Matt Napoleon
Encyclopedia
Matt Napoleon is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in Major League Soccer
and the USL A-League. He was a member of the United States men's national under-20 soccer team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
in 1995. He attended Columbia University
, playing on the men’s soccer team for three seasons.
. He played four games for the Fusion in 1998 in addition to playing for the Project 40 team which competed in the USISL A-League
. On January 19, 1999, the Fusion traded Napoleon to the Columbus Crew
for Tim Sahaydak. Napoleon spent two seasons with the Crew before moving to the Colorado Rapids
. On April 14, 2001, the Rapids waived Napoleon. In May 2001, he signed with the Portland Timbers of the USL A-League. He went on loan to the Dallas Burn during the 2001 season. In 2002, Napoleon remained with the Timbers, going on loan to the Dallas Burn on July 13, 2002 for a U.S. Open Cup game. In August and September 2002, he went repeatedly on loan to the Colorado Rapids
, but never entered a league game. Napoleon retired in January 2003.
. In that tournament, Napoleon backed up Andy Kirk
. In 1998 and 1999, Napoleon played for the United States men's national under-23 soccer team as it prepared for the 2000 Summer Olympics
. Napoleon was an unused alternate for the team at the Olympics.
women’s soccer team.
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...
and the USL A-League. He was a member of the United States men's national under-20 soccer team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
.
Youth
Growing up, Napoleon played for the FC Delco youth club and graduated from Neshaminy High SchoolNeshaminy High School
Neshaminy High School is a large public high school in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, located on Old Lincoln Highway.-Facilities:Neshaminy High School consists of one main hallway, with hallways branching off of the main by department, arranging classes of similar types in the same region of the...
in 1995. He attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, playing on the men’s soccer team for three seasons.
Professional
On January 15, 1998, Napoleon signed a professional contract with MLS Project 40. The league placed him with the Miami FusionMiami 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...
. He played four games for the Fusion in 1998 in addition to playing for the Project 40 team which competed in the USISL A-League
1998 A-League
-Northeast Division:-Atlantic Division:-Central Division:-Pacific Division:-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-Eastern Conference semifinal 1:-Eastern Conference semifinal 2:-Western Conference semifinal 1:...
. On January 19, 1999, the Fusion traded Napoleon to the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
for Tim Sahaydak. Napoleon spent two seasons with the Crew before moving to 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 April 14, 2001, the Rapids waived Napoleon. In May 2001, he signed with the Portland Timbers of the USL A-League. He went on loan to the Dallas Burn during the 2001 season. In 2002, Napoleon remained with the Timbers, going on loan to the Dallas Burn on July 13, 2002 for a U.S. Open Cup game. In August and September 2002, he went repeatedly on loan to 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...
, but never entered a league game. Napoleon retired in January 2003.
International
In 1997, Napoleon earned three caps with the United States men's national under-20 soccer team. He played another nine non-international games with the U-20 team as it prepared for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
. In that tournament, Napoleon backed up Andy Kirk
Andy Kirk (soccer)
Andy Kirk is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who spent three seasons in Major League Soccer...
. In 1998 and 1999, Napoleon played for the United States men's national under-23 soccer team as it prepared for the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Napoleon was an unused alternate for the team at the Olympics.
Coach
While with the Portland Timbers, Napoleon also served as an assistant coach with the Portland State UniversityPortland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
women’s soccer team.