Diego Serna
Encyclopedia
Diego Serna is a Colombia
n soccer player currently signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League. He is the all-time leading scorer for the now-defunct Miami Fusion
of Major League Soccer
.
.
The Fusion was contracted before the 2002 MLS season, so Serna was picked 4th overall in the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft
by the MetroStars
, who traded Mark Chung
to obtain that pick. Diego only played eight games for the Metros, scoring one goal. He was traded to the New England Revolution
in a six-player deal midway through the season, the other principal of which was Mamadou Diallo
. Serna only scored one goal for the Revs in five games before his season was ended by an injury. He went back to Colombia to Atlético Nacional
and Independiente Medellín, before returning to MLS in the middle of the 2003 season for a stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy
, scoring three goals in ten games.
with Once Caldas
and Deportes Quindío
, Serna returned to MLS with the Colorado Rapids
in August 2005. He then played for Macará
of Ecuador in 2006, before joining Fast
of Brazil in 2007 and 2008.
scoring a goal, and providing two assists, ensuring a victory in his homecoming game.
He made his debut in a 16-15 win over the Rochester Lancers (2010)
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n soccer player currently signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League. He is the all-time leading scorer for the now-defunct Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
of 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...
.
Early Career, Major League Soccer
Serna began his career in his native Colombia with Deportivo Tulua and Independiente Medellín, before moving to MLS with the expansion Fusion in 1998. He became the one constant in Miami's lineup for the four years of the team's existence, leading them in goals in points his first three seasons with the club. Overall, he ended up with team records of 100 games, 52 goals, 36 assists, and 140 points in the regular season, and added a goal and an assist in six playoff games. In 2001, he was named to the MLS Best XIMLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
.
The Fusion was contracted before the 2002 MLS season, so Serna was picked 4th overall in the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft
2002 MLS Allocation Draft
After the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion were contracted, Major League Soccer distributed their players to the rest of the league by means of an Allocation Draft, in which teams with excess allocations were allowed to select from their players. Players not selected in the Allocation Draft went...
by the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
, who traded Mark Chung
Mark Chung
Mark Chung is a former American soccer midfielder who, after a season in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, played ten seasons in Major League Soccer. He also earned twenty-four caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team.-Youth and college:Chung was born in Toronto to Chinese...
to obtain that pick. Diego only played eight games for the Metros, scoring one goal. He was traded to the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in a six-player deal midway through the season, the other principal of which was Mamadou Diallo
Mamadou Diallo
Mamadou Diallo , also known as Big Mama, is a former Senegalese football striker.-European career:Diallo has played all over the world: United States, Senegal, Morocco, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Africa, Mali, Germany, Turkey, Sweden and Norway...
. Serna only scored one goal for the Revs in five games before his season was ended by an injury. He went back to Colombia to Atlético Nacional
Atlético Nacional
Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional is a Colombian football team based in Medellín. They play their home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stadium which also serves as home to Deportivo Independiente Medellín...
and Independiente Medellín, before returning to MLS in the middle of the 2003 season for a stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, scoring three goals in ten games.
Return to South America
After spending some time playing in his native ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
with Once Caldas
Once Caldas
Corporación Deportiva Once Caldas is a Colombian association football team, based in Manizales. They were the surprise winners of Copa Libertadores de América in 2004, mainly due to the performances of Juan Carlos Henao and Jhon Viáfara...
and Deportes Quindío
Deportes Quindío
Deportes Quindío, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Armenia. The club was founded January 8, 1951 and play their home games at the Centenario de Armenia stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 29,000.-National Honours:...
, Serna returned to MLS with the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
in August 2005. He then played for Macará
Club Social y Deportivo Macará
Club Social y Deportivo Macará is a professional football club based in Ambato, Ecuador. Their home stadium is Bellavista, which they share with city rivals Técnico Universitario.-Foundation:...
of Ecuador in 2006, before joining Fast
Nacional Fast Clube
Nacional Fast Clube, usually known simply as Fast or Fast Clube is a Brazilian football club from Manaus, Amazonas state.- History :...
of Brazil in 2007 and 2008.
USL
Although Serna was an excellent goal-scorer in MLS, after the Miami Fusion was disbanded, he never reached his maximum potential in the league, electing to play in various leagues throughout South America, contributing to his advancement as a well-rounded, professional veteran. In 2009 he returned to Florida, signing with Miami FCMiami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
scoring a goal, and providing two assists, ensuring a victory in his homecoming game.
Syracuse Silver Knights (Indoor)
Serna signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League on October 11, 2011.He made his debut in a 16-15 win over the Rochester Lancers (2010)
Rochester Lancers (2010)
The Rochester Lancers are an indoor soccer team in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The team is named in honor of the Rochester Lancers of the North American Soccer League....