Dan Popik
Encyclopedia
Dan Popik is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who is currently an assistant coach with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division
., who last played goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew
of Major League Soccer
.
A highly touted prospect who spent time with the Under-20 United States national team
, Popik played college soccer
at St. John's University, but left after two seasons. He did not get into MLS right away; instead, he signed with the A-League
's Milwaukee Rampage
in 2000. Popik would play three years for the club, leading them to the league championship in 2002.
Popik signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy
prior to the 2003 MLS season as backup to Kevin Hartman
. In two seasons, he only appeared in two league games, neither of them starts. The Galaxy released Popik after the 2004 season. He was the lone player who ended the 2004 season on an MLS roster to attempt to become a replacement player
for the U.S. national team
during the labor dispute in early 2005.
He is currently the assistant coach/goalkeeper coach at North Carolina State University
. In 2006, he joined the Columbus Crew
as an injury replacement and played one game. He remained at NC State until 2009 when he became the goalkeeper coach with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who is currently an assistant coach with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
., who last played goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of 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...
.
A highly touted prospect who spent time with the Under-20 United States national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, Popik played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at St. John's University, but left after two seasons. He did not get into MLS right away; instead, he signed with the A-League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
's Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
in 2000. Popik would play three years for the club, leading them to the league championship in 2002.
Popik signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
prior to the 2003 MLS season as backup to Kevin Hartman
Kevin Hartman
Kevin Hartman is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer-Youth and College:...
. In two seasons, he only appeared in two league games, neither of them starts. The Galaxy released Popik after the 2004 season. He was the lone player who ended the 2004 season on an MLS roster to attempt to become a replacement player
Replacement player
In professional sports, a replacement player is an athlete who is not a member of the league's players association and plays during a labor dispute such as a strike or lockout.- National Football League – 1987 :...
for the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
during the labor dispute in early 2005.
He is currently the assistant coach/goalkeeper coach at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. In 2006, he joined the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
as an injury replacement and played one game. He remained at NC State until 2009 when he became the goalkeeper coach with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....