Andrei Sergeevich Gotsmanov (born 6 May 1986) is a Belarusian footballer.

Andrei Gotsmanov
Personal information
Full name Andrei Sergeevich Gotsmanov
Date of birth (1986-05-06) 6 May 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Minsk, Soviet Union
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Creighton Bluejays
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 402 FC
2009 Minnesota Thunder 1 (0)
2010–2011 NSC Minnesota Stars 44 (3)
2015–2016 Minnesota United FC 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 12, 2016

Career

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College

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Gotsmanov grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota and played college soccer at Creighton University, with whom he earned the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Award and was named MVC Tournament MVP.[1] Moreover, Gotsmanov was also awarded a first-team selection on the 2008 NSCAA/adidas Men's Division I All-America Team, as well as a Hermann Trophy semi-finalist.[2]

Professional

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Gotsmanov was drafted in the second round (24th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by New England Revolution,[3] but opted to finish college before turning pro.

After graduating Gotsmanov attempted to re-join Revolution, but was unsuccessful as the Revolution would have had to drop a player from their squad in order to sign him.[1] As a result, Gotsmanov went on trial with Sweden's Mjällby AIF. Despite scoring twice in a friendly for Mjällby, he was not offered a contract.

Upon his return from Sweden, Gotsmanov played with the Nebraska-based amateur team 402 FC which qualified for the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; he scored in the team's 3-2 first round loss to the Minnesota Thunder,[4] but impressed the Thunder's coaches with his performance. He signed with the Thunder in July 2009, and made his debut for them on 11 July 2009, in a 3–0 win over Montreal Impact.[5] On 17 February 2010 signed with new founded NSC Minnesota Stars of the USSF Division 2.[6] He re-signed with the club, now playing in the North American Soccer League, on 22 March 2011.[7]

Gotsmanov was re-signed by Minnesota United FC (which was re-branded from the NSC Minnesota Stars following the teams purchase prior to the 2013 season by Bill Mcguire) on 13 August 2015.[8] Gotsmanoav was released on April 12, 2016.[9]

Personal

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Andrei is the son of former professional footballer Sergey Gotsmanov, a four-time Belarusian Footballer of the Year who played for the Soviet Union at the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship. He was born in Minsk, then part of the Soviet Union, but came to the United States with his family in 1996 when his father signed to play for Minnesota Thunder. He also has an older brother, Sasha, who played for the Colorado Rapids and the former professional club Minnesota Thunder.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Andrei Gotsmanov to Sign With Minnesota Thunder". 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  2. ^ "MLS Combine Special: Andrei Gotsmanov". Goal.com. 7 January 2009.
  3. ^ Creighton’s Andrei Gotsmanov Taken in the Second Round of 2009 MLS SuperDraft[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "U.S. Open Cup 2020 | U.S. Soccer Official Website". Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  5. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  6. ^ NSC Minnesota Stars pro soccer team signs Andrei Gotsmanov Archived December 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "NSC Minnesota Stars Announce Four New Signings, Three Re-Signings". 22 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Welcome to the Club Andrei Gotsmanov!". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Loons Release Gotsmanov". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
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