec was waived by New York on July 30, 2010 to make room on the roster for new signing Thierry Henry.[14] On September 9, 2010, Wolyniec announced his retirement from professional soccer in order to take a position in the Red Bull Academy.[15] 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.[16]

International

Wolyniec earned a call-up to the U.S. national team in 2004, getting his first cap against Denmark on January 18, 2004.[17] He earned a total of two caps.

Coaching career

New York Red Bulls II

Wolyniec was appointed as the inaugural head coach of New York Red Bulls II on March 2, 2015.[18] His first match as head coach was against his former club as a player, Rochester Rhinos, on March 28. The match ended as a 0–0 draw.[19] In 2016, in his second season as head coach, Wolyniec lead New York Red Bulls II to both the regular season and championship titles.[20] Wolyniec stepped down as Red Bulls II coach on December 10, 2021.[21]

Team Record
G W D L PTS GF GA GD
New York Red Bulls II 206 88 43 75 307 381 340 +41

Statistics

[22]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
1999 MetroStars Major League Soccer 4 1 - - - - - - 4 1
1999 Long Island Rough Riders USISL A-League 27 15 - - 1 1 - - 28 16
2000 MLS Pro-40(loan) USL A-League 3 0 - - - - - - 3 0
2000 Milwaukee Rampage(loan) USL A-League 4 3 - - - - - - 4 3
2000 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer 15 1 2 0 2 0 - - 19 1
2001 4 1 - - - - - - 4 1
2001 New England Revolution Major League Soccer 1 0 - - - - - - 1 0
2001 Rochester Rhinos USL A-League 15 1 1 0 - - - - 16 1
2002 Chicago Fire Major League Soccer 2 1 - - - - - - 2 1
2002 Milwaukee Rampage USL A-League 26 10 3 1 5 2 - - 34 13
2003 MetroStars Major League Soccer 25 5 5 2 1 0 - - 31 7
2004 30 10 1 0 2 0 - - 33 10
2005 8 2 - - - - - - 8 2
2005 Columbus Crew Major League Soccer 17 3 1 0 - - - - 18 3
2006 1 0 - - - - - - 1 0
2006 Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer 10 1 - - - - - - 10 1
2006 New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer 11 3 - - 2 0 - - 13 3
2007 21 3 1 0 1 0 - - 23 3
2008 19 0 1 0 4 2 - - 24 2
2009 20 2 2 1 - - 1 1 23 4
2010 4 0 4 4 8 4
Total USA 267 62 21 8 18 5 1 1 307 76

Honors

Player

Chicago Fire

Rochester Raging Rhinos

Milwaukee Rampage

Head coach

New York Red Bulls II

Individual

References

  1. ^ Ungaro, Giuseppe (18 July 1998). "Barons disappoint coach in loss to Brooklyn". The Press. Atlantic City, NJ. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Brooklyn Knights Statistics". Brooklyn Knights. Archived from the original on 1 September 1999. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. ^ Coffey, Wayne (21 September 1997). "Head of the Class Fordham's Wolyniec is Nation's Super Achiever". New York Daily News. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  4. ^ "WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Wolyniec inducted into Fordham Athletics Hall". Sports Vue Interactive. 16 January 2005. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  5. ^ "MLS: Polacy ograli Kozy". Przegląd Sportowy Onet.
  6. ^ "2000 MLS Project 40". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Fire duo scorches Thunder at Milwaukee: Wolyniec, Lavrinenko lead Rampage past Minnesota". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.
  8. ^ 2000 Milwaukee Rampage
  9. ^ "League Final MVP". Archived from the original on 10 June 2011.
  10. ^ "MetroStars Down Boavista, 3-1 - by La Cancha-News On World Cup 2006". www.lacancha.com.
  11. ^ Advance, Staten Island (20 November 2008). "Staten Islander helps lead New York Red Bulls to MLS Cup". silive.
  12. ^ "Wolyniec scores twice in Open Cup".
  13. ^ "Wolyniec leads Bulls to Round of 16".
  14. ^ "Wolyniec waived by Red Bulls". newyorkredbulls.com. 30 July 2010. Archived from the original on 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Wolyniec joins Red Bulls Academy". Yahoo!Sports.com. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  16. ^ "Wolyniec named reserve team coach". newyorkredbulls.com. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  17. ^ "National team call-up".
  18. ^ Martinez, Dave (2 March 2015). "Red Bulls name John Wolyniec head coach of USL side". Empire of Soccer. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  19. ^ "New York Red Bulls II 0-0 Rochester Rhinos". Soccerway.
  20. ^ Sciaretta, Brian (6 December 2018). "Wolyniec opens up about the New York Red Bull's developmental pipeline". American Soccer Now. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  21. ^ "John Wolyniec Steps Down as Red Bulls II Head Coach". USLChampionship.com. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  22. ^ John Wolyniec at National-Football-Teams.com
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