Randy Merkel
Encyclopedia
Randy Merkel is a retired American soccer midfielder
who played professionally in the USL A-League and Major League Soccer
.
Merkel began his collegiate career in 1995 at the Penn State. He then transferred to the University of Maryland
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1996 to 1998.
In February 1997, the Columbus Crew
selected Merkel in the third round (thirty-third overall) of the 1999 MLS College Draft
. The Crew released Merkel in the pre-season and he signed with the Raleigh Express
of the USL A-League. In 2001, Merkel moved to the Atlanta Silverbacks
. In June 2001, the Miami Fusion
of the Major League Soccer
called up Merkel for one game. The Silverbacks released Merkel in February 2002.
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 played professionally in the USL A-League and 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...
.
Merkel began his collegiate career in 1995 at the Penn State. He then transferred to the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1996 to 1998.
In February 1997, 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...
selected Merkel in the third round (thirty-third overall) of the 1999 MLS College Draft
1999 MLS College Draft
The 1999 Major League Soccer College Draft.Major League Soccer held its fourth annual college draft on February 6 and 7, 1999 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first round of the draft took place on Saturday with the second and third rounds on Sunday morning. The College Draft was followed by the...
. The Crew released Merkel in the pre-season and he signed with the Raleigh Express
Raleigh Express
The Raleigh Express was a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993 to 2000. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the club started as the Raleigh Flyers in the USISL before moving to the A-League in 1997. In 1999, the club was renamed the Express, and in 2000, became the Raleigh...
of the USL A-League. In 2001, Merkel moved to the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
. In June 2001, the Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
of the 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...
called up Merkel for one game. The Silverbacks released Merkel in February 2002.