Earthquakes Sign Forward Matt Luzunaris

March 25, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that they have signed former SK Rapid Wien forward Matt Luzunaris. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Luzunaris joined the Quakes during preseason and was a member of the travel squad for the Quakes trip to England. He scored the winning goal in the Quakes Reserve Division win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 22 at the Nutrilite Training Facility.

Luzunaris has been well-traveled during his short professional career. Most recently he played with Austrian side SK Rapid Wien where he signed in 2009. Before his stay in Vienna, he was a member of SC Magna Wiener Neustadt, another Austrian club. During his time with SC Magna Wiener Neustadt, Luzunaris also had a six-month loan to Brazilian giants Botafogo where he trained with the first team. Due to visa issues, Luzunaris was not allowed to play in a match for Botafogo, sparking his return to SC Magna Wiener Neustadt. Luzunaris also spent time training with Newcastle United in England.

Before leaving for Europe, Luzunaris spent one year at the University of Central Florida where he was a teammate of Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson. The athletic forward scored four goals on the season and was called into a United States U-20 National Team camp. After his freshman season, he signed with Schwanenstadt in Austria, who eventually changed their name to SC Magna Wiener Neustadt.

The 22-year-old striker was a two-sport athlete at West Boca Raton High School. He was a member of the Schulz Academy along with current U.S. National Team mainstay Jozy Altidore.

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