Jordan Cila
Encyclopedia
Jordan Cila is a former American soccer midfielder
who now works at Goldman Sachs
.
As a teenager, Cila trained at the Bradenton Academy with the Under-17 United States national team
, with such players as Landon Donovan
, DaMarcus Beasley
, and Bobby Convey
. He played for the United States in the 1999 Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand
. Afterwards, he opted to attend Duke University
and play college soccer
while many of his teammates turned professional as teenagers.
After scoring 13 goals and 9 assists during his freshman season, Cila's scoring output declined every year as he moved from forward to deeper and deeper midfield positions. He scored 17 goals and 26 assists in his last three seasons combined.
Upon graduating, Cila went undrafted in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft
. He received a trial with the Colorado Rapids
on the insistence of two of his former Bradenton teammates, Kyle Beckerman
and Seth Trembly
, and surprised coach Tim Hankinson
by earning a developmental contract with the team. Cila earned playing time at his old striker
position, scoring several key goals, and eventually earned a starting spot. Although he was moved further back towards the end of the season, Cila finished the year with 21 appearances and 15 starts, scoring four goals and two assists as one of the league's biggest rookie surprises.
Cila's old coach at Bradenton, John Ellinger
, acquired him for Real Salt Lake
for the club's inaugural season and he scored three goals in limited action. In 2006, he was sent to the New York Red Bulls, but left the club at the end of the season.
In 2008 Cila retired from professional soccer to join the investment bank Goldman Sachs
on the interest rate
sales desk.
Cila's father, Renato Cila
, played in the old NASL
as well as the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He played for both The Baltimore Blast
and New York Arrows
in the MISL. Cila's younger siblings are Sam and Gabriella.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who now works at Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
.
As a teenager, Cila trained at the Bradenton Academy with the Under-17 United States 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...
, with such players as Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the United States. He usually plays as a withdrawn forward, and can also be used as an attacking midfielder on either wing....
, DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Lamont Beasley is an American soccer player who plays for Puebla of the Mexican Primera División. He plays mainly as a winger on the left side of the midfield, but has also been used as a forward and fullback...
, and Bobby Convey
Bobby Convey
Robert Francis "Bobby" Convey is an American soccer player.-Youth:Convey attended the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, played club soccer for the Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa, and was a member of the initial class of the Bradenton Academy that also included current national team...
. He played for the United States in the 1999 Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Afterwards, he opted to attend Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and play college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
while many of his teammates turned professional as teenagers.
After scoring 13 goals and 9 assists during his freshman season, Cila's scoring output declined every year as he moved from forward to deeper and deeper midfield positions. He scored 17 goals and 26 assists in his last three seasons combined.
Upon graduating, Cila went undrafted in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft
2004 MLS SuperDraft
The 2004 MLS SuperDraft, held in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 16, 2004, was the fifth incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft, and was most notable for the selection of one of the youngest athletes in American sporting history, Freddy Adu, with the first pick.-Player...
. He received a trial 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...
on the insistence of two of his former Bradenton teammates, Kyle Beckerman
Kyle Beckerman
Kyle Beckerman is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team. He is a holding midfielder and also serves as team captain for Real Salt Lake.-Youth:Beckerman began his career participating in various youth leagues in...
and Seth Trembly
Seth Trembly
Seth Trembly is an American soccer defensive midfielder who is currently a free agent.Trembly was part of the original 1999 class at the Bradenton Academy, where, as part of the Under-17 United States national team, he trained with Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, and Bobby Convey, as well as his...
, and surprised coach Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson is a well-traveled American soccer coach who is currently head coach of NASL side San Antonio Scorpions in San Antonio, Texas.- Player :...
by earning a developmental contract with the team. Cila earned playing time at his old striker
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...
position, scoring several key goals, and eventually earned a starting spot. Although he was moved further back towards the end of the season, Cila finished the year with 21 appearances and 15 starts, scoring four goals and two assists as one of the league's biggest rookie surprises.
Cila's old coach at Bradenton, John Ellinger
John Ellinger
John Ellinger is a former American soccer coach of the Under-17 United States men's national soccer team, and former head coach of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer....
, acquired him for Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
for the club's inaugural season and he scored three goals in limited action. In 2006, he was sent to the New York Red Bulls, but left the club at the end of the season.
In 2008 Cila retired from professional soccer to join the investment bank Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
on the interest rate
Interest rate
An interest rate is the rate at which interest is paid by a borrower for the use of money that they borrow from a lender. For example, a small company borrows capital from a bank to buy new assets for their business, and in return the lender receives interest at a predetermined interest rate for...
sales desk.
Cila's father, Renato Cila
Renato Cila
Renato Cila is a retired Brazilian professional soccer defender who played in both the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....
, played in the old NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
as well as the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League
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...
(MISL). He played for both The Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast
The name Baltimore Blast has been used by two different indoor soccer teams:*Baltimore Blast , the original team that played in the first Major Indoor Soccer League...
and New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
in the MISL. Cila's younger siblings are Sam and Gabriella.