Position: Midfielder/Forward

Number: 15

College: Cal State-Fullerton

Birthdate: June 23, 1988

Height: 5’10″

Weight: 165

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Acquired: Signed on a free transfer by the Philadelphia Union on March 18, 2011.

Professional Stats

2011 with Philadelphia Union: 1 game

Spent two years in the youth ranks of FMF powerhouse Club America. Saw time with senior ranks in friendlies.

Has also spent time in the PDL with the following clubs: Ventura County Fusion (2007-2008), Orange County Blue Star (2006), and the Los Angeles Legends (2009).

College Stats

2006-2007 with Cal State-Fullerton: 16 matches, 1 goal, 2 assists, won 2nd Team All-Big West honors

Has featured with the USMNT U-17s.

Did you know?

Gabriel is the identical twin brother of 2011 2nd Round SuperDraft pick Michael Farfan.

Spent time with Assistant Coach John Hackworth at the Bradenton Residency Camp for U-17s.

Gabriel spent some time in 2009 with the Los Angeles Legends along with his brother and current Union midfielder (UCLA graduate) Kyle Nakazawa.

He only played a little for Cal-State Fullerton but he follows in the footsteps of several Titans that have made a name for themselves in the professional soccer ranks: former New England defender Brian Dunseth, former United GK Mike Ammann, and Kiwi midfielder Duncan Oughton.

Courtesy of PhiladelphiaUnion.com

Full Name: Keon Kelly Daniel

Position: Midfielder

Number: 17

Birthdate: January 16, 1987

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 170

Hometown: Lambeau, Trinidad and Tobago

Acquired: Signed by the Philadelphia Union on March 18, 2011.

Professional Stats

2010 with Puerto Rico (USL): 14 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists, won Championship

From 2006 to 2010: Spent time with both United Petrotrin and Caledonia AIA of the TT Pro League

Spent two years in the youth ranks of FMF powerhouse Club America. Saw time with senior ranks in friendlies.

International Stats

With the Trinidad & Tobago National Team: 46 appearances, 8 goals, led the Soca Warriors for goals during the 2010 World Cup Qualifiying campaign.

Did you know?

Daniel had training stints with Manchester United (2005) and West Ham United (2008). Neither ended with contract offers.

Had interest in 2009 from Wolves in the UK, as well as teams from Turkey, the United States, Norway, and his home country of Trinidad and Tobago.

Spent three weeks on trial with the Union before signing a contract.

His four goals during the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign tied him at the top of the scoring charts with the likes of Landon Donovan, Costa Rica’s Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake), and Brian Ching.

He debuted for the Soca Warriors in 2008 at the age of 22.

Full Name: Hasely Thorne Holder

Position: Goalkeeper

Number: 24

College: Adelphi University/Maryland

Birthdate: April 4, 1986

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 183

Hometown: Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

Acquired: Signed by the Philadelphia Union on March 1, 2011 after a preseason trial.

College Stats

2008-2010 with Adelphi University: 47 appearances, 30-9-5 (W-L-T), 19 shutouts

2007 with Maryland: 10 games played, 4-2-2 (W-L-T), 1.19 GAA, 2 shutouts

Did you know?

Holder spent some time under current Union goalkeeper coach Rob Vartughian his freshman year at Maryland.

Adelphi University may be small and relatively unknown but Holder is not the first alumni to sign a professional contract from there. Chicago Fire legend Chris Armas attended Adelphi University and went on to have an impressive Major League Soccer career as well as a regular for the USMNT.

Had reconstructive surgery on his forehead in 2008 and returned to be dominant force in between the posts for Adelphi. Ranks 2nd all-time on their shutout list.

Was, and may still be, on the rader for the full Trinidad & Tobago national team. Has made appearances in the past for their youth international teams.

Spent time with the Long Island Rough Riders of the USL Premier Development League in 2008.

Union article on the “unlimited upside” of Holder.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Number: 23

College: La Salle

Birthdate: April 12, 1989

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 175

Hometown: Southampton, PA

Acquired: Drafted by the Philadelphia Union with the 5th overall pick of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft.

