David Najem
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | David Najem[1] | ||
Date of birth | May 26, 1992 | ||
Place of birth | Clifton, New Jersey, United States | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
Position(s) | Fullback, Defensive midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | New Mexico United | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
2006–2010 | New York Red Bulls | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2013 | Columbia Lions | 64 | (10) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2013–2015 | FC Eintracht Bamberg | 37 | (2) |
2016–2017 | New York Red Bulls II | 45 | (1) |
2018–2019 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 17 | (1) |
2020– | New Mexico United | 0 | (0) |
International career | |||
2019– | Afghanistan | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 31, 2020 |
David Najem (born May 26, 1992) is a footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club New Mexico United and the Afghanistan national team.
Najem grew up in Clifton, New Jersey and attended Paramus Catholic High School, where he set school career records for both goals and points.[2]
Career
Early career
Najem was a member of the New York Red Bulls Academy since the age of 14 and played with the U-23 team during his college career. He attended Paramus Catholic High School, where he captained the team for two seasons and set the school record for career goals scored with 54. In 2010, Najem enrolled at Columbia University, and played four seasons with the men's soccer team. During his senior year in 2013, he was awarded as the Ivy League Offensive player of the year, tallying five goals and six assists.[3]
Eintracht Bamberg
After graduating from Columbia, Najem went on trial with lower division clubs in Germany and eventually signed with FC Eintracht Bamberg from the Regionalliga Bayern league in 2014.[4][5]
New York Red Bulls II
On May 19, 2016, Najem returned to the United States to sign with New York Red Bulls II. Najem will partner up with manager, John Wolyniec who formerly played for the New York Red Bulls and coached him in the academy.[6] Najem made his official debut for the club coming on as a late match substitute in a 1–0 victory against FC Montreal.[7] After starting in every match during the clubs playoff run, on October 23, 2016, Najem helped the club to a 5–1 victory over Swope Park Rangers in the 2016 USL Cup Final.[8]
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Najem signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies on January 11, 2018.[9]
New Mexico United
In January 2020, Najem joined New Mexico United.[10]
International
He made his debut for Afghanistan national football team on June 7, 2019 in a friendly against Tajikistan, as a starter.[11]
Personal
Davis's brother, Adam, is also a professional soccer player who currently plays for the Polish I liga club Wigry Suwałki, and was called-up by the Afghanistan national team.[12][13]
Career statistics
- As of July 22, 2017
Club | Season | League | League Cup | Domestic Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
FC Eintracht Bamberg | 2013–14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
2014–15 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
Total | 37 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
New York Red Bulls II | 2016 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
2017 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
Total | 45 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
Career total | 82 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 3 |
Honors
Club
References
- ^ "David Najem Bio". MLSSoccer.com.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls II Sign David Najem", New York Red Bulls, May 19, 2016. Accessed May 20, 2016. "Najem, a native of Clifton, N.J., joins the club after spending two seasons in Regionalliga Bayern, Germany’s Fourth Division, with FC Eintracht Bamberg 2010.... Najem attended Paramus Catholic High School where he was a two-time captain and set the school record with 54 goals and 146 career points in his career."
- ^ "David Najem Profile". GoColumbiaLions.com.
- ^ "David Najem and life in fourth division Germany". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
- ^ "Najem Signs Professional Contract with German Club FC Eintracht Bamberg 2010". GoColumbiaLions.com.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls II Sign David Najem". NewYorkRedBulls.com.
- ^ "USL MATCH RECAP: Red Bulls II Maintain Road Perfection with 1-0 win at FC Montreal". newyorkredbulls.com.
- ^ "Allen's Hat Trick Leads Red Bulls II to USL Cup". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ^ "Rowdies Continue to Build Roster with Signing of Defender David Najem". RowdiesSoccer.com. January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ "New Mexico United Welcomes Accomplished Defender to the 2020 Squad". NewMexicoUTD.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Tajikistan v Afghanistan game report". National-Football-Teams. June 7, 2019.
- ^ Joe Tansey (August 14, 2018). "Philadelphia Union's Adam Najem earns first call-up to Afghanistan national team". prosoccerusa.com. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ "Adam Najem piłkarzem Wigier « Oficjalny Serwis Suwalskiego Klubu Sportowego Wigry". wigrysuwalki.eu. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
External links
- David Najem at Soccerway
- David Najem at National-Football-Teams.com
- 1992 births
- Living people
- Afghan footballers
- Afghanistan international footballers
- American people of Afghan descent
- American soccer players
- Association football midfielders
- Columbia Lions men's soccer players
- New York Red Bulls II players
- People from Livingston, New Jersey
- Soccer players from New Jersey
- Sportspeople from Clifton, New Jersey
- Sportspeople from Essex County, New Jersey
- Sportspeople of Afghan descent
- Tampa Bay Rowdies players
- USL Championship players
- Paramus Catholic High School alumni
- New Mexico United players