Paul Grafer
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 7, 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Port Washington, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–1995 | William and Mary | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1996–1998 | Colorado Rapids | 13 | (0) |
| 1996 | → Long Island Rough Riders (loan) | ||
| 1999 | Charleston Battery | 0 | (0) |
| 2000 | Long Island Rough Riders | 28 | (0) |
| 2000 | → MetroStars (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | MetroStars | 5 | (0) |
| 2001 | → Long Island Rough Riders (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 2005 | Long Island Rough Riders | 19 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2007– | U.S. U-17 (assistant) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Paul Grafer (born August 7, 1974 in Port Washington, New York) 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.
Contents |
[edit] Youth
Grafer graduated from St. Mary's High School[disambiguation needed 
] 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.[1] In 2007, William and Mary inducted Grafer into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]
[edit] Professional
In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids selected Grafer in the 2nd round (19th overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] The San Jose Earthquakes selected him Grafer, then traded him back to the MetroStars for Ramiro Corrales on February 23, 2001.[9] He retired following the 2003 season. In 2005, he returned with the RoughRiders.[10] He played nineteen games and was named second team All League.[11][12]
[edit] MetroStars folklore
Throughout his career with the MetroStars, he became known for his long, black pants, leading to the chant, "They’re long, they’re black, they’re halfway up his crack – they're Grafer's pants – they're Grafer's pants!"[1][13]
[edit] Post playing career
He earned an MBA and taught at Adelphi.[1] In 2007, he became the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. U-17 national team.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Grafer progresses from black pants to coach". ESPN. December 21, 2008. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=604237&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "2007 Alumni Magazine" (PDF). https://alumni.wm.edu/magazine/spgsum_2007/pdf/sports.pdf. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Rapids Pick Four Players In Supplementalt College Drafts". Intermark.com. March 5, 1996. http://www.intermark.com/rapids/rp030596.html. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "October 30, 1998 Transactions". The New York Times. October 30, 1998. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/30/sports/transactions-612871.html. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "2000 USL News". A-league.com. http://www.a-league.com/news/2000/news,2000,0058.shtml. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "2000 Rough Riders stats". Images.si.com. September 7, 2000. http://images.si.com/soccer/aleague/stats/2000/stats.lgistax.html. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Paul Grafer comes through: Metrs prevail thanks to the keeper called up from the A-League" (PDF). http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SoccerAmerica/2000/sa1474x.pdf. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Throw-Ins". Sports Illustrated. March 8, 2001. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/michael_lewis/news/2001/03/08/lewis_throwins/. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "February 23, 2001 Transactions". The New York Times. February 23, 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/23/sports/transactions-052230.html?sec=&spon=. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "UNRETIREMENT: Ex-Metro Grafer to rejoin Rough Riders". Bigapplesoccer.com. http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=1862. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Demosphere International, Inc.. "2005 Rough Riders stats". Uslsoccer.com. http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2005/roster/22341.html. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Demosphere International, Inc. (August 25, 2005). "USL Second Division 2005 All-League Teams announced". Uslsoccer.com. http://www.uslsoccer.com/honors/106655.html. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Grafer's pants... Taken off but not forgotten!". Metrofanatic.com. http://www.metrofanatic.com/story.jsp?ID=1626. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Four Assistant Coaches Set for U.S. U-17 MNT[dead link]
