Chris Konopka

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Chris Konopka
Personal information
Full name Christopher Konopka
Date of birth (1985-04-14) April 14, 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Toms River, New Jersey, United States
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1994–2003 Jersey Shore Boca
2003–2006 Providence Friars
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Jersey Falcons 8 (0)
2007 Kansas City Wizards 0 (0)
2008 Bohemian FC 0 (0)
2009 Sporting Fingal 3 (0)
2010 Waterford United 12 (0)
2011 New York Red Bulls 1 (0)
2012–2013 Philadelphia Union 1 (0)
2013–2015 Toronto FC 21 (0)
2015 → Toronto FC II (loan) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, October 26, 2015

Christopher Konopka (born April 14, 1985) is an American professional soccer player who last played as a Goalkeeper for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Konopka is the first American born soccer player to ever win the Irish Double and also the first to win back-to-back FAI Cup medals.[1][2]

Personal life

Konopka grew up in Toms River, New Jersey[3] and played both basketball and soccer at Toms River High School East.[4] He holds both American and Polish citizenship.[5]

Amateur and college

Konopka came through the youth system of the Jersey Shore Boca soccer club in South Jersey. In the summer of 2003 he played for the club's Premier Development League team. In the summer of 2004 he made 8 appearances for the Jersey Falcons in the same league.[6]

Providence College

He played NCAA Division I collegiate soccer in the Big East Conference at Providence College from 2003 to 2006.[7] Konopka earned himself trials in England after his senior season with Charlton Athletic,[8] Cardiff City,[9] and Walsall FC.[10] However, he was unable to sign in the United Kingdom as his attempted acquisition of a Polish passport through ancestry had not yet been completed.

Club career

Kansas City Wizards

Konopka was drafted in the third round, 29th overall, by the Kansas City Wizards in 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. He became the first player in the history of Providence College to be drafted by an MLS team. Konopka was released by the Wizards at the end of the 2007 season without making an appearance.[11]

In December 2007, Konopka was named to the United States U-23 National Team player pool by head coach Piotr Nowak.

Bohemians

In March 2008 Konopka signed a one-year contract with Bohemian FC following a successful trial. He made his debut on July 1, 2008 against Derry City in the League Cup.

As a member of Bohs, Konopka won the League of Ireland championship and the FAI Cup in 2008. He also impressed with the Bohemians' A-Side in the inaugural A Championship, leading Bohemians to the Grand Final.

Sporting Fingal

On July 28, 2009 Konopka signed a short-term contract with then League of Ireland First Division side Sporting Fingal.[12]

He made his debut on October 2, 2009 in a 2-2 draw against Monaghan United. Konopka went on to make 3 more appearances for Fingal including a 4-2 win over Bray Wanderers in the 2009 FAI Cup semi-final on October 25. Konopka helped the club win the 2009 FAI Cup and promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division for 2010.

Waterford United

Konopka signed with Waterford United on December 18, 2009 for the 2010 season.[13] He made his debut on March 5, 2010 in a 3-0 victory over Wexford Youths.

Konopka received "man of the match" honours from extratime.ie for his performance in a 1-0 victory over Shelbourne on May 7, 2010. It was Waterford's first win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park in 11 years.[14]

Columbus Crew

Konopka was signed by the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer from the MLS Goalkeeper Pool on July 26, 2011. Despite featuring in an international friendly that evening against Newcastle United and being re-called for 4 future matches he would not make a professional appearance for the club.[15][11]

New York Red Bulls

Konopka was signed by New York Red Bulls from the MLS Goalkeeper Pool on August 13, 2011. He made his league debut that evening in a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire.[16] His emergency loan ended after the match and he returned to the MLS Goalkeeper Pool.

Philadelphia Union

On March 2, 2012, Konopka signed with the Philadelphia Union.[17]

He made his debut on May 26, 2012, in a 1-0 loss against Toronto FC.[18] Three days later he featured in Philadelphia's first US Open Cup victory against the Rochester Rhinos.[19]

Toronto FC

On September 13, 2013, the Philadelphia Union traded Konopka to Toronto FC in exchange for a third round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.[20]

Konopka made his debut on May 2, 2015 in a 1-0 victory against his former club the Philadelphia Union.[11][21]

He was named to the MLS Team of the Week on May 18, 2015 for his seven save effort in a 1–1 draw against the New England Revolution.[22]

Konopka finished 2015 with a break-out season for TFC playing in 21 league games[23] setting the all-time single season Toronto goalkeeper league win record with 11 and his 52.4 win percentage is the best ever in Toronto goalkeeping history.[24]

Career statistics

As of matches played October 29, 2015
Club Season League Cup [lower-alpha 1] League Cup [lower-alpha 2] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kansas City Wizards 2007[11] MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bohemians 2008 Premier Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Sporting Fingal 2009 First Division 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Waterford United 2010 First Division 12 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
Columbus Crew 2011[11] MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
New York Red Bulls 2011[11] MLS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Philadelphia Union 2012[11][25] MLS 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2013[11] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Toronto 2013[11] MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014[11] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015[11][25] 21 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
Toronto FC II (loan) 2015[25] USL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Toronto Total 22 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 25 0
Career total 39 0 5 0 4 0 0 0 48 0
  1. ↑ Includes FAI Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championship matches.
  2. ↑ Includes League of Ireland Cup and MLS Playoffs matches.

Honours

Club

Bohemians
Sporting Fingal
Waterford United


References

  1. ↑ O'Kelly, Declan."American Wins Irish Double at Bohs", Irish Voice, December 17, 2008.
  2. ↑ Seltzer, Greg."American Exports: Notepad", MLSsoccer.com, May 5, 2011.
  3. ↑ Edelson, Steve. "Konopka right at home, in Ireland", Asbury Park Press, March 12, 2008
  4. ↑ Chris Konopka, Providence Friars. Accessed April 8, 2008.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ [1][dead link]
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ "Sporting Move For Keeps", Fingal Independent, September 2, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Konopka joins Waterford from Fingal', RTE.ie, December 19, 2009.
  14. ↑ [2], extratime.ie, May 7, 2010
  15. ↑ King, Andrew."Newcastle proves too much for Crew", Columbus Sports Network, July 26, 2011
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Philadelphia Union Communications."Union sign goalkeeper Chris Konopka", March 2, 2012.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Comcast Sportsnet."Union Take Cup Opener", May 29, 2012.
  20. ↑ Toronto FC press release."Reds Acquire Chris Konopka" September 13, 2013.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ MLSsoccer.com "Team of the Week - WK 11" May 18, 2015.
  23. ↑ MLSsoccer.com [3] MLS Player Stats
  24. ↑ TorontoFC.CA [4] 2015 TFC Player Stats
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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