Defender Gordon Kljestan Signs with Red Bulls
June 26, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Newark, N.J. (Thursday, June 26, 2008) - Red Bull New York has announced that they have signed New Jersey Ironmen defender Gordon Kljestan to a developmental contract. Kljestan, the only Ironmen player to dress for all 32 games last season, will play as a midfielder for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club.
"Gordon has impressed us since joining our team on trial a few weeks ago," said Red Bull Sporting Director Jeff Agoos. "We think that he can make a contribution to our squad and we're excited to have him on board."
Kljestan, who earned his Sports Management degree from Seton Hall University, was originally drafted tenth overall in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. He logged 513 minutes and started six games with the Galaxy Reserve Team. His brother, Sacha, is a starter for Chivas USA and plays with the U.S. National Team.
With the Ironmen this past season, Kljestan registered nine points on seven assists and a two-point goal. He also tallied 19 blocks while playing all 30 games. In the two-game playoff series against the eventual champion Baltimore Blast, he recorded a two-point score and had a pair of blocks.
Ironmen Head Coach Omid Namazi feels the intricacies of the indoor game will be very beneficial in Kljestan's return to the outdoor game.
"He made great developments to his game as last season progressed, and the physical nature of the indoor game will make him more suited for a very physical league like the MLS," Namazi commented. "Indoor soccer teaches you to play in tight situations, and you have to learn to defend properly and at all times. When you put together all of those areas he developed playing indoor soccer, he will have a more successful outdoor career with the Red Bulls."
Kljestan, a California native of Serbian descent, played with his brother at Huntington Beach High School and was selected to the All-Sunset League First Team, All-Orange County First Team and All-California Interscholastic Federation Second Team as a senior. After high school graduation, he decided to play college soccer at nearby Cal State-Fullerton. He red shirted in 2002 before starting 19 games for the Titans the next year. Following that season, Gordon took a trip to the east coast to visit Seton Hall where Sacha had just been named the Freshman Male Athlete of the Year.
"I went to visit Seton Hall, and I fell in love with the place," Gordon recollected. "It was an easy decision to play for a world-renown coach in Manfred Schnellscheidt, and I also knew it would be a great place to get a degree."
With Sacha controlling the midfield and Gordon patrolling the defensive backfield, the duo led the Pirates to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances including a second round game in 2005. Following that season, Gordon received All-Big East accolades, and Sacha received his second consecutive All-America selection. The brothers also played together in the USL Premier Development League during the summer with the Ocean County Blue Star. Gordon again earned All-Big East honors following his senior season in 2006.
The New Jersey Ironmen are currently underway in their inaugural summer camp programming. Camps are conducted by the Ironmen coaching staff and players, offering participants the rare experience of learning directly from the pros. All players also receive a t-shirt and a ticket to the 2008-09 New Jersey Ironmen home opener at Prudential Center this fall. For more information regarding camps, contact Assistant Coach Kevin Sloan at 973-757-6323 or ksloan@njironmen.com
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from June 26, 2008
- Defender Gordon Kljestan Signs with Red Bulls - New Jersey Ironmen
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