Damian Silvera
Encyclopedia
Damian Troy Silvera is a former U.S. soccer midfielder
who was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He also spent a season and a half in Major League Soccer
.
and attended Shenendehowa High School
in Clifton Park, New York
where he played on the boys soccer team. In his junior and senior years, he was named as an All American high school player. After graduating from high school, Silvera attended the University of Virginia
where he played as a midfielder
on the men's soccer team from 1992-1995. He was part of three NCAA championship
teams as the Cavaliers took the title in 1992, 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he was the NCAA tournament Offensive MVP and a second team All American. He graduated as Virginia’s all time leader in assists.
(USSF) signed players to national team contracts. These players formed the A-Team. Fringe or up and coming players were part of the B-Team, those members of the national team pool not under contract. The B-Team also served as the core for the junior national teams. In 1994, Silvera began playing with the B-Team. This led to selection for the U.S. team
at the 1995 Pan American Games
.
began preparations for its first season, it signed known players to contracts. From this pool of players, the league allocated four to each team in order to ensure an initial equitable distribution of talent. On February 5, 1996, MLS allocated
Silvera to the MetroStars
. Eddie Firmani
, coach of the MetroStars had requested Silvera based on his standout performances with the University of Virginia and the U.S. B-Teams. Firmani saw Silvera growing into the role of creative midfielder with the MetroStars.
During the middle of the 1996 season, Silvera left the MetroStars to join the U.S. team
for the 1996 Summer Olympics
. The U.S. went a disappointing 1-1-1 and failed to make the second round. Silvera then rejoined the MetroStars where it was becoming apparent that he would never become a creative force on the team. Silvera seemed to have difficulty adapting to the professional game and the burden of pre-season expectations wore on him. By the end of the season, the MetroStars coaching staff had moved him to defensive midfielder, but he never adapted to this role either.
On February 3, 1997, the MetroStars traded Silvera to the Kansas City Wizards
for Mike Sorber and the first round pick in the 1998 MLS College Draft
. However, he appeared in only three games, one as a starter and the Wizards released him. He never played professionally after that. There were later rumors that he had mental health issues.http://www.metrofanatic.com/story.jsp?ID=2702
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He also spent a season and a half in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and college
Silvera grew up in Huntington, New YorkHuntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
and attended Shenendehowa High School
Shenendehowa High School
Shenendehowa High School is a public high school located in Clifton Park, New York, part of New York's Capital Region. It is part of the Shenendehowa Central School District and serves the district's 9th through 12th graders. Students are divided between two buildings by their grade level. Both...
in Clifton Park, New York
Clifton Park, New York
Clifton Park is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the 2009 population estimate for Clifton Park was 36,469. The name is derived from an early land patent...
where he played on the boys soccer team. In his junior and senior years, he was named as an All American high school player. After graduating from high school, Silvera attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
on the men's soccer team from 1992-1995. He was part of three NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
teams as the Cavaliers took the title in 1992, 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he was the NCAA tournament Offensive MVP and a second team All American. He graduated as Virginia’s all time leader in assists.
National team
While in college, he was called up to the U.S. B-Team. In the early 1990s, the United States Soccer FederationUnited States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
(USSF) signed players to national team contracts. These players formed the A-Team. Fringe or up and coming players were part of the B-Team, those members of the national team pool not under contract. The B-Team also served as the core for the junior national teams. In 1994, Silvera began playing with the B-Team. This led to selection for the U.S. team
Football at the 1995 Pan American Games
The twelfth edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from March 10 to March 24, 1995. Twelve teams competed, with title defender USA being eliminated in the first round...
at the 1995 Pan American Games
1995 Pan American Games
The 12th Pan American Games were held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from March 12 to March 26, 1995. After 44 years, this was the Pan American Games first return to the country that hosted the first Games, in 1951.-Overview:...
.
MLS
As Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
began preparations for its first season, it signed known players to contracts. From this pool of players, the league allocated four to each team in order to ensure an initial equitable distribution of talent. On February 5, 1996, MLS allocated
1996 MLS Inaugural Allocations
The Major League Soccer Inaugural Allocations were signed by the league in 1996 and distributed to the ten initial teams prior to the beginning of the first MLS season...
Silvera to the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
. Eddie Firmani
Eddie Firmani
Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:...
, coach of the MetroStars had requested Silvera based on his standout performances with the University of Virginia and the U.S. B-Teams. Firmani saw Silvera growing into the role of creative midfielder with the MetroStars.
During the middle of the 1996 season, Silvera left the MetroStars to join the U.S. team
United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.- Gold:* Justin Huish — Archery, Men's Individual Competition* Justin Huish, Richard Johnson, and Rod White — Archery, Men's Team Competition...
for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. The U.S. went a disappointing 1-1-1 and failed to make the second round. Silvera then rejoined the MetroStars where it was becoming apparent that he would never become a creative force on the team. Silvera seemed to have difficulty adapting to the professional game and the burden of pre-season expectations wore on him. By the end of the season, the MetroStars coaching staff had moved him to defensive midfielder, but he never adapted to this role either.
On February 3, 1997, the MetroStars traded Silvera to the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
for Mike Sorber and the first round pick in the 1998 MLS College Draft
1998 MLS College Draft
The 1998 Major League Soccer College Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 31 and February 1, 1998.-Format:On Saturday, January 31, 1997, Major League Soccer held the first round of its 1998 college draft during the halftime of the Umbro Select All-Star Classic at Lockhart Stadium. ...
. However, he appeared in only three games, one as a starter and the Wizards released him. He never played professionally after that. There were later rumors that he had mental health issues.http://www.metrofanatic.com/story.jsp?ID=2702