Greg Klazura

PROFILE
Selected in the second round (21st overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 17, 2012, defender/midfielder Greg Klazura joined Whitecaps FC after signing a Major League Soccer contract on Feb. 22, 2012. A five-year product of the University Notre Dame, the native of Rockford, Illinois, served as Fighting Irish co-captain in his final year of NCAA Division I soccer in 2011.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2012: Klazura made his Whitecaps FC competitive debut in the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal, as Vancouver won 2-0 at North American Soccer League side FC Edmonton on May 2. He then played  the full 90 minutes in the second leg at BC Place, as Vancouver won 3-1 and advanced to the final with a 5-1 aggregate series victory.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE
2012: Klazura made his MLS Reserve League debut for Whitecaps FC reserves, as they drew 1-1 at home to Seattle Sounders FC reserves on Mar. 26. He was the only Whitecaps FC player to play every minute of all ten matches.

COLLEGE
2011: Though he received an invitation to the 2011 MLS Player Combine, Klazura decided to turn down the offer and remain with the University of Notre Dame for one final season. A co-captain as a fifth-year senior, Klazura started all 18 matches for the Fighting Irish that season, seeing every minute of action in all but two matches for Notre Dame. He was third in team assists with three that year, and was a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for outstanding senior student athlete in NCAA Division I. 2010: As a fourth-year senior, Klazura started all 20 matches for the Fighting Irish, logging the second-most minutes on the team that year. He scored one goal and added an assist for three points, scoring his first NCAA Division I goal in a 5-1 win over California Polytechnic State University that secured Notre Dame the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament title. He was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-Region First Team, in addition to being named a BIG EAST Conference Academic All-Star. The defender/midfielder’s efforts helped Notre Dame to a second-place finish in the BIG EAST Conference’s Blue Division standings. 2009: After not appearing for the Fighting Irish in his freshman (red shirt) and sophomore years, Klazura made his Notre Dame debut as a junior, as he was a late substitute in a 2-1 away defeat to University of South Florida on Sept. 20. He made just one start in his six appearances for the Fighting Irish that year, with that lone start coming in a 2-2 draw versus University of South Florida in the BIG EAST Conference championship quarterfinals on Nov. 8. In addition to making his first set of appearances in NCAA Division I that season, Klazura was also named a BIG EAST Conference Academic All-Star.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
2012: Klazura made his debut for Whitecaps FC U-23 during a 2-1 defeat at Washington Crossfire on June 27. 2011: Playing his second season in the PDL, Klazura started half of Indiana Invaders FC’s 16 league matches, as they finished fourth in the Great Lakes Division of the PDL’s Central Conference. He assisted on substitute striker Adam Mena’s winning goal during Indiana’s 2-1 home win over Michigan Bucks on July 6. 2010: Klazura started all five of his matches during his rookie PDL season for Invaders FC, as Indiana finished fifth in the Great Lakes Division of the PDL’s Central Conference. His two assists came in a 3-1 away win over Kalamazoo Outrage on July 9 and in a 2-1 home win over Akron Summit Assault on July 17.     

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES SUPER-20 LEAGUE
2009: Was a member of the Chicago Fire’s USL Super-20 team. 2008: A member of the Chicago Fire’s Super-20 squad that won the North American championship title that year.

HIGH SCHOOL/AMATEUR
Klazura was played three years of varsity-level soccer for Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois. As captain of the Titans in his senior year, Klazura was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in addition to being selected to All-State, All-Midwest, All Sectional, and All-Conference honours. He received MVP accolades at the Indiana State Cup Tournament and the Illinois Soccer Classic Tournament. The defender/midfielder played his club soccer for Rockford Raptors in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois. As a member of the Raptors, the club earned an eight-place ranking in the United States in 2002. In 1989, Klazura was a member of US Youth Soccer’s Region II Olympic Development Program.

PERSONAL
Born in Leominster, Massachusetts, Klazura was raised in Rockford, Illinois, near the American Midwest city of Chicago, Illinois. His parents are Molly and Paul Klazura, while he has an older sister and a younger brother. As a student at the University of Notre Dame, Klazura earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-professional studies (pre-medicine).

INTERESTING FACTS
Proficient in both English and Spanish, Klazura enjoys reading, skiing, spending time with family and friends, and exploring his new home of Vancouver, BC. A giving person, Klazura has volunteered his time with a multitude of charitable organizations. This included his volunteering efforts with the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children at Project Limon in the Central American nation of Nicaragua.