John Maessner (born June 2, 1969) is an American former professional soccer player who spent six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in France, two in USISL, two in the National Professional Soccer League and one in Germany.

John Maessner
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-06-02) June 2, 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward, midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1990 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 11 (0)
1991–1992 Harrisburg Heat (indoor) 7 (?)
1992 Miami Freedom 8 (0)
1992–1993 ES La Ciotat
1993–1994 FC Istres 1 (0)
1994–1995 Connecticut Wolves
1995 Buffalo Blizzard (indoor) 10 (1)
1995–1996 FC Saarbrücken
1996–1997 D.C. United 52 (3)
1998–1999 Miami Fusion 40 (0)
1999–2000 D.C. United 21 (4)
2000–2001 Tampa Bay Mutiny 48 (1)
Managerial career
2001 Virginia Cavaliers (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Youth

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Maessner was born in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was a 1987 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. In 1987, he entered the University of Virginia where he played on the men's soccer team until 1990. In 1989, the Cavaliers won the NCAA championship. He lost much of his senior season with a broken foot, but came back in time for the post-season tournaments. Although he turned professional in 1991, he continued to work on his degree, graduating in 1992. In 1991, he was a member of the U.S. soccer at the 1991 World University Games.

Professional

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On May 2, 1991, Maessner turned professional when he signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League. He played eleven games as the Strikers went to the playoff semifinals.[1] On September 22, 1991, the Harrisburg Heat selected Maessner in the National Professional Soccer League draft. He played only seven games for the Heat that season. In 1992, he moved south to the Miami Freedom before moving to France where he signed with fifth division ES La Ciotat. He then moved to FC Istres in the French Ligue 2.[2] He returned to the United States in 1994 where he signed with the Connecticut Wolves in the USISL.[3] In January 1995, he signed with the Buffalo Blizzard of the NPSL.[4][5] In 1995, he returned to the Wolves for a second season before moving to Germany to play for 1. FC Saarbrücken during the 1995–96 2. Bundesliga season. On May 13, 1996, D.C. United acquired Messner from FC Saarbrücken.[6] He played three seasons in D.C., winning the 1996 MLS Cup and 1997 MLS Cup. On November 9, 1997, the Miami Fusion selected Maessner in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft. July 19, 1999, Miami sent Maessner back to D.C. United in exchange for Brian Kamler and future considerations. The future considerations turned out to be Roy Lassiter.[6] On May 26, 2000, D.C. United traded Maessner, two first round picks in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft and a 2002 MLS SuperDraft second round pick to the Tampa Bay Mutiny in exchange for Raúl Díaz Arce.[6] He spent the remainder of the 2000 season as well as the 2001 season in Tampa Bay. He retired at the end of the 2001 season.

Coaching career

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After retiring, Maessner returned to the University of Virginia as an assistant soccer coach. In January 2007, D.C. United named Maessner as the club's Director of Youth Development for D.C. United. Maessner is no longer with D.C. United as the technical director.

Maessner named interim head women's soccer coach at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on July 25, 2012.[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ 1991 APSL
  2. ^ Istres 1993-1994
  3. ^ THEY'RE READY FOR THE SECOND STEP: WINNING - WOLVES PREVIEW The Hartford Courant - Thursday, April 14, 1994
  4. ^ MILES TO GO BEFORE THEY SLEEP BLIZZARD MUST PLOW AHEAD INTO BUSY SECOND HALF The Buffalo News - Sunday, January 22, 1995
  5. ^ NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1994-1995 Archived 2013-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b c D.C. United Transactions[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Former Pro Named as New Soccer Coach".
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