John DiRaimondo

Football player infobox| playername= John DiRaimondo
fullname = John DiRaimondo
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|4|23
cityofbirth = St. Louis, MO
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=7
currentclub = Colorado Rapids
clubnumber = 28
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 2003-2006
youthclubs = St. Louis
years = 2005-06
2007-present
clubs = Chicago Fire Premier
Colorado Rapids
caps(goals) = 22 (5)
11 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = U.S. U-17 National Team
U.S. U-20 National Team
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 4 September 2008
ntupdate = 29 March 2008

John DiRaimondo, born on April 26, 1986 in St. Louis, MO, is an American soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder in Major League Soccer for the Colorado Rapids.

Youth

DiRaimondo went through an accelerated high school program at St. Louis University High that allowed him to graduate a year early alongside fellow soccer player and childhood friend Brian Grazier. He was selected for the U.S. Under-17 National Team after his freshman year and managed to score two goals for the Under-17 World Cup qualifier in Guatemala. While on the team, DiRaimondo lived in Florida and was roommates with Grazier. In 2003 he was named as the Parade Magazine All-American and competed in the McDonald’s All-American game. DiRaimondo received Student-Athlete of the Year in 2001 and completed high school being on the honor roll all four years.

College

DiRaimondo attended St. Louis University; in 2003 he scored four goals and got ten assists while being named second-team NSCAA All-Midwest Region. That same year he was named to the Virginia Adidas Classic All-Tournament team and competed for the U.S. Under-17 National Team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. In 2004 he scored four goals and got three assists while being named first team All-Conference. DiRaimondo also played with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in a tour of Korea in June. In 2005 he scored a career high of nine goals and ten assists while being named first team All-Conference and All-Region. He also made it to the Hermann Trophy Watch list. In his last year of college, DiRaimondo scored five goals and got five assists while being named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist. ESPN the Magazine named him Academic All-American.

During his college years he also played with Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.

Pro career

DiRaimondo was drafted by Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids on January 18, 2007 and was drafted by Minnesota Thunder of the United Soccer League - I (USL - 1) on January 24, 2007. He made his debut for the Rapids on March 29, 2008 and scored his first professional goal the following week against the Kansas City Wizards.

ee also

* List of current MLS players

References

[ [http://slubillikens.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/diraimondo_john00.html Player Bio: John DiRaimondo :: Men's Soccer] ] [ [http://media.www.unewsonline.com/media/storage/paper953/news/2003/09/18/Sports/New-Talent.Puts.Hope.To.Soccer.Teams.Horizon-1668898.shtml New talent puts hope to soccer team's horizon - Sports] ] [ [http://www.coloradorapids.com/team/PlayerBio.aspx?PID=94 Colorado Rapids. The official site of the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Team] ]