Sean Nealis

Sean Nealis
Personal information
Full name Sean Nealis
Date of birth (1997-01-13) January 13, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Massapequa, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 New York Red Bulls
Number 15
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Hofstra Pride 72 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Westchester Flames 5 (0)
2019– New York Red Bulls 135 (3)
2019 New York Red Bulls II 20 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 25, 2024

Sean Nealis (born January 13, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth and college

Born in Massapequa, New York, Nealis began playing soccer at the age of seven.[2] In his junior year of high school, he led the Massapequa Chiefs to a NYSPHSAA Class AA Championship. Nealis attended Hofstra University, where he was a member of the varsity soccer team for four years. During his senior season he was recognized as the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year.[3] In 2018, Nealis played five games in the PDL with Westchester Flames.

He is the younger brother of former Georgetown Hoyas, Long Island Rough Riders and New York Cosmos defender, Jimmy Nealis. His older brother, Connor, played for Binghamton University. Nealis' younger brother, Dylan, was a member of the Georgetown Men's Soccer National Championship Team in 2019 and was drafted third overall by Inter Miami in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. Dylan later joined his brother as a Red Bull in 2021.[4]

New York Red Bulls

On January 11, 2019, Nealis was drafted in the second round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, by the New York Red Bulls.[5] After a strong preseason with the club, Nealis signed an MLS contract on February 17.[6] On February 27, 2019, Nealis made his professional and New York Red Bulls debut coming on in the second half for Aaron Long in 3–0 victory over Atlético Pantoja in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.[7] A few days later, on March 2, 2019, Nealis made his league debut with the club, appearing in a 1–1 draw with Columbus Crew.[8] On May 11, 2019, Nealis scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory over FC Dallas.[9]

Nealis became a regular starter for New York during the 2021 season. On August 25, 2021, he signed a three-year contract extension, with an additional option year.[10] On October 23, 2021, Nealis scored the winning goal for New York in a 2–1 victory over Columbus Crew.[11]

Toward the end of the 2022 season, New York once again handed Nealis a contract extension through the 2026 season with an option for 2027.[12] Nealis was named team captain for New York for the 2023 season. On September 23, 2023, Nealis scored his first goal of the season, the go ahead goal in a 5–3 victory over D.C. United.[13]

Nealis scored the only Red Bull goal in a 2–1 loss to the LA Galaxy in MLS Cup 2024.

Career statistics

As of November 19, 2021[14]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Westchester Flames 2018[15] PDL 5 0 — — — 5 0
New York Red Bulls 2019 MLS 9 1 0 0 1[a] 0 0 0 10 1
2020 6 0 — — 0 0 6 0
2021 28 1 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 29 1
2022 33 0 5 0 0 0 1[c] 0 39 0
2023 31 1 1 0 4[d] 0 3[e] 0 39 1
2024 28 0 0 0 2[f] 0 5[g] 1 35 1
Total 135 3 6 0 7 0 10 1 158 4
New York Red Bulls II (loan) 2019 USL 20 3 — — 1[h] 0 21 3
Career total 160 6 6 0 7 0 11 1 184 7
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  5. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  7. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  8. ^ Appearance(s) in USL Championship Playoffs

References

  1. ^ "Sean Nealis". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Sean Nealis Hofstra Bio - 2018 Men's Soccer Roster". GoHofstra.com. Hofstra University Athletics. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "CLOSE TO HOME: Red Bulls grab Hofstra's Nealis in 2nd round of the draft". frontrowsoccer.com. Front Row Soccer. January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Bulls, New York Red. "New York Red Bulls Acquire Defender Dylan Nealis From Nashville SC". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "Red Bulls select Roy Boateng, Janos Loebe, Sean Nealis and Rece Buckmaster in the first two rounds". newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "New York Red Bulls Sign MLS SuperDraft Pick Sean Nealis". newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. February 17, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "RBNY dispatch "explosive" Atletico Pantoja in CCL, turn focus to Santos". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "New York Red Bulls Grab Point in Columbus". newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. March 2, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Nealis, White Help Red Bulls Past FC Dallas 3-1". Fox Sports. May 11, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "New York Red Bulls sign Sean Nealis to multi-year contract extension". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "Columbus Crew falls 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls". columbuscrew.com. Columbus Crew. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "New York Red Bulls Sign Long Island Native Sean Nealis to New MLS Contract".
  13. ^ "Red Bulls Pour On Goals in 5-3 Defeat of D.C." www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  14. ^ "Sean Nealis - USL League Two Profile". uslleaguetwo.com. USL League Two. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  15. ^ "Westchester Flames - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - # - Sean Nealis -". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.