Jake Rozhansky

Jake Michael Rozhansky (Hebrew: ג'ייק מייקל רוזנסקי‎,[2] born July 4, 1996) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Israeli club Maccabi Herzliya. During his career, he has previously appeared for D.C. United U-23, Maccabi Netanya, Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem, and Hapoel Afula.

Jake Rozhansky
Rozhansky with Netanya in 2018
Personal information
Full name Jake Michael Rozhansky[1]
Date of birth (1996-07-04) July 4, 1996
Place of birth Germantown, Maryland, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Maccabi Herzliya
Number 12
Youth career
2006–2013 Olney Rangers
2013–2014 Bethesda Olney
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Virginia Cavaliers 37 (5)
2016–2017 Maryland Terrapins 40 (7)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 D.C. United U-23 6 (3)
2018–2019 Maccabi Netanya 13 (0)
2018–2019 → Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem (loan) 28 (1)
2019–2020 Hapoel Afula 29 (1)
2020– Maccabi Herzliya 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 4, 2020

Born in Germantown, Maryland, Rozhansky attended Montgomery Blair High School and played youth soccer with the Olney Rangers and Bethesda Olney clubs. He played his first two collegiate seasons at Virginia, winning a national title with the Cavaliers as a freshman, before transferring and spending his final two seasons at Maryland. While in college, Rozhansky appeared with D.C. United U-23 and represented the United States at the 2017 Maccabiah Games. He was drafted by Columbus Crew SC in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, but instead chose to go overseas and sign in Israel with Maccabi Netanya. After two seasons with Netanya and a loan spell at Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem, Rozhansky joined Hapoel Afula in 2019.

A native-born American citizen, Rozhansky claimed Israeli citizenship as an adult through the Law of Return.[3]

Early life

Rozhansky was born on July 4, 1996 in Germantown, Maryland.[1] He attended Montgomery Blair High School, but played just one year of high school soccer for the Blazers, instead spending his youth at the club level with Olney Rangers and Bethesda Olney.[4] He won the Golden Ball at the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships during his final year with Olney Rangers.[5] With Bethesda Olney, Rozhansky was part of the club's first team to take part in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA), where they qualified for the national final.[6] Among his teammates at Bethesda Olney were Jeremy Ebobisse, Chase Gasper, Carter Manley, and Gedion Zelalem.[7][8]

While still in high school, Rozhansky was called up to multiple youth national team camps. In July 2012, he took part in a training camp for the United States U17 national team.[9] Two years later, he was called up by the under-20s for a training camp in Raleigh, North Carolina.[10] Rozhansky appeared in three exhibition matches during this camp, but never officially earned a cap at either level for the United States.[11] He was the subject of interest from English club Arsenal in 2012, but ultimately was not pursued by the Premier League side.[12] Rozhansky committed to play college soccer at the University of Virginia.[13] He was part of a recruiting class that also included Jeff Caldwell and Peter Pearson.[14]

College and amateur

Rozhansky made his Virginia debut on August 29, 2014, playing the entirety of a 1–0 victory over 25th-ranked Old Dominion.[15] He started all but two matches during his freshman season, helping the Cavaliers become national champions after defeating UCLA on penalties in the College Cup.[16] In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Rozhansky tallied his first collegiate goal to help Virginia advance past UNC Wilmington.[17] He finished the season with one goal and four assists in 23 appearances and was named to both the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Team and the College Cup All-Tournament Team.[5]

Ahead of his sophomore year, Rozhansky was called up by the United States U23 national team, taking part in a college identification camp in the lead-up to the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.[18] In the collegiate season, he led the Cavaliers in scoring, tallying four goals in 14 appearances, although he did miss four matches due to injury.[5] That goal-scoring mark included strikes in three straight games in September and a goal against Rider in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.[19] Rozhansky was named to the All-ACC Second Team at the end of the season.[20] He initially left school to trial with clubs in Europe, including a stint at SC Freiburg in Germany, but instead returned to college and decided to transfer.[21][22] He finished his time at Virginia with five goals and four assists in 37 appearances.[5]

"He works extremely hard. He’s able to get in and be creative in the other team’s final third. He’s also willing to do the work and keep possession for us in the middle third of the field. He’s a proud player who’s starting to get into his groove."

—Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski, speaking about Rozhansky in September 2016.[23]

After also considering Georgetown and UCLA, Rozhansky transferred to Maryland ahead of his junior season.[23][24] He made his debut for the Terrapins in the 2016 season opener against UCLA, a match that ended in a 1–1 draw.[25] He tallied his first Maryland goal on September 13, providing the match-winner in a double-overtime victory over Rutgers, then scored twice more before the end of the month.[1][26] Rozhansky finished the season with three goals and eight assists in 21 appearances.[1] He was named as a team captain ahead of his senior season, alongside George Campbell and Chase Gasper.[1] In the 2018 season opener, Rozhansky tallied his first career multi-goal game, helping the Terrapins defeat Santa Clara by a 4–2 scoreline.[27] He added a goal in September and one more in the first week of October, finishing the year with four goals and a team-high nine assists in 19 appearances.[1] At the end of the year, Rozhansky was named to the All-Big Ten Conference First Team.[28] He finished his Maryland career with seven goals and 17 assists from 40 appearances.[1]

D.C. United U-23

Following his freshman season at Virginia, Rozhansky appeared for D.C. United U-23 in the Premier Development League (PDL).[29] He appeared in six matches and scored three goals for the club, including a brace against Baltimore Bohemians in June.[30][31] During the summer of 2017, Rozhansky was also with the team, but the U-23s were not part of a league and only played exhibition matches.[32]

Maccabiah Games

Ahead of his senior year of college, Rozhansky was selected to the United States squad to take part in the 2017 Maccabiah Games; the team also included Sam Raben.[33] He appeared in all six matches the Americans played in the tournament, finishing as the Golden Boot winner with six goals.[34] In the championship match against Great Britain, Rozhansky scored a hat trick to carry the United States to a 3–0 victory.[35] He later credited the tournament with opening the door for him to sign professionally in Israel, saying “If I hadn't gone to the Maccabiah Games I would not have decided to come play professionally in Israel. The Games provided me a way to further my professional career.”[36]

Club career

Rozhansky was selected to take part in the 2018 MLS Combine, but dropped out and instead chose to sign overseas.[37] Although he had already signed a contract in Israel, Rozhansky was still selected 44th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew SC, who retained his Major League Soccer rights for two seasons.[38][39]

Maccabi Netanya

After impressing during an initial trial, Rozhansky signed his first professional contract with newly-promoted Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Netanya on January 11, 2018.[37][40] Since he is Jewish, Rozhansky was able to claim Israeli citizenship and was classified as a domestic player.[3] He made his debut for Netanya on January 29, replacing Aviv Avraham in the 84th minute of a 2–1 victory against Beitar Jerusalem.[41] He earned his first start for the club two weeks later, getting the nod for an away fixture against Hapoel Haifa and playing 45 minutes in a 2–0 defeat.[42] Rozhansky made 13 appearances for the Diamonds after signing, helping the club to a fifth-place league finish.[43] His initial six-month contract expired in June, but on May 13 the club extended Rozhansky's contract for two more seasons.[44][45]

2018–19: Loan to Hapoel Katamon

Rozhansky began the 2018–19 season in the squad at Netanya, appearing in all five of the club's matches in the Toto Cup Al.[2] In order to gain playing time, however, he was sent on loan on September 11, joining Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem in the Liga Leumit.[46] Rozhansky made his debut in the second tier the next day, coming off the bench in a 1–0 victory against Hapoel Petah Tikva.[47] His first start for Katamon came on September 25 in the final of the Toto Cup Leumit, a 1–0 victory against Hapoel Marmorek that saw the club win their first-ever cup title.[48] Rozhansky continued to be a regular presence in the club's lineup throughout the season, although he primarily appeared as a substitute: 17 of his 28 league appearances on the year came off the bench.[43] He tallied his first goal for the club, and his first professional goal, on April 15, providing the winning margin in a 2–1 victory over Hapoel Nazareth Illit.[49] Rozhansky scored one goal in 31 appearances in all competitions for Hapoel Katamon, to go with his five appearances on the year for Maccabi Netanya.[2] At the end of the season, however, he was informed by Netanya manager Slobodan Drapić that he was no longer in the club's plans and with one year left on his contract should look for a new club.[50]

