Daniel Arthur Quimby Cruz (born January 3, 1990) is an American soccer coach and former player who is currently the head coach of USL Championship club Louisville City FC.

Danny Cruz
Cruz playing for Houston Dynamo in 2010
Personal information
Full name Daniel Arthur Quimby Cruz[1]
Date of birth (1990-01-03) January 3, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Petersburg, Virginia, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Winger[2][3]
Team information
Current team
Louisville City (head coach)
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 UNLV Rebels 31 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Des Moines Menace 7 (3)
2009–2011 Houston Dynamo 51 (4)
2012 D.C. United 16 (1)
2012–2015 Philadelphia Union 70 (7)
2015Bodø/Glimt (loan) 15 (2)
2016 Minnesota United 24 (0)
2017 San Francisco Deltas 14 (1)
2017 Real Monarchs 8 (0)
Total 205 (18)
International career
2007 United States U17 3 (0)
2008–2009 United States U20 16 (2)
Managerial career
2018 Real Monarchs (assistant)
2018–2021 Louisville City (assistant)
2020–2021 Louisville City (technical director)
2021 Louisville City (interim)
2021– Louisville City
Medal record
Representing  United States
Runner-up CONCACAF U-20 Championship 2009
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Youth and College edit

Cruz was born in Petersburg, Virginia. He attended junior high in Rohnert Park, California, and then moved to Glendale, Arizona, where he attended Ironwood High School, where he led his team to a 2006 State Championship. He played two years of college soccer at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He was the first UNLV player to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year honors in his freshman year in 2007 and was named to the all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team after scoring five goals in 2008.

During his college years he also played with Des Moines Menace in the USL Premier Development League.

Professional edit

Cruz was drafted in the third round (41st overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Houston Dynamo. He made his professional debut on March 28, 2009, coming on as a substitute in Houston's game against the San Jose Earthquakes.[4] He scored his first goal for the Dynamo against DC United, he also had an assist in that game. In the 2011 season, Cruz was a big part of the Houston Dynamo team and scored a stunning goal at the end of the season against the Portland Timbers[5] to help Houston get into the playoffs. He started in all four playoff games, including Houston's 1–0 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS Cup 2011.

In January 2012, Cruz was traded from Houston to D.C. United in exchange for allocation money.[6]

On August 16, 2012, Cruz was traded to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for Lionard Pajoy and an international roster spot.[7]

On March 19, 2015, Cruz signed a loan deal with FK Bodø/Glimt.[3] He made his debut against Haugesund on April 30, 2015, in which Bodø/Glimt lost 1–2.

On February 15, 2017, Cruz signed with the San Francisco Deltas for their inaugural season in the NASL.[8]

In August 2017, he joined Real Monarchs.[2]

International edit

Cruz represented the United States at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea, the Pan American Games in Brazil in 2007, appeared in seven international games for the United States U-20 national team in 2008, and played in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009.

Coaching career edit

Real Monarchs edit

In February 2018, Cruz was announced as promoted to assistant coach of the Monarchs for the 2018 season, under Mark Briggs.[9]

Louisville City FC edit

On April 27, 2021, after spending time as an assistant coach and technical director at Louisville City FC, Cruz was appointed as interim head coach of the club.[10] On October 11, Cruz was officially announced to have signed a multi-year agreement as the permanent head coach for Louisville.[11]

Personal life edit

Cruz made an appearance on MTV's show Made, helping Michael Schwenke turn from "theater geek" into a soccer player on February 7, 2011.[12]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of July 12, 2015
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
United States League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
2009 Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer 6 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2010 25 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 27 2
2011 20 2 1 0 4 0 0 0 25 2
2012 D.C. United 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 1
Philadelphia Union 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1
2013 32 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 33 3
2014 26 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 31 3
Total United States 137 12 12 0 4 0 0 0 153 12
Norway League Cup League Cup Champions League Total
2015 Bodø/Glimt Tippeligaen 15 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 2
Total Norway 15 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 2
Career total 152 14 13 0 4 0 0 0 169 14

References edit

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: United States" (PDF). FIFA. October 6, 2009. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Danny Cruz Transfers To Real Monarchs". NASL. August 14, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Philadelphia Union send winger Danny Cruz on season-long loan to Norwegian side FK Bodo/Glimt". MLSsoccer.com. March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Major League Soccer: Match Tracker: Main". Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "Sergio Almiron's curler or Danny Cruz's screamer? - Vote for your goal of the week - Goal.com". October 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "Danny Cruz acquired from Houston | D.C. United". Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  7. ^ "Philadelphia Union trade Lionard Pajoy to D.C. United".
  8. ^ "Danny Cruz, Saalih Muhammad join the Deltas". Medium.com. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  9. ^ "Real Monarchs SLC name Danny Cruz Assistant Coach". Real Salt Lake. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "CRUZ ASSUMES INTERIM HEAD COACHING POSITION WITH LOUCITY". Louisville City FC. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "LouCity Removes Interim Tag, Taps Cruz as Permanent Head Coach". loucity.com. October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Cruz, Chabala make reality show debuts". February 7, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2011.

External links edit