Alen Kozić (born 27 September 1976) is an American former soccer player. He played college soccer for the FIU Panthers before playing professionally for several years.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 September 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993 | Temple Terrace Spirit | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1997 | FIU Panthers | 74 | (24) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2000 | Miami Fusion | 6 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | MLS Project 40 | 18 | (3) |
| 2000 | NK Istra 1961 | ||
| 2002–2003 | 1. FC Union Solingen | 13 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Youth career
editKozić is the son of former professional soccer player Refik Kozić.[1] In 1993, playing for Temple Terrace Spirit, he scored the winning goal in the final of the U17 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Phoenix, Arizona.[2]
High School
editKozić attended Berkeley Preparatory School for three years, leading the school's soccer team to three state championships in a row[3] in 1993,[4] 1994 and 1995.[5][6] In his senior year, he was voted high school all American.[citation needed] Also, was voted the Tampa Bay Times player of the decade for the 90's for Hillsborough county.[7]
In March 1994, Kozić was called into the U17 Southeast USA regional team to compete in a tournament in France where they faced up against youth setups from Ajax of Holland, Standard Leige of Belgium, and Monaco and Paris St. Germain of France.[8]
Also in 1994 he had trial at Primera División club Real Oviedo.[3]
College career
editKozić played for Florida International University's FIU Panthers[9][10] from 1995 to 1997. In 1996, as a sophomore, he led FIU to the College Cup losing in the final to St Johns. In his sophomore and junior years, he achieved a place in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer All-American First Team.[11] As a junior he finished as a runner up for the Hermann Trophy, as the best college player 1997.[12] Kozić was inducted into the FIU Sports Hall of Fame.[13] In two years at FIU, Kozić tallied 24 goals and 26 assists in 74 games,[14] making him the eighth all-time leader in goals and assists for FIU.[15]
Professional career
editIn December 1997 through January 1998, Alen Kozic had a trial with SV Wüstenrot Salzburg.[16]
In 1998 Kozic signed for Major League Soccer side Miami Fusion.[17] He made his debut for the club in a friendly for Miami Fusion against the Honduras national team and scored the opening goal in a 4–2 win.[18] He made his starting debut on 31 May 1998, against Dallas Burn.[19] Days later, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in training.[19] In 1999 he started in two matches for Miami Fusion: in May against Dallas Burn and in June against D.C. United.[20] He totalled 18 games played for the MLS Project 40 A-League team composed of the best young MLS players.[21]
From 2000 Kozic spent one year with Croatian club NK Istra 1961.[22]
In the 2002–03 season, Kozic played 13 games for German club 1. FC Union Solingen in the Oberliga Nordrhein.[23]
Kozic had an unsuccessful trial at Major League Soccer side D.C. United in April 2003.[24]
References
edit- ^ "Refik Kozić od Istre do Cosmosa" [Refik Kozić from Istria to Cosmos]. Regional Express (in Croatian). 30 January 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ Carey Freeman (28 July 1993). "Spirit rises above many obstacles to win U.S. title". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ a b Mike Readling (1 April 1995). "Berkeley's Kozic not satisfied". The Tampa Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Tim Looney (28 February 1993). "Berkeley wins first state title". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Carey Freeman (19 February 1995). "A hat trick for Hillsborough // Without a doubt, Buccaneers win". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Erik Erlendsson (9 December 1999). "Kozic's extraordinary talent always amazed". The Tampa Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Carey Freeman (24 March 1995). "Kozic, Peifer find ways to reach their goals". Tampa Bay Times. p. 8C. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Carey Freeman (18 March 1994). "Kozic, Riess make Region III team". The Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Gregg Doyel (30 November 1996). "Kozic stays on toes after injury". The Tampa Tribune. p. 28. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Dave Brousseau (9 April 1999). "Torn by war - Fusion's Kozic grieves over conflict in homeland". South Florida Sun Sentinel. pp. 1C, 14C. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "@FIUMensSoccer Standouts Earn All-America Honors; Patino First-Team, Marie Third-Team". fiusports.com. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Men's soccer award winners" (PDF). ncaa.org. NCAA. 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "2007 FIU Men's Soccer Guide by Ivan Irizarry - Issuu". issuu.com. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "@FIUMensSoccer Travels to Marshall for Key C-USA Bout". fiusports.com. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Hosts Florida Atlantic on Wednesday". FIU Athletics. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Archiv Salzburger Nachrichten". www.sn.at. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ Kaufman, Michelle (2019). "Miami Fusion: Where are they now". Miami Herald.
- ^ "Coach's experiment brings win". South Florida Sun Sentinel. 21 May 1998. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Fusion picks up Thomas". Sun Sentinel. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Peace at home, start please Kozic". Sun Sentinel. 11 June 1999. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "Alen Kozić soccer Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Refik Kozić od Istre do Cosmosa". Regionalexpress.hr. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ Kottmann, Andreas (January 2004). "Fußball im Westen 2003" [Football in the West 2003] (PDF). Deutscher Sportclub für Fußballstatistiken (in German). p. 84. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "United's Etcheverry Is Off to Strong Start". The Washington Post. 19 April 2003. Retrieved 5 September 2023.