Hapoel Afula

After ending his contract with Netanya, Rozhansky joined Liga Leumit club Hapoel Afula on June 21, 2019. He signed for one year with an option for a second season.[51] Just weeks before the season began, it was revealed that Rozhansky was one of seven players who could not be registered as the club did not have the money to pay their salaries.[52] It was rumored that he may have to be released for the club to become financially compliant, but Rozhansky was eventually registered as a Hapoel Afula player.[53] He missed the Toto Cup Leumit due to the confusion, eventually making his debut for Afula on September 23 in a league defeat against Hapoel Ashkelon.[54] He scored his lone goal for the club on December 9, tallying the only score of a 1–0 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan.[55] Rozhansky departed the club at the end of the season after tallying one goal from 30 appearances, helping Afula stay in Liga Leumit through the relegation playoffs.[43][56]

Maccabi Herzliya

On September 3, 2020, Rozhansky dropped down a division to sign with Liga Alef club Maccabi Herzliya.[57]

Personal life

Rozhansky is the oldest of two children to his parents, Roman Rozhansky and Irina Matthews.[1] Both of his parents were born in the Soviet Union, with his father from what is now Belarus and his mother from present-day Ukraine.[58] Although he does not hold a passport from either of those countries, Rozhansky claimed Israeli citizenship as an adult through the Law of Return.[3]

Rozhansky majored in government and politics while in college.[1] After transferring to Maryland, he lived in the same dormitory as Sebastian Elney and Diego Silva.[23]

Career statistics
As of January 4, 2020[2][43]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
D.C. United U-23 2015[30] PDL 63————63
Maccabi Netanya 2017–18 Israeli Premier League 1300000——130
2018–19 Israeli Premier League 000050——50
Total 13000500000180
Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem (loan) 2018–19 Liga Leumit 2812010——311
Hapoel Afula 2019–20 Liga Leumit 2911000—00301
Maccabi Herzliya 2020–21 Liga Alef 4010———50
Career total 80540600000905
  1. All appearances in the Israel State Cup
  2. All appearances in the Toto Cup

Honors

Virginia

Maryland[59]

Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem

Individual

References
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  2. Jake Rozhansky – Israel Football Association league player details
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  4. Goff, Steven (January 26, 2018). "A decade ago this youth soccer club rarely won. Now it has produced seven pros in recent years". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  5. "Jake Rozhansky – Virginia profile". Virginia Cavaliers. University of Virginia. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  6. "Forty-four Development Academy alumni selected in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft". U.S. Soccer Development Academy. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  7. Goff, Steven (August 25, 2016). "NCAA soccer preview: Terps welcome two major transfers". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  8. "After long USSDA season, Bethesda-Olney U-18s look back with pride". Soccer Wire. July 23, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
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    Elder, Robert (August 31, 2014). "No. 3 Men's soccer wins season-opener in extra time". The Cavalier Daily. The Cavalier Daily, Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
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  19. Hochberger, Jacob (November 19, 2015). "Virginia tops Rider in NCAA opener, 2–0". The Cavalier Daily. The Cavalier Daily, Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
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  21. @SoccerInsider (May 5, 2015). "Buzz on Euro trials/workouts: Duke's Jeremy Ebobisse to Genk (Belgium) now, Virginia's Jake Rozhansky to Freiburg (Germany) in summer" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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  28. Crabtree-Hannigan, James (November 3, 2017). "Maryland men's soccer midfielder Eryk Williamson named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year". The Diamondback. Maryland Media, Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
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  40. Rahmani, Maor (December 27, 2017). ג'ייק רוזנסקי יגיע למבחנים במכבי נתניה [Jake Rosansky will take the tests in Maccabi Netanya]. ONE (in Hebrew). Citint Ltd. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  41. "Maccabi Netanya 2–1 Beitar Jerusalem". Soccerway. DAZN Group. January 29, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
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    Sinai, Allon (February 19, 2018). "Hapoel Haifa remains in the hunt with victory over Netanya". The Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post Group. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  43. Jake Rozhansky at Soccerway. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  44. Erickson, Andrew (May 21, 2018). "Crew Cuts: Crew SC, Abubakar build momentum on set pieces". The Columbus Dispatch. GateHouse Media. Retrieved July 5, 2018. Rozhansky's contract in Israel was for six months and Maccabi Netanya's season is nearly complete. Five months later, the situation still doesn't appear to have much clarity.
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  46. מאור רחמני (September 11, 2018). בצ'יראי נחת, רוזנסקי הושאל להפועל קטמון [In Chirai landed, Rozanski was loaned to Hapoel Katamon]. ONE (in Hebrew). Citint Ltd. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  47. "Hapoel Petah Tikva 0–1 Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem". Israel Football Association. September 12, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
    לאומית: הפועל קטמון נותרה מושלמת אחרי 0:1 על הפועל פתח תקוה [National: Hapoel Katamon remains perfect after 0:1 over Hapoel Petah Tikva]. Walla! (in Hebrew). Bezeq. September 12, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  48. עשו היסטוריה: קטמון מחזיקת גביע הטוטו בלאומית [Make history: Katamon holds the Toto National Cup]. Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). September 25, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  49. דקה אחר דקה [Minute by minute]. Sports Channel (in Hebrew). April 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  50. מאור רחמני (May 29, 2019). אזולאי וזבידאת הוחתמו, ג'ייק רוזנסקי יעזוב [Azoulay and Zabidat have been signed, Jake Rozhansky will leave]. ONE (in Hebrew). Citint Ltd. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  51. לאומית: הפועל עפולה החתימה את ג'ייק רוזנסקי [National: Hapoel Afula signed Jake Rozanski]. Walla! (in Hebrew). Bezeq. June 22, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  52. Vaknin, Yossi (August 15, 2019). עפולה חזרה בה ולא העבירה בבקרה את יובל שאוט: עוד שישה בכירים בחוץ [Afula returned to it and did not control Yuval Shaut: six other senior players outside]. MyNet Afula (in Hebrew). Yedioth Ahronoth Group. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  53. Vaknin, Yossi (August 15, 2019). שחקני עפולה שלא אושרו מאוכזבים: האם ההנהלה תדרש לשחרר שחקנים? [Afula players who have not been approved are disappointed: Will the management be required to release players?]. MyNet Afula (in Hebrew). Yedioth Ahronoth Group. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  54. "Hapoel Ashkelon 1–2 Hapoel Afula". Israel Football Association. September 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
    דקה אחר דקה [Minute by minute]. Sports Channel (in Hebrew). September 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  55. לאומית: הפועל ראשון לציון פתחה פער במקום השני, ניצחון בכורה לעפולה [National: Hapoel Rishon Lezion opened a gap in second place, a first victory for Afula]. Walla! (in Hebrew). Bezeq. December 9, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  56. Maman, Asi (July 28, 2020). עפולה במבחנים עם 1:3 על לוד, שירדה לליגה א' [Afula in tests with 1:3 over Lod, which was relegated to the first division]. ONE (in Hebrew). Citint Ltd. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  57. Vahba, Shlomi (September 4, 2020). ג'ייק רוזינסקי חתם במכבי הרצליה [Jake Rozhansky signed with Maccabi Herzliya]. Sports Channel (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  58. Cranford, Aaron (October 6, 2015). "SBI College Spotlight: Rozhansky focuses on reaching next-level fitness to fulfill USMNT desire". SBI Soccer. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  59. "Maryland Men's Soccer Record Book" (PDF). Maryland Terrapins. University of Maryland, College Park. June 8, 2018. p. 3. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  60. "Division 1 Men's Soccer All-America Team 2017". Jewish Sports Review. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
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