Sacha Kljestan Signs Contract With Major League Soccer

Sacha Kljestan

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Seton Hall junior midfielder Sacha Kljestan (Huntington Beach, Calif.) became one of 11 soccer players in the United States to sign a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer and adidas it has been announced. By signing a professional contract and forfeiting his final year of eligibility, Kljestan leaves as one of the most decorated men’s soccer players in SHU history and is now eligible for selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft to be held in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, Jan. 20.

Kljestan earned NSCAA/adidas Third Team All-America honors in 2005 after leading the Pirates to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year after tallying 33 points on nine goals and a school-record 15 assists. Kljestan broke the single-season assist mark with a pair in SHU’s 2-1 win over Hartwick in the 2005 NCAA First Round. Kljestan leaves school with 20 goals and 28 assists (fifth all-time at SHU) in three seasons that included three NCAA bids for the Pirates and an appearance in the BIG EAST Championship Final in 2004. He is a two-time All-American, earning first team honors as a sophomore in 2004, and a three-time All-BIG EAST performer. Kljestan was also a member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team that participated at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland last summer and has made 22 appearances with the team after being called into the national team camp in 2004.

Kljestan one of nine collegiate players and two youth national team players to sign Generation adidas contracts this year. The Generation adidas program was established prior to the 2005 season and is MLS’ youth player development program designed to identify and nurture youth soccer talent in the U.S. As part of the Generation adidas contract, players not only train and play with an MLS team, but they also receive educational grants to further their college education.

Kljestan will take part in the 2006 adidas MLS Combine at the Home Depot Center from January 12-15. The MLS SuperDraft will be held in conjunction with the annual NSCAA Convention.

2006 Generation adidas class:
Josmer Altidore (U.S. U-17), Patrick Ianni (UCLA), Kei Kamara (Cal State Dominuez Hills), Sacha Kljestan (Seton Hall), Dax McCarty (North Carolina), Jacob Peterson (Indiana), Willie Sims (Cal State Northridge), Nathan Sturgis (Clemson), Blake Wagner (U.S. U-17), Marvell Wynne (UCLA), Jed Zayner (Indiana).

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