Laurent Manuel
Encyclopedia
Laurent Manuel is an American
soccer player.
, before playing four years of college soccer
at Brown University
.
i club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, the trial was positive and he was asked to return later that year.
Manuel was then selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
by New York Red Bulls, but did not sign with the club, instead opting to rejoin Hapoel Tel Aviv to try to re-start his professional career abroard. He was initially offered a contract by Hapoel Tel Aviv, but he couldn't stay due to paperwork problems. He later returned to the United States where he was called in by D.C. United
, and played several reserve games against Chicago Fire, New England Revolution
and Columbus Crew
,.
Manuel trained with Maccabi Tel Aviv in July 2008, after rejecting an offer from Maccabi Herzliya; Maccabi were eager to find another player who could play at right or left back to due the failed transfer of Sjaak Polak
. After leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv. Manuel went on trial at Portsmouth
in England
under Harry Redknapp
.
Manuel spent the 2009 summer season with the Long Island Rough Riders
in the USL Premier Development League
, but left before the season ended to return to train with Portsmouth
under Paul Hart
. On September 1, 2009, he signed with Belgian
side K.V. Oostende
Manuel made his league debut with Oostende on September 11, 2009 in a match against K.S.K. Beveren
, and went on to play three first team games with the team.
After leaving Oostende, Manuel went on trial with Croatia
n club RNK Split
, and was initially offered a contract, but it fell through when there was complications concerning the president of the club. After further trials in Europe with Swedish
club AIK
, Manuel returned to the United States in 2010, and re-joined the Long Island Rough Riders
for the 2010 PDL campaign.
Manuel has recently just signed for Sevilla FC Puerto Rico to partake in the Supercopa Direct TV 2010. He captained the team and lead them to qualify for the 2011 CFU Club Championship
. The SuperCopa is this year’s qualifying tournament for the Puerto Rico spots at the 2011 CFU Club Championship
Club championship for Caribbean, which in turn is the qualifying tournament for the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League
(CCL). In 2008 Sevilla FC Puerto Rico were affiliated with Sevilla FC
of La Liga
, one of the leading clubs of Spain.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player.
Youth and College
Manuel was a member of the youth academy at famed French club Olympique de MarseilleOlympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, before playing four years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.
Professional
In December 2007, Manuel trialed with IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, the trial was positive and he was asked to return later that year.
Manuel was then selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft was held on January 24, 2008, following the SuperDraft , as teams fill out their developmental rosters.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:...
by New York Red Bulls, but did not sign with the club, instead opting to rejoin Hapoel Tel Aviv to try to re-start his professional career abroard. He was initially offered a contract by Hapoel Tel Aviv, but he couldn't stay due to paperwork problems. He later returned to the United States where he was called in by D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, and played several reserve games against Chicago Fire, New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
,.
Manuel trained with Maccabi Tel Aviv in July 2008, after rejecting an offer from Maccabi Herzliya; Maccabi were eager to find another player who could play at right or left back to due the failed transfer of Sjaak Polak
Sjaak Polak
Sjaak Polak is a Dutch footballer who is currently a free agent after being released by BV Veendam.- Club career :...
. After leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv. Manuel went on trial at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
under Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
.
Manuel spent the 2009 summer season with the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, but left before the season ended to return to train with Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
under Paul Hart
Paul Hart
Paul Hart is an English football manager and former football defender, who is currently Academy Director at Charlton Athletic. The son of Johnny Hart, a football inside forward and manager, Hart had five-year spells with both Blackpool and Leeds United, while also playing for Nottingham Forest and...
. On September 1, 2009, he signed with Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
side K.V. Oostende
K.V. Oostende
K.V. Oostende is a Belgian association football club, from the municipality of Ostend, West Flanders. It was created in 1904 as V.G. Oostende and it has the matricule n°31.- History :...
Manuel made his league debut with Oostende on September 11, 2009 in a match against K.S.K. Beveren
K.S.K. Beveren
Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren was a Belgian association football club from the town of Beveren in East Flanders. It was famous for its goalkeeping school that has produced such players as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Filip De Wilde, Geert De Vlieger, Erwin Lemmens, and Tristan Peersman, all of whom have...
, and went on to play three first team games with the team.
After leaving Oostende, Manuel went on trial with Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n club RNK Split
RNK Split
RNK Split is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split.-History:Radnički nogometni klub means "Workers' football club".The club was known as workers' club. The club had a strong fanbase in the Split's shipyard...
, and was initially offered a contract, but it fell through when there was complications concerning the president of the club. After further trials in Europe with Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
club AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
, Manuel returned to the United States in 2010, and re-joined the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...
for the 2010 PDL campaign.
Manuel has recently just signed for Sevilla FC Puerto Rico to partake in the Supercopa Direct TV 2010. He captained the team and lead them to qualify for the 2011 CFU Club Championship
CFU Club Championship
The CFU Club Championship or CFU Club Champions' Cup is the annual international football competition held amongst association football clubs from the Caribbean Islands for clubs that are members of the Caribbean Football Union...
. The SuperCopa is this year’s qualifying tournament for the Puerto Rico spots at the 2011 CFU Club Championship
CFU Club Championship
The CFU Club Championship or CFU Club Champions' Cup is the annual international football competition held amongst association football clubs from the Caribbean Islands for clubs that are members of the Caribbean Football Union...
Club championship for Caribbean, which in turn is the qualifying tournament for the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
(CCL). In 2008 Sevilla FC Puerto Rico were affiliated with Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
of La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, one of the leading clubs of Spain.