Mike Grella
Encyclopedia
Michael Grella is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 professional soccer player who plays for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....

. He plays as a striker. He was a United States Under-20
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...

 International and a highly rated talent in USA. During his first full year with Leeds, Grella was a prominent substitute for the squad which won promotion to The Championship.

Youth and amateur

Grella was born in Glen Cove
Glen Cove, New York
Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....

, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 and had a highly successful youth career. He was a 2003 and 2004 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player and the 2004 NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...

 National High School Player of the Year for the Glen Cove Big Red
Glen Cove High School
Glen Cove High School, commonly referred to as GC, or GCHS, is the only public high school in the Glen Cove City School District. Located at 150 Dosoris Ln., Glen Cove, on the North Shore of Long Island, GCHS sits upon of land. The current building has been in use since 1962, and prior to that...

. He led his club team, the Albertson Red Storm, to both the 2003 and 2004 USYSA National Championships and the Red Storm Academy to the 2004 Super Y-League
Super Y-League
The Super Y-League is the highest form of American and Canadian youth soccer. It consists of over 100 teams, many of which are operated by clubs from MLS to PDL.- Age groups :The Super Y-League has these following age groups:*U-12*U-13*U-14*U-15...

 Championship. Grella played 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...

 for 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...

 where he was a 2008 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:...

.

During the 2007 collegiate offseason, he played for the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...

 in the fourth division 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...

. In 2008, he played for the Cary RailHawks U23's.

2008–09 season

In February 2009, he was drafted in the third round (34th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
2009 MLS SuperDraft
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the tenth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC...

 by Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....

. However, Grella decided against signing for the Canadian club, and instead tried his luck at playing in Europe. Grella went on trial with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...

 in January 2009, and scored a hat-trick for the club's reserves on the 21st of that month against Barnsley FC.
He also scored a goal in a behind closed doors game, with news of a permanent deal pending. He signed a full-time contract for Leeds United on transfer deadline day, 2 February 2009, until the end of the 2009–10 season.

He made his Leeds debut on February 14, 2009, after coming on as a 74th minute substitute for Lee Trundle
Lee Trundle
Lee Christopher Trundle is an English footballer who currently plays for Neath.-Career:Trundle was a late entrant into professional and league football, playing for non-league teams Burscough, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport, Bamber Bridge and Chorley before joining Welsh Premier League club Rhyl in...

 in a 1–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...

. His first season in professional football was mainly spent making short cameos as a substitute during Leeds fight for promotion. He came on late in Leeds' playoff semi final against Millwall but was unable to grab a goal so far during his first team appearances for Leeds.

2009–10 season

Grella scored his first senior goal for Leeds in a pre-season friendly against Burnley. On 10 August 2009 he was voted Man Of The Match in a League Cup match against Darlington although he didn't score. He signed a new long term contract with Leeds.

Grella had to wait just over seven months for his first league start. Replacing the injured Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Paul Alexander Beckford is an English footballer who plays for Leicester City as a striker. He started his career as a trainee at Chelsea...

 in the starting line up for the visit of Stockport County to Elland Road on 5 September 2009, it took him just eight minutes to score his first league goal, curling in an opportunistic effort from the edge of the penalty area.

With seven subs required for the 2009–10 season Grella has found himself used mainly as a substitute in games, coming on as a substitute to try make an impact in games.

Grella scored for Leeds after coming on as a late substitute in the 2–0 FA Cup win against Oldham. He repeated this FA Cup goalscoring form on 8 December 2009 in the FA Cup replay against Kettering Town, coming on as a substitute during the second period of extra time. Grella's introduction changed the pace of the game (which had previously been 1–1), as he scored twice as Leeds won the game 5–1, taking his tally to four for Leeds. Grella started for Leeds in the Football League Trophy game against Accrington Stanley. Grella was substituted in the same game and replaced by Sam Vokes
Sam Vokes
Samuel Michael "Sam" Vokes is an English-born Welsh International footballer who plays as a striker. He is currently on loan at Championship side Burnley from Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....

. Grella was an unused substitute for Leeds' victory away to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. Grella started Leeds' Football League Trophy Northern Area Final first leg against Carlisle United, and he was substituted late in the second half by Luciano Becchio
Luciano Becchio
Luciano Héctor Becchio is an Argentine footballer who plays for Leeds United as a striker. Born in Córdoba, Argentina, Becchio began his career at Boca Juniors before moving to Europe on an Italian passport, where he established himself in the Spanish lower leagues.He moved to England in the...

.

Grella's fifth goal of the season for Leeds came in Football League Trophy Northern Area Final second leg against Carlisle United. With Grella coming on as a second half substitute and scoring the late winner to send the tie to penalties, one of which Grella converted in the shootout, but Leeds ended up crashing out of the tournament after losing 6–5 on penalties. After coming on as a first half substitute against Norwich City, Grella was given a start against Swindon Town after Luciano Becchio's head injury ruled him out. Grella dropped back onto the bench for the rest of the season, and was limited to late substitute appearances. Leeds were promoted as League 1 runners up after beating Bristol Rovers. Over the course of the season Grella was unable to break up the 48 goal partnership that consisted of Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Paul Alexander Beckford is an English footballer who plays for Leicester City as a striker. He started his career as a trainee at Chelsea...

 and Luciano Becchio and had to settle for a role mainly as a substitute.