College Stats

2007-2010 with La Salle: 28 goals, 13 assists

Did you know?

Out of his 28 goals for La Salle, 21 of them were scored in his junior and senior seasons. He was named Offensive Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10 during his senior season (14 goals). His goal tally lands him 5th on La Salle’s all-time scoring list.

In high school, was a three year starter in basketball as well as the placekicker for the football team at William Tenent HS.

Richter excelled in the offseason with the Ocean City Nor’easters (then the Barons) of the USL’s Premier Development League. He featured over 40 times, scoring 11 goals.

Quote from the Warminster Patch, “I love the area and didn’t want to go anywhere else, so being picked by the Union is the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” said Richter. “I went to five Union games last year, and I’m a huge fan of the team. It’s a great environment and it is wild to go from watching them from the stands, to being on the field with all these great players.”

Full Name: Carlos Humberto Ruíz Gutiérrez

Position: Forward

Number: #20

Born: September 15, 1979



Birthplace: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Height : 5’9″

Weight: 182

Previous Teams: FC Dallas, Los Angeles, Aris FC (Greece), Puebla (Mexico), Olimpia Asuncion FC (Paraguay)

Status: Has Green Card.

Salary: N/A

How acquired (Union): Signed on February 22, 2011 on a free transfer after being released by Aris FC.

International Career: Has 41 goals in 86 caps with the Guatemalan national team.

Stats

2011 with Philadelphia:

2009-2010 with Olimpia, Puebla, Aris FC: 20 goals in 66 appearances

2008 with Toronto FC: 5 appearances

2008 with Los Angeles: 1 goal in 10 appearances

2005-2007 with FC Dallas: 31 goals, 9 assists in 68 appearances

2002-2004 with Los Angeles: 50 goals, 8 assists in 72 appearances

Did you know?

Upon entry in Major League Soccer in 2002 with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Ruiz scored 24 goals, won the league’s MVP award, and led the Galaxy to a MLS Championship.

Holds Major League Soccer’s record for most goals scored in the postseason with 16.

After the acquisition of Carlos Ruiz before the 2005 season, FC Dallas went on to only lose two out of their first 17 games. It was also the year of the name change – the Dallas Burn became FC Dallas.

Ruiz is the leading scorer for the Guatemalan national team.

Played most recently for Aris FC in Greece – former temporary home of MLS players Juan Carlos Toja, Freddy Adu, and Eddie Johnson.

Position: Forward

College: University of Virginia

Birthdate: January 9, 1990

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 145

Hometown: Severn, MD

Acquired: Acquired via lottery by the Philadelphia Union on February 14, 2011.

College Stats

2008-2009 with University of Virgina: 20 games, 6 goals, 2 assists

Has appeared several times for various US Youth National Teams.

Did you know?

After leaving the University of Virginia after his sophomore year, Agorsor had a two-week training stint with Manchester United that earned him rave reviews but no contract offer.

In spite of Baltimore’s proximity to Washington DC, Agorsor has never heard from or thought about playing for DC United.

Agorsor says he has never heard from D.C. United throughout the years, nor was he interested in playing for them. He says the rivalry between his youth soccer club, the Baltimore Bays, and D.C. United’s academy was a heated one in the youth ranks.According to Agorsor, Baltimore “is a lot more similar to Philly than to DC … and Philadelphia was the closest I could be to playing in Baltimore.” – From PhiladelphiaUnion.com

Known for his speed, agility, and confidence at taking men on at the dribble.

See all Player Profiles and Former Player Profiles HERE.

Full Name: Faryd Camilo Mondragón Ali

Position: Goalkeeper

Number: 1

Born: June 21, 1971

Birthplace: Cali, Colombia

Height : 6’3″

Weight: 203

Previous Teams: FC Koln, Galatasaray, Metz, Independiente

Status: Senior International

Salary: N/A

How acquired (Union): Signed on January 20, 2011 after several seasons in the German Bundesliga with FC Koln.

International Career: Earned 50 caps with the Colombia’s Men’s National Team

Stats

2007-2010 with FC Koln: 94 appearances

2001-2007 with Galatasaray: 185 appearances

Many teams before that including Independiente, Metz, Deportivo Cali, and Real Zaragoza.

