Julian Gressel
Julian Gressel (born 16 December 1993) is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.
![]() Gressel with Atlanta United in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Julian Gressel | ||
Date of birth | 16 December 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Neustadt, Germany | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | D.C. United | ||
Number | 31 | ||
Youth career | |||
2002–2009 | SpVgg Greuther Fürth | ||
2009–2011 | Quelle Fürth | ||
2011–2013 | FC Florida | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2013–2016 | Providence Friars | 83 | (30) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2012 | TSV Neustadt/Aisch | 25 | (3) |
2012–2013 | Eintracht Bamberg | 32 | (1) |
2017–2019 | Atlanta United | 98 | (15) |
2020– | D.C. United | 22 | (2) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 November 2020 |
Career
Youth
Gressel began his footballing career by playing in the youth academy systems of 2. Bundesliga side, SpVgg Greuther Fürth in 2002. In 2009, Gressel left Greuther Fürth and began playing for the academy set-up of Quelle Fürth.[1]
Collegiate
Before the 2013 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Gressel signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Providence College's men's soccer program. During the 2013 season, Gressel was an immediate starter, starting and playing in all 22 fixtures the Friars played in.[1] Gressel scored on his collegiate debut on 30 August 2013, in a 3–2 victory over Quinnipiac.[2] In his freshman season, the Friars managed to reach the championship match of the 2013 Big East Men's Soccer Tournament, before losing 3–2 against Marquette.[3] The Friars ultimately earned an at-large bid into the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, where they reached the second round before losing to the fifth-seeded, Maryland.[4] Gressel finished his freshman year with five goals and four assists.[5] He was also awarded with a spot on the 2013 All-Big East Conference Second Team, and on the All-Rookie Team.[1]
During his sophomore and junior seasons, Gressel earned honors on the Big East Conference All-Tournament teams for both the 2014 and 2015 editions of the tournaments.[6] Additionally, during his junior season, Gressell earned spots on the NSCAA Third Team All-Great Lakes Region and the Second Team All-Big East Conference.[6]
Gressel had a breakout season during his senior year at Providence. He led the Friars in total points with 36, accumulating 15 goals and six assists his senior year.[7] Gressel was also rewarded with the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals during the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, during a quarterfinal run which saw Providence, beat CAA Champions, Delaware,[8] upset top-seeded and Big Ten Champions, Maryland,[9] and defeat Big East-rivals, Creighton.[10] In addition, Gressell was listed an NSCAA First Team All-American and a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy.[11] Gressel additionally earned All-Great Lakes First Team honors,[12] All-Big East Conference First Team honors,[13] part of the 2016 Big East Men's Soccer Tournament's first team,[14] and the All-Tournament team for the Rhode Island Capital City Classic.[1]
Professional
Prior to Providence College, Gressel played senior-level football in the German regional fifth-tier, the Bayernliga. During the 2011–12 Bayernliga, Gressel had one goal and ten assists.[1] The following season, Gressel played for TSV Neustadt/Aisch in the sixth tier, Landesliga Bayern-Nordwest, where Gressel notched three goals and 12 assists during the 2012–13 Landesliga Bayern-Nordwest campaign.[1]
Ahead of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Gressel signed a senior college contract with Major League Soccer. Per league policy the terms were not disclosed.[15] On January 13, 2017, Gressel was selected by Atlanta United FC in the first round with the eighth overall pick. Gressel made his professional debut for Atlanta United on March 5, 2017 in a 1–2 loss against New York Red Bulls. On 8 November 2017, Gressel won the MLS Rookie of the Year honors.[16]
![](../I/2017-09-24%252C_Anton_Walkes_and_Julian_Gressel.jpg.webp)
On 21 January 2020, D.C. United acquired Gressel from Atlanta United for $750,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.[17] Gressel made his debut for D.C. on 29 February 2020, in the season opener against the Colorado Rapids.[18] Gressel scored his first goal for D.C. United on 29 August 2020, in a 1–4 loss against the Philadelphia Union.[19]
![](../I/Julian_Gressel_DC_United_2020-08-21.jpg.webp)
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Eintracht Bamberg | 2012–13 | Regionalliga Bayern | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | ||
Atlanta United | 2017 | MLS | 32 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 35 | 6 | |
2018 | MLS | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 5[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 40 | 4 | ||
2019 | MLS | 33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 2 | 43 | 8 | |
Total | 98 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 118 | 18 | ||
D.C. United | 2020 | MLS | 22 | 2 | — | — | — | 22 | 2 | |||
Career totals | 152 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 172 | 21 |
- Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
- Three appearance in CONCACAF Champions League and one appearance in Campeones Cup
Honors
- Atlanta United
- Individual
References
- "Player Profile: Julian Gressel". Providence Friars. Friars.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Men's Soccer Defeats Quinnipiac In Home Opener, 3-2". Providence Friars. Friars.com. August 30, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Providence College vs Marquette (Nov 17, 2013) Box Score". Providence Friars. Friars.com. November 17, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Terps Advance to 12th Straight NCAA Round of 16". Maryland Terrapins. UMTerps.com. November 24, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "2013 Providence Men's Soccer Cumulative Season Statistics". Providence Friars. Friars.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Big East Conference Men's Soccer Record Book" (PDF). Big East Conference. BigEast.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Providence College Men's Soccer 2016 Statistics: Overall Individual Statistics". Providence Friars. Friars.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Men's Soccer Advances to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament with 2-0 Win Over Delaware". Providence Friars. Friars.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- Goff, Steven (November 20, 2016). "No. 1 seed Terps squander three-goal lead, lose 5-4 in NCAA men's soccer tournament". The Baltimore Sun. tronc. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Men's Soccer Advances To NCAA Quarterfinals With Victory At Creighton, 2-1". Providence Friars. Friars.com. November 26, 2016. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Julian Gressel Named 2016 NSCAA First-Team All-American". Providence Friars. Friars.com. December 9, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "2016 NSCAA NCAA Division I Men's All-Great Lakes Region Teams". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. NSCAA.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- "BIG EAST Announces Men's Soccer Regular Season Awards". Big East Conference. BigEast.com. November 5, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- "Butler Wins BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship Title". Big East Conference. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- Stejskal, Sam (January 4, 2017). "MLS announces 2017 Generation adidas class and senior signings". Major League Soccer. MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- "Der deutsche Super-Rookie". kicker (in German). 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "D.C. United acquires Atlanta United Midfielder Julian Gressel for $750,000 in TAM". January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- Becherano, Lizzy. "D.C. United disappoints in 2020 opener, falling 2-1 to Colorado Rapids". Black & Red United.
- "Kacper Przybylko brace helps Philadelphia Union roll past D.C. United". ESPN. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- Julian Gressel at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- "Julian Gressel » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- Stejskal, Sam (November 8, 2017). "Atlanta midfielder Julian Gressel wins 2017 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year". Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 7, 2017.