Craig Capano
Encyclopedia
Craig Capano is an American soccer player, who last played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer
.
Capano was selected 17th overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft
by the Fire, (the youngest player ever drafted by the Fire at the age of sixteen) having elected to forgo college to focus on his professional career. Before joining the Fire, Capano had spent two years at the USSF's Bradenton Academy training with the U-17 U.S. national team
.
Capano saw little playing time with the Fire, playing 92 minutes over four games in his first season and 122 minutes over 5 games in his second. In 2004, his third season, he appeared to have reached a turning point, earning 440 minutes, scoring his first MLS goal, and being widely rated as one of the team's better players when he was finally given consistent playing time toward the end of the year. However, he saw no time in 2005 after undergoing surgery on March 7, 2005 to repair a tear in his left anterior cruciate ligament, or in 2006. He was waived at the end of the latter season.
Despite playing little in MLS, Capano was a vital player for the U-20 US national team, along with other notables such as Eddie Gaven
, Freddy Adu
, Danny Szetela
, and Jonathan Spector
. He played in all four games of the 2004 Northern Ireland Milk Cup and served as the U-20 Men's National Team captain that July, helping the squad to finish 6th, also scoring the game's lone goal on April 21 for a 1-0 win over Haiti's U-20.
As of March, 2007, Capano was known to be training in camp with New York Red Bulls. Throughout his career, Capano - widely seen as a skillful player - has battled the perception that he was too small and slight to forge a successful career in MLS.
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Major 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...
.
Capano was selected 17th overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft
2002 MLS SuperDraft
The 2002 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
by the Fire, (the youngest player ever drafted by the Fire at the age of sixteen) having elected to forgo college to focus on his professional career. Before joining the Fire, Capano had spent two years at the USSF's Bradenton Academy training with the U-17 U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
Capano saw little playing time with the Fire, playing 92 minutes over four games in his first season and 122 minutes over 5 games in his second. In 2004, his third season, he appeared to have reached a turning point, earning 440 minutes, scoring his first MLS goal, and being widely rated as one of the team's better players when he was finally given consistent playing time toward the end of the year. However, he saw no time in 2005 after undergoing surgery on March 7, 2005 to repair a tear in his left anterior cruciate ligament, or in 2006. He was waived at the end of the latter season.
Despite playing little in MLS, Capano was a vital player for the U-20 US national team, along with other notables such as Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer...
, Freddy Adu
Freddy Adu
Fredua Koranteng "Freddy" Adu is a Ghanaian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He plays primarily as an attacking midfielder, but he is also used as a winger or forward....
, Danny Szetela
Danny Szetela
Daniel "Danny" Szetela is a former American soccer player.-Club:In 2002, Szetela entered USSF's Bradenton Academy, graduating in May 2004. He then signed with Major League Soccer. His desire to play for his hometown club, the MetroStars, went unfulfilled...
, and Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Michael Paul Spector is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He started his professional career in England when he was signed by Manchester United as a teenager, but rarely appeared for the club...
. He played in all four games of the 2004 Northern Ireland Milk Cup and served as the U-20 Men's National Team captain that July, helping the squad to finish 6th, also scoring the game's lone goal on April 21 for a 1-0 win over Haiti's U-20.
As of March, 2007, Capano was known to be training in camp with New York Red Bulls. Throughout his career, Capano - widely seen as a skillful player - has battled the perception that he was too small and slight to forge a successful career in MLS.
Career statistics
|-|2002||rowspan="6"|Chicago Fire||rowspan="6"|Major League Soccer
Major 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...
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2007 Major League Soccer season
The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.....
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