Jack Bell writes a nice little story about the career of Leo Krupnick: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/sports/soccer/12soccer.html?ref=sports
That's a pretty good wage, certainly more than MLS. It's not just the salary but the housing and car. When the team provides those, which MLS doesn't, you get to keep a lot more of that base pay. And, I'm pretty sure he's getting win and tie bonuses, too. It's one thing when MLS gets outbid for the Feilhabers and Zizzos and Nguyens and Davies, etc... those are our elite players so it should be no surprise they can make more elsewhere. But Krupnick was a late round draft pick and wasn't even a sure bet to make an MLS roster. And he's pulling in six figs. With that in mind, it's amazing MLS signs as many players as they do.
Agreed. MLS should raise they minimum to 100k and the devs to 45k. To keep this on topic. What division is the team Leo plays for? 1st Division. Didn't read carefully my first time through
Red Bulls just signed him . . no link yet, but keep an eye on http://www.soccerbyives.net/ http://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/2572106811
Leo, ya mensch, you have the NY-Israel migration backward! His current (or last, if you believe he's Red Bull bound) team in Israel, Maccabi Haifa, won the top flight championship so presumably they'd be in the Champions' League, though I assume they would be in a play-in round or two and wouldn't go straight to the group phase. Still, that's not something I'd want to pass up, even if it was just a couple of play-in games. That's something you tell the grandkids and the hotties at the club about.
Oh, and they'll also be raising your ticket prices $5-$10 per game to pay for this. I think $50k for full timers and $30k for Developmental players is more than adequate. This wouldn't cost nearly as much as your plans. Many people don't want to go overseas because they don't feel ready yet as a person and/or as a player.
So, the Red Bulls get their man... SEVEN years after they drafted him. Krupnik was drafted by the MetroStars in 02 but didn't make the team. Since then, he played PDL ball (Des Moines) then USL-2 (then the D-3 pro league) for Wilmington then USL-1 (then A-League) for Charleston before going to Israel. That's a rather circuitous journey for a draft pick to take before signing. BTW, since MLS and the PDL started, how many players have played PDL, both levels of the USL pro and then in MLS?
I randomly clicked on a Maccabi Haifa stream a few months back and got a chance to see Leo. Luckily the telecast was in a English because the subtitles and names on the kits were in Herbrew. Otherwise, I would of not known he was playing. He was good. His range and agility were on full display that day.i read later he was a gymnast, so it makes sense. I think they were playing the Mattheus managed Maccabi Netanya. I remember one play in particular he tackled the ball near the top of the 18 and the ball unfortunately dinged off another player ricocheting to corner of the 6 where on an rushing player was about to striker the ball and somehow Leo got there a knocking it out for corner. Great athletic play. Leo will be an upgrade for RBNY.
Wait, so a guy passed up UEFA Champions League possibilities to sign with one of the worst teams, historically, ever in MLS? I'm all for YA's returning home, but dang.
Here's the answer as to why Leo wanted to move back to the States: http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/soccer/archives/2009/07/chatting_wleo_k.html
He's back in Israel with Maccabi Netanya. http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=21353
Leo Krupnik is going to get more competition for a spot in the defense. Argentine defender, Andrés Imperiale, is joining Maccabi Netanya on trial. He comes to the club from a recommendation by Bolivian goalkeeper, Carlos Erwin Arias. Krupnik was on the bench for the last Toto Cup match but then again, the manager Reuven Atar was the one who signed Krupnik based on his performances at the 2005 Maccabiah Games.
Maccabi Netanya defeated Maccabi Haifa yesterday 1-0 and moved into second place in the Israeli Premier League. Krupnik is a regular starter but was suspended for the game due to yellow cards. The second and third place teams in Israel move to the Europa League Very good season in Israel for Americans