Mike Gentile
Encyclopedia
Mike Gentile was a U.S. soccer midfielder
who, while drafted twice by teams in Major League Soccer
, spent his seven season career in the second division USISL. He was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
where he played on the soccer team from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, the Badgers won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
while Gentile was selected a third team All American. In 1993, he was part of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
, but he never entered a game in the tournament.
selected Gentile in the first round (9th overall) of the 1996 College Draft
. The Rapids released Gentile during the preseason and he signed with the Milwaukee Rampage
of the USISL. In 1997, the Rampage won the league championship. On July 13, 1999, the Rampage unexpectedly released Gentile along with four other players. Gentile had started five games before being benched in June. He immediately signed with the Minnesota Thunder
, going on to win the 1999 league championship with his new team. In February 2000, Gentile was again drafted by an MLS team when the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected him in the sixth round (66th overall) in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
. However, on February 22, 2000, the Mutiny released Gentile and he returned to the Thunder. In 2001, he signed a one year contract, with a one year option. He played through at least the 2002 season.
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, while drafted twice by teams 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...
, spent his seven season career in the second division USISL. He was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Australia for second time from 5 to 20 March 1993. The 1993 championship was the 9th contested. The tournament took place in five venues: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide....
.
College
Gentile attended college at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
where he played on the soccer team from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, the Badgers won the NCAA Men's Soccer 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...
while Gentile was selected a third team All American. In 1993, he was part of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Australia for second time from 5 to 20 March 1993. The 1993 championship was the 9th contested. The tournament took place in five venues: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide....
, but he never entered a game in the tournament.
Professional
In March 1996, the Colorado RapidsColorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado 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, having competed in the league...
selected Gentile in the first round (9th overall) of the 1996 College Draft
1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
. The Rapids released Gentile during the preseason and he signed with the 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...
of the USISL. In 1997, the Rampage won the league championship. On July 13, 1999, the Rampage unexpectedly released Gentile along with four other players. Gentile had started five games before being benched in June. He immediately signed with the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
, going on to win the 1999 league championship with his new team. In February 2000, Gentile was again drafted by an MLS team when 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...
selected him in the sixth round (66th overall) in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
2000 MLS SuperDraft
The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
. However, on February 22, 2000, the Mutiny released Gentile and he returned to the Thunder. In 2001, he signed a one year contract, with a one year option. He played through at least the 2002 season.