2010–11 season

He made his first appearance in The Championship when he came on in the opening fixture as a second half substitute in the loss to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...

 and remained on Leeds' bench as an unused substitute in the opening fixtures. After the arrival of Ross McCormack
Ross McCormack
Ross McCormack is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for English football club Leeds United and the Scotland national team. His main position is as a Striker but he can also play as a Winger....

 and the emergence of Davide Somma
Davide Somma
Davide Somma is a South African football player who currently plays for Leeds United and the South African national team. He plays as a striker. In November 2010 Somma made his debut for the national side against USA....

 saw Grella dropped down the pecking order at Leeds, Grella was set to go out on loan in order to gain some more first team experience, on transfer deadline day he turned down a loan move to League Two side Oxford United. To help maintain match fitness, Grella played 90 minutes in Leeds' 3–1 behind closed doors friendly win against Middlesbrough on 14 September, scoring a brace in the process. On 22 September 2010, Grella turned down the opportunity of joining Bradford City on loan. Simon Grayson revealed his disappointment that Grella turned down the loan move as he wanted him to get a regular run of games out on loan.

Carlisle United and Swindon Town loan spells

On 12 October 2010, Grella joined Carlisle United on a month's loan to gain some more first team experience and gain regular football. He joined fellow Leeds loanee Ľubo Michalík
Lubomír Michalík
Ľubomír Michalík is a Slovakian footballer who plays as a centre back for Carlisle United and the Slovakian national team.-Bolton Wanderers:...

 who was already at the club. Grella made his debut as a second half substitute against Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...

, he started the next game against Charlton, and scored his first goal for Carlisle against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...

. He scored in his second consecutive game against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....

. Leeds refused permission for Grella to play for Carlisle in the FA Cup against Tipton Town
Tipton Town F.C.
Tipton Town F.C. is a football club based in Tipton, West Midlands, England, currently playing in the Midland Football Alliance.-History:The club was originally formed in 1948 under the name of Ocker Hill United and played in the Wolverhampton and District Amateur League...

. After impressing during his first month at Carlisle, Grella's loan was extended to 1 January 2011, with Leeds including a 24 hour recall clause if he is needed. Carlisle had requested to loan Grella for the entire season but had that request turned down by Ken Bates
Ken Bates
Kenneth William Bates is a British businessman and football executive. The current chairman and now owner of Leeds United AFC, Bates was previously chairman and majority shareholder of Chelsea FC from 1982 until 2003....

. On 20 November, Grella scored his third goal for Carlisle against Walsall.

On 20 January 2011, Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...

 side Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...

 announced they had signed Grella on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. Grella returned to Leeds the following day, however, when it became clear that he could not play for Motherwell as he had already played for two different clubs (Leeds and Carlisle) earlier in the season.

On 24 February 2011, Grella agreed to join Swindon Town on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. Grella scored his first goal for Swindon against Dagenham & Redbridge on 12 March. This spell ended on 12 April after Grella decided he was being overlooked since Paul Hart
Paul Hart
Paul Hart is an English football manager and former football defender, who is currently Academy Director at Charlton Athletic. The son of Johnny Hart, a football inside forward and manager, Hart had five-year spells with both Blackpool and Leeds United, while also playing for Nottingham Forest and...

 took charge, despite making five starts in seven games. He returned to Leeds but was unable to play for Leeds until his loan at Swindon had expired at the end of the season.

2011–12 season

Leeds chairman, Ken Bates
Ken Bates
Kenneth William Bates is a British businessman and football executive. The current chairman and now owner of Leeds United AFC, Bates was previously chairman and majority shareholder of Chelsea FC from 1982 until 2003....

 announced on 12 May that Grella was to be transfer listed by Leeds as he didn't figure in the clubs future plans.

On 8 June, Grella was given permission to train with American team New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...

, the move is with a view to a permanent deal. However, Grella said whilst it was an interesting opportunity he was looking to stay at a club in England. After training with the Cosmos, Grella returned to pre-season training with Leeds, but revealed on his Twitter that he was 99% sure he would be leaving Leeds. Grella played against Bradford Park Avenue in a pre season friendly, he then played for a Leeds 11 in a behind closed doors friendly against Leicester City scoring twice. He then was set to play for a Leeds reserve 11 against Farsley Celtic.

Brentford

On the 26th of August 2011, Mike Grella joined League One side Brentford on an emergency loan deal. Grella's contract with Leeds United is due to be terminated later in the week so that Grella can sign a permanent deal.

On the 8th of November, 2011, on his first full start for the club, Grella hit four goals in a six nil victory over Bournemouth in the JPT Trophy.

International career

He has represented the United States at both under-18 and under-20
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...

 level. He holds both US and Italian passports. Grella admitted he was looking to be called up by the full USA national side, and was hoping to break into the World Cup squad, but he said his lack of playing time at Leeds has made the opportunity of a call up very slim. Grella was left out of the USA squad for the 2010 World Cup, after failing to earn a cap for the full international side before the tournament.

Leeds United

  • League One Runners Up (Promoted): 2009–2010

Personal life

He spends his time off with his family--- mother Grazia, father Michael Sr., and brother Frank--- back in Glen Cove, NY. His family is originally from Sturno, province of Avellino in Italy.

Career statistics

England
Season Club Division League FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...

FL Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...

Play-Offs
Football League Play-Offs
The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion places within the Football League. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is...

Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2011–12
2011–12 in English football
The 2011–12 season is the 132nd season of competitive football in England.The season began on 5 August 2011 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier starting eight days later, League Football Conference Starting one day before Premier League starts.The Championship, League One, and League Two...

 
Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....

 
League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....

3 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 3 4 0 0
2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...

 
Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...

 
Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...

1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0
2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...

 
League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....

17 1 4 3 3 0 4 1 28 5 0 0
2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...

 
League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....

11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 12 0 0 0
Total 29 1 4 3 4 0 4 1 1 0 42 5 0 0

External links

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