Mike Palacio

Mike Palacio

Personal information
Full name	Michael Palacio
Date of birth	29 August 1986 (1986-08-29) (age 25)
Place of birth	Long Beach, New York, United States
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Number	10
Youth career
	Blau-Weiss Gottschee
2004–2008	Stony Brook Seawolves
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006	Fort Wayne Fever	6	(0)
2007	Long Island Rough Riders	11	(2)
2008	New York Red Bulls	0	(0)
2009	Long Island Rough Riders	15	(6)
2009–2010	Radnički Obrenovac	25	(3)
2010	New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
2011–	Fort Lauderdale Strikers	17	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 8, 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael "Mike" Palacio (born August 29, 1986 in Long Beach, New York) is an American soccer player currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.

Career

Youth and college

Palacio was a four year letterwinner at center midfield at Long Beach High School where he holds school records for assists in a game, season and career. He was named first team all-state as a senior, three time all-county selection. Michael also emerged from one of the top soccer clubs in the NY area Blau-Weiss Gottschee Soccer Club, at Gottschee he excelled and developed many of his future attributes in becoming a prolific attacking midfielder.

Palacio played college soccer at Stony Brook University under head coach Cesar Markovic. Palacio was a three-time selection on the All-America East First Team, and was named to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team in his junior season. He is the Stony Brook all-time leader in assists and was named the America East Midfielder of the Year in 2006 and also was instrumental in Stony Brook's run to the NCAA tournament in 2005, Michael led the team with 25 points 7 goals 11 assists.

During his college years Palacio also played with Fort Wayne Fever in the USL Premier Development League.^[1]

Professional

Palacio was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the second round, 21st overall, in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, where he played along side teammate from college Chris Megaloudis. Unfortunately, in a scrimmage match against New England Revolution he suffered a torn ACL making him miss the rest of the season. Following the surgeries (knee and appendix) and a 14 month recovery, Palacio signed with the Long Island Rough Riders of the USL Premier Development League where he had the opportunity to show that his recovery was completed, scoring an additional 6 goals in 15 appearances in 2009^[2]

Following the end of the 2009 PDL season, Palacio, together with his Stony Brook team-mate Petar Raković, travelled to Europe where, while preparing for trials with some clubs in Denmark and training in Serbia, he was invited to take part in a friendly game between Radnički Obrenovac and Serbian SuperLiga club OFK Belgrade. The match ended with a 1-1 draw, with Palacio scored his team's only goal, and the Obrenovac offered him a contract. Palacio played with Obrenovac throughout the 2009-2010 season, scoring 3 goals in 25 games, before returning to the United States in the summer of 2010.

After a brief stint playing for New York-based amateur club New York Pancyprian-Freedoms during their 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run, Palacio signed with Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League on March 16, 2011.^[3]

Personal

Mike's his father, Leo Palacio, was a former player at the University of North Carolina.

References

1. ^ http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2006/roster/22325.html
2. ^ http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/22341.html#STATS
3. ^ http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4167139

External links

• Interview at Yanks-Abroad
• Career at Stony Brook University site
• News from Rough Riders site
• Roster at Rough Riders site
• Profile at Red Bull NY official site
• Profile at SrbijaFudbal

Persondata
Name	Palacio, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 29, 1986
Place of birth	Long Beach, New York, United States
Date of death
Place of death