Did you know?

Mondragon featured for Colombia in the 1998 World Cup in France, playing well even though the Colombians fell out in the first round.

Scored one goal in his professional career so far, A penalty kick for Argentine club Independiente in the 1997-1998 season.

Made 41 appearances in both the Champions League and UEFA (now Europa League) Cup for Turkish giants Galatasaray.  

Born to Colombian parents of Lebanese ancestry.

Mondragon started the first USMNT international friendly to be played at PPL Park, a 0-0 tie between Colombia and the United States.

Full Name: Carlos Enrique Valdés Parra

Position: Defender

Number: 5

Born: May 22, 1985

Birthplace: Cali, Colombia

Height : 6’0″

Weight: 176

Previous Teams: Club Independiente Santa Fe, America de Cali

Status: Senior International

Salary: N/A

How acquired (Union): Signed for the Union on January 20, 2011 from Club Santa Fe in Colombia.

International Career: Scored 1 goal in 4 caps so far for the Colombian national team.

Stats

2009-2010 with Club Santa Fe: 54 appearances, 1 goal

2006-2009 with America de Cali: 97 appearances, 4 goals

Did you know?

Debuted November 18, 2010 with the Colombian national team in a friendly vs. Peru that ended 1-1, Valdes started.

Full Name: Aquilas Levi Houapeu

Position: Midfielder/Forward

College: University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Birthdate: June 22, 1989

Height: 5’8″

Weight: 160

Hometown: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Acquired: Selected by the Union with the 41st pick in the 3rd Round of 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

College Stats

2007-2010 at UMBC: 76  games played, 34 goals (30 in his last two years), 19 assists, America East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, 3rd Team NSCAA All-American

Did you know?

Pro Player Pipeline’s collegiate soccer guru Joe Mauceri had Houapeu ranked as the 2nd best prospect in the MLS Combine pool. He fell to the third round due to an up and down Combine performance. See Mauceri’s comments below or head to his site here.

Levi Houapeu (UMBC) made an explosive diagonal run, held his balance off a physical challenge. Had both assists.  Burst around the corner but was over the end line.  Overall – not a good combine.; from 1/10/11 (-), not able to beat anyone 1v1.  This is not the same player that I’ve seen for the last 2 years. Yells loudly for the ball with tremendous urgency.  He needs to find a way to get separation and for him and Sapong to combine much more effectively. ; From 1/8/11 (-), wasn’t able to break down Duckett.  He needs to work harder on the defensive side.  I expected him to combine better with former team-mate (DCU friendly) CJ Sapong.  Houapeu was able to get to the end-line but his cross was too close to the goal line. – Pro Player Pipeline

Houapeu led the nation in his final two seasons as a UMBC Retriever. Coach Nowak was immensely surprised that a kid with such speed and a nose for goal would fall to round three. He also highlighted his versatility and was able to observe him with Reading United A.C., the PDL affiliate of the Union.

Now has the title of first UMBC player ever taken in the SuperDraft.

Position: Midfielder

College: UNC

Birthdate: June 23, 1988

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 160

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Acquired: Selected by the Union with the 23th pick in the 2nd Round of 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

College Stats

2008-2010 at UNC: 41 games played, 41 started, 10 goals, 7 assists

2006-2008 at University of Cal-State Fullerton: 34 games played, 32 starts, 8 goals, 7 assists

Did you know?

Noted college soccer guru Joe Mauceri over at Pro Player Pipeline ranked Farfan the 3rd best midfielder available for the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. See his comments on Farfan’s Combine performance below or at the site linked above.

Michael Farfan (UNC) very active in the attack including initiating an attack where Bruin got behind the defense.  Took a shot early when McCarthy set him up; from 1/10/11 (adequate), disappeared for much of the half, occasionally popping up to get involved. ; From 1/8/11 (adequate), was involved early but seemed to fade out as the match continued.  He had a shot that was blocked by Warshaw.  He combined with Plata to get behind the defense, but the GK got to the Plata pass.  Farfan needs to take more responsibility for the play.