Danny Szetela

Daniel Gregory Szetela (born June 17, 1987 in Passaic, New Jersey) is an American soccer player who currently plays for New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League.

Club

In 2002, Szetela entered USSF's Bradenton Academy, graduating in May 2004. He then signed with Major League Soccer, but because he signed after the annual draft had taken place, his rights were made available to teams in a weighted lottery instead, with Columbus Crew ending up with his rights. His desire to play for his hometown club, the MetroStars, went unfulfilled. 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. 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. He 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. However, the Spanish side decided against renewing his contract.

Szetela opted not to continue a career in Europe and returned to the States, signing a contract with Major League Soccer. His contract was picked up by D.C. United, who were second in the allocation order to sign returning U.S. international players.

After suffering a severe knee injury in training camp prior to the 2010 MLS Season, Szetela underwent a partial menisectomy on February 3, 2010, to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee; however, it was unsuccessful. Shortly thereafter, on March 16, 2010, he was released by D.C. United.

He underwent a second failed operation in 2011 before having a third surgery later that year involving a meniscus transplant from a donor, which proved successful.

Following two years of rehabilitation, Szetela returned to organized soccer in 2013, joining Icon FC, who at the time competed in the Garden State Soccer League of the USASA, the fifth-tier of American soccer.

After impressing in U.S. Open Cup play with Icon FC, Szetela earned a tryout with New York Cosmos of the NASL. After a successful tryout, Szetela signed a contract with the Cosmos on July 1, 2013.

Szetela appeared in 13 games for the Cosmos during the 2013 season and scored his first goal with the Cosmos in a 4-0 victory against the Carolina Railhawks on October 12, 2013. Szetela was named to the NASL Team of the Week in Week 8 and 11 of the 2013 season. He was in the starting lineup for the 2013 NASL Soccer Bowl and helped the Cosmos capture their sixth NASL title of all-time, defeating the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0.

On January 7, 2014, Szetela signed a contract extension with the Cosmos.

During the 2014 Spring season, Szetela scored one goal in eight appearances for the club and was named to the Spring Week 8 NASL Team of the Week.

He scored the game-winning goal in the team's 3-2 home victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks on September 13, 2014, earning NASL Team of the Week honors and scored again two weeks later in the team's 1-1 draw with FC Edmonton while once again being named to the NASL Team of the Week for his performance.

He finished the 2014 regular season with three goals and one assist in 23 appearances (21 starts). Szetela finished the 2015 regular season with 29 appearances for the Cosmos.

International

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 unsure of his international allegiances, 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," 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.

On February 11, 2011, Szetela was arrested along with his two brothers on disorderly conduct charges following a bar fight at Johnny's Tavern in Boonton, New Jersey. The charges were eventually dropped.

• NASL Regular Season (3): 2013 (Fall), 2015 (Spring), 2016 (Fall)
• Soccer Bowl (3): 2013, 2015, 2016