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San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose Earthquakes Sign Defender Troy Dayak to New Contract

February 1, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE (Tuesday, February 1, 2005) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed defender Troy Dayak to a new contract. The seven-year Major League Soccer veteran will be eligible to participate in the club's first training session on Tuesday. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

"I am really looking forward to this season," said Dayak. "We have some new faces and I am anxious to get out on the field and try and help this team return to the top of the league. Health-wise, I am feeling great, so I am ready for a strong season."

Dayak, 34, has played seven seasons for the San Jose team, beginning his career in 1996 with the Clash. He is currently third all-time in club history in games played (122), games started (115) and minutes played (10,279), after playing in 16 games in 2004. He has scored eight goals and notched seven assists in his career during the regular season.

Dayak played in 57 games in his first stint with San Jose from 1996-1998 before a serious neck injury forced him out of the league. After spending two seasons with the Bay Area Seals of the A-League (now USL First Division) from 1999-2000 and overcoming a torn posterior cruciate ligament and a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, Dayak returned to San Jose at the start of 2001.

In 2001, Dayak earned MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors after a magical season, in which he played in 25 of 26 games, while scoring two goals and helping anchor the stingiest defense in team history (29 goals allowed). In the playoffs, he also scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Miami Fusion to send San Jose to its first-ever MLS Cup Final.

"We know Troy very well," said Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear. "He has been a strong player for this club and he has championship experience, so we are looking forward to a good season from him this year."

One of the most accomplished players ever to come out of the Bay Area, he began his professional career at the age of 18 with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks of the APSL in 1989. He was the youngest player ever to sign with the APSL, and helped the Blackhawks win the 1991 APSL Championship.

His strong play earned him a call-up to the U.S. National Team in 1990, and over the next two years, he made 11 appearances for the U.S. He also appeared in the U17 and U20 World Championships and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

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