Danny Pena
Encyclopedia
Danny Pena is a retired U.S. soccer defensive midfielder
. He spent most of his career, both indoors and outdoors, with teams in the western U.S.
, took Fram-Culver all the way to the U-19 McGuire Cup title. The next year, he played all three games at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship
.http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/PrevSquad/0,4355,USA-U20M-1987-191161-19,00.html
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) in 1988. He remained with the Heat through the 1990 season which the Heat played in the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). In 1991, the Blackhawks won the league title, defeating the Albany Capitals
as Pena was selected as a first team All Star. The next season, the Blackhawks lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the semifinals. However, Pena again was selected as a first team All Star. When the Blackhawks owner withdrew the team from the APSL and moved them down a division to the USISL, Pena left the team and joined the Los Angeles Salsa
of the APSL. He remained with the Salsa for two seasons, 1993 and 1994. In both seasons, he continued his streak of being selected to the All Star team. In 1993, the Salsa lost the title game to the Colorado Foxes
. He began his indoor career with the Wichita Wings
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL) with the 1991-1992 season. In 1994, he joined the Dayton Dynamo
of the 1994-1995 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season. His brother, Carlos, was the goalkeeper for Dayton. In 1995, he moved to the Sacramento Knights
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL). That season he was a CISL first team All Star and the CISL Defender of the Year as the Knights lost to the Monterrey La Raza. Major League Soccer
(MLS) signed Pena to a contract in 1996, but then loaned him to the Cincinnati Silverbacks
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in November 1996.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72828485.html The Los Angeles Galaxy
of MLS selected Pena in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He spent the 1997 season in Los Angeles, but the Galaxy failed to protect him in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
and the Chicago Fire selected him with their first pick. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction with this development and on January 27, 1998, the Galaxy traded Chris Armas
and Jorge Campos to the Fire for Pena and Kevin Hartman
. Pena suffered a season ending knee injury in June 2000. While he returned for the 2001 season, the Galaxy sent Pena to the Tampa Bay Mutiny
on July 30, 2001 for a conditional pick in the 2002 draft. He saw time in six games, then was released at the end of the season.
in Torrance, California
. He is also on staff with the Force Soccer Club. He won nationals with his boys team. He has a silver elite girls team at Beach Soccer Club. He also has a boys team that was invited to a Dallas showcase.
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...
. He spent most of his career, both indoors and outdoors, with teams in the western U.S.
Youth
Pena grew up in Southern California, playing for the Fram-Culver soccer club. In 1986, he, and team mate Marcelo BalboaMarcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
, took Fram-Culver all the way to the U-19 McGuire Cup title. The next year, he played all three games at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship
1987 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Chile from October 10 to October 25, 1987. The 1987 championship was the 6th contested and won for the first time by Yugoslavia. Remarkably, in the course of the tournament the Yugoslavs defeated each of the three other semi-finalists, and...
.http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/PrevSquad/0,4355,USA-U20M-1987-191161-19,00.html
Professional
After high school, he chose to forgo college and signed with the Los Angeles HeatLos Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. They joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League...
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) in 1988. He remained with the Heat through the 1990 season which the Heat played in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). In 1991, the Blackhawks won the league title, defeating the Albany Capitals
Albany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
as Pena was selected as a first team All Star. The next season, the Blackhawks lost to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the semifinals. However, Pena again was selected as a first team All Star. When the Blackhawks owner withdrew the team from the APSL and moved them down a division to the USISL, Pena left the team and joined the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
of the APSL. He remained with the Salsa for two seasons, 1993 and 1994. In both seasons, he continued his streak of being selected to the All Star team. In 1993, the Salsa lost the title game to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
. He began his indoor career with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL) with the 1991-1992 season. In 1994, he joined the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
of the 1994-1995 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) season. His brother, Carlos, was the goalkeeper for Dayton. In 1995, he moved to the Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights were an indoor soccer team that played from 1993 to 2001 in ARCO Arena and were owned by the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The team played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997. The team then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1998 after the CISL folded...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
(CISL). That season he was a CISL first team All Star and the CISL Defender of the Year as the Knights lost to the Monterrey La Raza. 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...
(MLS) signed Pena to a contract in 1996, but then loaned him to the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in November 1996.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72828485.html 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...
of MLS selected Pena in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
1997 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2, 1997.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-External links:*...
. He spent the 1997 season in Los Angeles, but the Galaxy failed to protect him in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
1997 MLS Expansion Draft
The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
and the Chicago Fire selected him with their first pick. However, he expressed his dissatisfaction with this development and on January 27, 1998, the Galaxy traded Chris Armas
Chris Armas
Chris Armas is a retired American soccer player. He is currently the head women's soccer coach at Adelphi University. He was also a teacher of physical education at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York.-College:Armas is of Puerto Rican descent...
and Jorge Campos to the Fire for Pena and Kevin Hartman
Kevin Hartman
Kevin Hartman is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer-Youth and College:...
. Pena suffered a season ending knee injury in June 2000. While he returned for the 2001 season, the Galaxy sent Pena to the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
on July 30, 2001 for a conditional pick in the 2002 draft. He saw time in six games, then was released at the end of the season.
National team
In 1997, the national team called up Pena, but he declined the invitation.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FROM+THE+FIELD:+THEY'RE+BUTTING+HEADS+ON+AND+OFF+THE+FIELD-a083875942Coach
Pena now coaches boys soccer at North High SchoolNorth High School (Torrance)
North High School is a four year public high school located at 3620 W. 182nd St. in Torrance, California. Of the four public high schools in the Torrance Unified School District, North High is the second oldest...
in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
. He is also on staff with the Force Soccer Club. He won nationals with his boys team. He has a silver elite girls team at Beach Soccer Club. He also has a boys team that was invited to a Dallas showcase.