23rd Louisville player all-time to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft
NEW YORK – University of Louisville men’s soccer senior midfielder Cherif Dieye was selected 15th overall by New York Red Bulls in the first round of the 2020 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Thursday, January 9.
Dieye, a native of Dakar, Senegal, becomes UofL’s 23rd player chosen all-time the MLS SuperDraft. He is the seventh Louisville player to be drafted in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. Dieye ended his career as a Cardinal leading the team in every offensive statistic on the season. He led the Cards with seven goals, including three game-winners. He dished out six assists for 17 points and also led the team with 79 shots and 36 shots on goal. Dieye was named to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-South Region Second Team and the USC Scholar All-South Region Second Team. In addition, he was a 2019 All-ACC Second Team selection and was a third team selection in 2018.
Overall, 23 players from UofL have been chosen in the MLS SuperDraft all-time, including eight in the last four seasons. Along with the SuperDraft selections, four Cardinals have signed homegrown contracts all-time.
UofL concluded its first season under head coach John Michael Hayden with a 10-8-2 record, which included two NCAA victories over USF and No. 18 UC Davis. Hayden is the first Louisville head coach to lead the Cardinals to a pair of NCAA wins in their first season. The Cards qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year and have now made the NCAA Tournament 12 of the last 13 seasons. The Cardinals advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years and the seventh time in the last 10 seasons.
LOUISVILLE’S ALL-TIME MLS SUPERDRAFT PICKS
2020
Cherif Dieye – New York Red Bulls – 1st round – 15th overall
2019
Adam Wilson – Toronto FC – 2nd Round – 39th overall
2018
Tim Kubel – Toronto FC – 2nd Round – 28th overall
Mohamed Thiaw – San Jose Earthquakes – 2nd Round – 35th overall
2017
Daniel Johnson – Chicago Fire – 1st Round – 11th overall
Stefan Cleveland – Chicago Fire – 2nd Round – 26th overall
Michael DeGraffenreidt – New York City FC – 3rd Round – 60th overall
Romilio Hernandez – Portland Timbers – 4th Round – 80th overall
2015
Daniel Keller – LA Galaxy – 3rd Round – 62nd overall
2014
Marlon Hairston – Colorado Rapids – 1st Round – 12th overall
Jimmy Ockford – Seattle Sounders – 2nd Round – 21st overall
2013
Andrew Farrell – New England Revolution – 1st Round – 1st overall
Paolo DelPiccolo – Montreal Impact – 2nd Round – 27th overall
Greg Cochrane – LA Galaxy – 2nd Round – 38th overall
Brock Granger – Real Salt Lake – Supplemental 3rd Round – 50th overall
2012
Nick DeLeon – DC United – 1st Round – 7th overall
Austin Berry – Chicago Fire – 1st Round – 9th overall
Colin Rolfe – Houston Dynamo – 1st Round – 18th overall
Kenney Walker – LA Galaxy – 2nd Round – 38th overall
2011
J.T. Murray – Sporting Kansas City – 2nd Round – 32nd overall
Charlie Campbell – FC Dallas – 2nd Round – 35th overall
2010
Othaniel Yanez – Columbus Crew – 4th Round – 61st overall
2004
Adrian Cann – Colorado Rapids – 2nd Round – 16th overall
LOUISVILLE’S ALL-TIME MLS HOMEGROWN CONTRACT SIGNEES
2019
Tate Schmitt – Real Salt Lake
2016
Andrew Brody – Real Salt Lake
Ricardo Velazco – Real Salt Lake
2011
Aaron Horton – Columbus Crew
