Steve Shak
Encyclopedia
Steve Shak is a retired American
soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles
of the USL Second Division
.
A former UCLA college standout and Major League Soccer
number one draft pick, Shak spent four years in the American top league with the MetroStars
and with Colorado Rapids
, but with the exception of a brief stint in Sweden, spent the majority of his career in the USL, including extended periods with the Virginia Beach Mariners
and the Eagles.
at UCLA, where he started out as a walk-on and became a starter, helping the Bruins to the College Cup
in 1997. He also played for the United States
at under-23 level.
coming off the worst season in MLS history in 1999, they were given the first pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
. Despite Shak being projected to go in the third or fourth round, and such highly-rated prospects as Nick Garcia
, Carlos Bocanegra
, and Danny Califf
on the board, the Metros drafted Shak; the team's head coach, Octavio Zambrano
, coached Shak on youth teams.
Shak spent a year and a half with the MetroStars, playing on defense as well as midfield, scoring a goal and an assist. Late in the 2001 season, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids
for Ross Paule
. He played one minute for the Rapids in 2002, going on loan to the Hampton Roads Mariners for two games. Shak then signed with the Minnesota Thunder
of the USL A-League. In 2004, Shak played for Bodens BK
. He then returned to the United States and signed with the Virginia Beach Mariners
. When the Mariners folded in early 2007, Shak switched to the Charlotte Eagles
. He made his debut for them on April 20, 2007, scoring one goal in a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace Baltimore, and subsequently played 51 times for the team before retiring after the end of the 2009 season.
during the U.S. national team labor dispute.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
.
A former UCLA college standout 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...
number one draft pick, Shak spent four years in the American top league with 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...
and with Colorado Rapids
Colorado 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...
, but with the exception of a brief stint in Sweden, spent the majority of his career in the USL, including extended periods with the Virginia Beach Mariners
Virginia Beach Mariners
The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer...
and the Eagles.
College
Shak played college soccerCollege 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 UCLA, where he started out as a walk-on and became a starter, helping the Bruins to the College Cup
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...
in 1997. He also played for the United States
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...
at under-23 level.
Professional
With the MetroStarsMetrostars
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...
coming off the worst season in MLS history in 1999, they were given the first pick 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:...
. Despite Shak being projected to go in the third or fourth round, and such highly-rated prospects as Nick Garcia
Nick Garcia
Nick Garcia is an American soccer player who grew up playing for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club and most recently played for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, Carlos Bocanegra
Carlos Bocanegra
Carlos Manuel Bocanegra is an American soccer player who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and is the captain of the United States national team.-Chicago Fire:...
, and Danny Califf
Danny Califf
Daniel Benjamin "Danny" Califf is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
on the board, the Metros drafted Shak; the team's head coach, Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer history, .-Player:...
, coached Shak on youth teams.
Shak spent a year and a half with the MetroStars, playing on defense as well as midfield, scoring a goal and an assist. Late in the 2001 season, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids
Colorado 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...
for Ross Paule
Ross Paule
Ross Paule is a former American soccer midfielder, who last played for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer....
. He played one minute for the Rapids in 2002, going on loan to the Hampton Roads Mariners for two games. Shak then 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...
of the USL A-League. In 2004, Shak played for Bodens BK
Bodens BK
Bodens BK is a Swedish football club located in Boden in Norrbotten. The club, formed 1916, is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Division 1...
. He then returned to the United States and signed with the Virginia Beach Mariners
Virginia Beach Mariners
The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer...
. When the Mariners folded in early 2007, Shak switched to the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. He made his debut for them on April 20, 2007, scoring one goal in a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace Baltimore, and subsequently played 51 times for the team before retiring after the end of the 2009 season.
International
In 2005, Shak was a replacement playerReplacement 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 :...
during the U.S. national team labor dispute.