Obscure Metro Files: Inaugural Draft
January 24, 2006
As we near the eleventh MLS season, we will soon hit the date of February 6th, a ten-year anniversary of one of the most significant days in MLS history. It was also one of the worst days in Metro history, for on February 6, 1996, the league's ten original teams stocked themselves in the 16-round inaugural player draft. And while some clubs, such as Dallas, built a solid base that will serve them for years to come, the MetroStars failed miserably, with no player lasting more than three years with the team. The MetroStars were judged to have the second-best set of allocations (Roberto Donadoni, Tony Meola, Tab Ramos, Damian Silvera) behind DC and were given the ninth pick of each round. Here are Metro selections, one by one:
1) Matt Knowles, defender, Milwaukee Wave (NPSL)
While other MLS teams drafted the likes of Brian McBride, Mark Chung, and Raul Diaz Arce, the MetroStars got Knowles, the self-proclaimed Pele of indoor soccer. He would join the team late after fulfulling his indoor commitments and actually played well before an injury sidelined him; but Knowles did not regain his form. 24 games in 1996 were followed by just four each in 1997 and 1998, and he was shipped to Miami in mid-season. That would prove to be Knowles' last season in MLS, but he came back to the indoor scene, better than ever, playing for the St. Louis Ambush, Philadelphia Kixx, Detroit Rockers, Kansas City Comets, and Harrisburg Heat.
2) Troy Dayak, defender, San Jose Grizziles (CISL)
Out of all the draft picks, Dayak enjoyed the longest MLS career, retiring in 2005. However, none of that career was spent with the Metros, as the Bay Area native made one thing clear after he was drafted: he would only play for one MLS club, San Jose. The Metros obliged, and in the first trade in MLS history, sent him to the Clash for future fan favorite Rhett Harty, who was a fourth round selection in the inaugural draft, and a draft pick. Dayak is currently the head coach of MISL's California Cougars.
3) Peter Vermes, forward, New York Fever (USISL)
The original Metro captain, and one-third of the Three Tenors with Meola and Ramos, spent one season with Metro, where he played in 33 games and scored a memorable shootout goal that gave the club its first playoff win. He was shipped to Colorado before the 1997 season for Kerry Zavagnin, and then became one of the best defenders in MLS, being named MLS Defender of the Year in 2000, while teaming up with Meola and Zavagnin to lead Kansas City to the MLS Cup. He also resurrected his career with the US national team. Vermes retired in 2002 after one of the most durable careers in MLS history up to that point, and is currently an assistant on the US Under-20 national team.
4) Jeff Zaun, defender, North Jersey Imperials (USISL)
Zaun was one of the last survivors of this draft class, playing three years and 38 games for Metro, without a single goal or assist. He would spend 1999, together with Zavagnin, on the Lehigh Valley Steam, and also played one game for the Chicago Fire, as well as appear for the Long Island Rough Riders. Zaun is currently an assistant coach at Rutgers, his alma mater.
5) A.J. Wood, forward, University of Virginia
The much-hyped striker who won four national titles at UVa scored the first goal by a MetroStar player not named Giovanni Savarese (if you don't count own goals, that is). Wood spent some time away with the US Olympic team in Atlanta, but proved to be a useful member of the squad in 1996, scoring five goals in 23 games. However, he never lived up to the billing, adding two in 13 games in 1997, before a trade to Columbus for Brian Bliss. Wood would end up with DC United a year later, and play there for four seasons, switching to defense later in his career.
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