Paul Grafer
Encyclopedia
Paul Grafer is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who spent five seasons in Major League Soccer
with the Colorado Rapids
and MetroStars
. He is currently the goalkeeper coach for the United States U-17 men's national soccer team
.
selected Grafer in the 2nd round (19th overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft
. The Rapids sent him on loan to the Long Island Rough Riders
of the USISL for the 1996 season. In 1997, made Rapids first team, playing thirteen games, gaining only one win, in 1997 and 1998. On September 30, 1998, he broke his left wrist in practice. The Rapids waived him on October 30, 1998. He signed with the Charleston Battery
on January 28, 1999, but suffered a major neck injury during the pre-season and lost the entire year. Instead, he spent the entire year coaching with the Williamsburg Soccer Club. In 2000, he signed with the Long Island Rough Riders
, having an excellent season. That resulted in him being called up to the MetroStars
in 2000 after starter Mike Ammann
was injured and backup Tim Howard
was playing in the Olympics. In one of the odder moments in MLS history, the league held a draft consisting of only one player, Paul Grafer, after he signed late with the MetroStars. The San Jose Earthquakes
selected him Grafer, then traded him back to the MetroStars for Ramiro Corrales
on February 23, 2001. He retired following the 2003 season. In 2005, he returned with the RoughRiders. He played nineteen games and was named second team All League.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who spent five seasons in 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...
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...
and 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...
. He is currently the goalkeeper coach for the United States U-17 men's national soccer team
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
.
Youth
Grafer graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1993. He then attended The College of William & Mary where he played soccer from 1993 to 1995. He studied the culinary arts, but eventually gained his degree in kiniseology. In 2007, William and Mary inducted Grafer into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.Professional
In February 1996, the Colorado RapidsColorado 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...
selected Grafer in the 2nd round (19th overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft
1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
. The Rapids sent him on loan to 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...
of the USISL for the 1996 season. In 1997, made Rapids first team, playing thirteen games, gaining only one win, in 1997 and 1998. On September 30, 1998, he broke his left wrist in practice. The Rapids waived him on October 30, 1998. He signed with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
on January 28, 1999, but suffered a major neck injury during the pre-season and lost the entire year. Instead, he spent the entire year coaching with the Williamsburg Soccer Club. In 2000, he signed with 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...
, having an excellent season. That resulted in him being called up to 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...
in 2000 after starter Mike Ammann
Mike Ammann
Mike Ammann is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in England and Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
was injured and backup Tim Howard
Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team....
was playing in the Olympics. In one of the odder moments in MLS history, the league held a draft consisting of only one player, Paul Grafer, after he signed late with the MetroStars. The San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
selected him Grafer, then traded him back to the MetroStars for Ramiro Corrales
Ramiro Corrales
Ramiro Corrales is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
on February 23, 2001. He retired following the 2003 season. In 2005, he returned with the RoughRiders. He played nineteen games and was named second team All League.