Aleksey Korol
Encyclopedia
Aleksey Korol is a Ukrainian soccer forward
and coach
who has spent most of his career in the United States.
as a youth player. His family sent him to the United States when he was 14 where he settled in Livonia, New York
. While playing for Livonia Central High School Korol scored 132 goals, the all-time record for a player in Section V (greater Rochester area) of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Ironically Korol's record was later tied by Jordan Chirico of Livonia Central High. Korol lived with the Chirico family in Livonia.
. Both years he led the tournament in scoring (6 goals in 1998 and 4 in 1999). In 1999, Korol as selected as a first team All American
and the SoccerAmerica Player of the Year
. While with Indiana, Korol spent the 1997 collegiate off season with the Kalamazoo Kingdom
of the USL Premier Development League
.
selected Korol with the fifth pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
. In his first year with the Burn, he scored five goals and assisted on three others. While with Dallas, he appeared in one game with the Atlanta Silverbacks
.
On January 15, 2002, the Chicago Fire acquired Korol and Miguel Saavedra from the Burn for the Fire’s 2002 sixth round draft pick. However injuries to his left knee which resulted in bursitis
led to his playing in only one game. When the Fire waived him, Korol signed with the Rochester Raging Rhinos
on July 26, 2002. He appeared in two games with them before moving to the Indiana Blast
for one game. In 2003, he moved to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
of USL-2
. On September 19, 2003, the Kansas City Comets
of Major Indoor Soccer League
signed Korol to a one year contract, with an option for one for one more. Korol played in nine games for the Comets as he was again hampered with injuries. The Comets waived him on January 27, 2004. On February 12, 2004, Korol signed with the Charleston Battery
of USL-1
. In June, the Battery released Korol and he signed with the Harrisburg City Islanders
of USL-2 on July 12, 2004 in time for the playoffs.
The Rockford Thunder of the American Indoor Soccer League
signed Korol in January 2007 and he spent the 2006-2007 AISL season with the Thunder.
. Korol has also coached youth soccer with Chicago Lakefront SC.
In February 2009, Korol was named an assistant coach at his alma mater. His hiring came lass than two months after former assistant coach Todd Yeagley
left Indiana University
to take over head coaching duties at University of Wisconsin
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
who has spent most of his career in the United States.
Player
Korol played both hockey and soccer growing up in Ukraine. However, he signed with Dynamo KievFC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
as a youth player. His family sent him to the United States when he was 14 where he settled in Livonia, New York
Livonia, New York
Livonia, New York refers to two locations in Livingston County, New York:*Livonia , New York*Livonia , New York, within the Town of Livonia...
. While playing for Livonia Central High School Korol scored 132 goals, the all-time record for a player in Section V (greater Rochester area) of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Ironically Korol's record was later tied by Jordan Chirico of Livonia Central High. Korol lived with the Chirico family in Livonia.
College
In 1996, he enrolled at Indiana University. While at Indiana, he spent four seasons on the men's soccer team. He scored 57 goals and assisted on 35 during his career with the Hoosiers. In 1998 and 1999, he was part of the Indiana teams which took the NCAA championship titlesNCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
. Both years he led the tournament in scoring (6 goals in 1998 and 4 in 1999). In 1999, Korol as selected as a first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
and the SoccerAmerica Player of the Year
Soccer America Player of the Year Award
Beginning in 1984, Soccer America Magazine began naming a college player of the year. At the time Soccer America was the best source for U.S. soccer, especially collegiate soccer which was rarely covered by the national news services...
. While with Indiana, Korol spent the 1997 collegiate off season with the Kalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom
Kalamazoo Kingdom were an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Kingdom folded their...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
The Dallas Burn of Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
selected Korol with the fifth pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
2000 MLS SuperDraft
The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
. In his first year with the Burn, he scored five goals and assisted on three others. While with Dallas, he appeared in one game with the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
.
On January 15, 2002, the Chicago Fire acquired Korol and Miguel Saavedra from the Burn for the Fire’s 2002 sixth round draft pick. However injuries to his left knee which resulted in bursitis
Bursitis
Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursae of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless functional gliding surface making normal movement painless...
led to his playing in only one game. When the Fire waived him, Korol signed with the Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
on July 26, 2002. He appeared in two games with them before moving to the Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast
Indiana Blast were an American soccer team, founded in 1997. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues, and played in the D-3 Pro League, the A-League and the USL Premier Development League, until folding at the end of the 2004 season....
for one game. In 2003, he moved to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of USL-2
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
. On September 19, 2003, the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
signed Korol to a one year contract, with an option for one for one more. Korol played in nine games for the Comets as he was again hampered with injuries. The Comets waived him on January 27, 2004. On February 12, 2004, Korol signed with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of USL-1
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. In June, the Battery released Korol and he signed with the Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders is an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of USL-2 on July 12, 2004 in time for the playoffs.
The Rockford Thunder of the American Indoor Soccer League
American Indoor Soccer League
The American Indoor Soccer League was a semi-professional indoor soccer league founded in 2003 and for now folded in 2008.- History :Founded in 2002, the AISL's headquarters are based in West Springfield, Massachusetts, but the media relations office is based out of Cleveland, Ohio. The league...
signed Korol in January 2007 and he spent the 2006-2007 AISL season with the Thunder.
Coach
In April 2006, Korol became an assistant coach at University of Illinois at ChicagoUIC Flames
The UIC Flames are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Chicago. They are called the Flames as a reference to the Great Chicago Fire, and their team colors are navy blue and fire engine red. Approximately 300 student athletes compete in 18 varsity sports...
. Korol has also coached youth soccer with Chicago Lakefront SC.
In February 2009, Korol was named an assistant coach at his alma mater. His hiring came lass than two months after former assistant coach Todd Yeagley
Todd Yeagley
Todd Yeagley is a retired U.S. soccer player who is the head men's soccer coach at Indiana University. He played seven seasons in Major League Soccer with the Columbus Crew and one in the USISL with the Richmond Kickers...
left Indiana University
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
to take over head coaching duties at University of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
.