Sacha Kljestan Signs with New York Red Bulls
1/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Seton Hall University men' soccer Hall of Fame midfielder Sacha Kljestan has agreed to terms with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer it was announced Wednesday by the club. His rights were acquired from the Belgian club Anderlecht of the Jupiler league, where he spent the last five seasons, helping guide Anderlecht to three league championships
The move is a homecoming of sorts for Kljestan, who starred collegiately for three years at Seton Hall, whose campus is located fewer than 10 miles from Red Bull Arena in nearby Harrison. At Seton Hall, Kljestan was a two-time All-American, leading the Pirates to three-straight NCAA Tournament berths and runner-up finish in the 2004 BIG EAST Championship.
During his 2005 season at Seton Hall, Kljestan set a single-season record with 15 assists, and was named First-Team All-BIG EAST, a semifinalist of the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy and an NSCAA/Adidas Third-Team All-American. That year, the Pirates qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth year in a row, and the third with Kljestan manning the midfield, advancing to the second round. He was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in June 2012.
Kljestan's was drafted sixth overall by Chivas USA in the 2006 MLS Super Draft and he was runner-up for MLS Rookie of the Year in 2006 after appearing in 32 matches and recording seven assists. He played for Chivas USA until 2010, when he transferred to Anderlecht, where he signed a four-year contract at the end of the 2010 season.
In addition to helping lead Anderlecht to three-straight league titles, Kljestan also competed in the UEFA Champions League and the EUROPA League.
Kljestan's career has included numerous international appearances for the U.S. Men's National Team. He represented the United States in the 2008 Summer OIympics in Beijing and was also a member of the 2009 Confederations Cup team that advanced to the final, the best finish for a US squad in FIFA competition in its history. Overall, Kljestan has earned 46 caps for the USMNT.
In 2003, he was a member of the preliminary 30-man squad for the 2010 World Cup, and was also in the running for a roster spot for the 2014 World Cup.
