Daniel Paladini

Citizenship:    USA
College:    Cal State Northridge
Last Club:    Carolina RailHawks (USSF D2)
How acquired:    Signed as a free agent on January 10, 2011

Paladini provided depth for the Fire during the 2012 season, called in to action when both Logan Pause and Pavel Pardo were felled by injuries. The Northridge, Calif. native scored two goals and added two assists over 691 minutes, as the Fire came away with six wins in his 15 appearances. The veteran box-to-box player will look to build upon his numbers heading into 2013.

2012: Appeared in 15 matches, starting in seven, scoring two goals and adding two assists over 691 minutes…Assisted on Austin Berry’s 72nd minute goal in a 2-1 loss at CLB 5/26…Scored his first goal of the season in the 44th minute of a 2-4 loss at DC 8/22…Scored his second consecutive match in the 18th minute of a 3-1 win against HOU 9/12…Assisted on Sherjill MacDonald’s second goal in the 78th minute of a 2-0 win at NY 10/6…MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: Entered in the 75th minute of the Fire’s 2-1 loss to HOU in the Eastern Conference Knockout Match 10/31…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Wore the captains armband in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Michigan Bucks 5/29…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Started and played 68 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa FC 7/21…Played the second half of the 2-2 draw against Club Santos Laguna 9/8…MLS RESERVE LEAGUE: Started five matches for the Fire, scoring one goal over 397 minutes…Scored the first goal in the 39th minute in a 3-1 win over COL 8/15.

2011: Played 23 matches, starting 16, over 1491 minutes, all MLS career season highs upon his return to the league after two seasons in Division 2. Recorded one assist on Marco Pappa’s ninth minute goal in a 3-0 victory 9/28 at RSL…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Appeared and started in five of the team’s six U.S. Open Cup matches, tallying two assists. Both came 7/12 vs. NYRB, assisting on Dominic Oduro’s seventh minute strike and Yamith Cuesta’s 48th minute header in a 4-0 rout… Started and went 80 minutes in the final, a 2-0 loss 10/4 at SEA…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Appeared in both matches, starting and going 88 minutes in a 3-1 loss 7/23 vs. Manchester United…Came on as a halftime sub in a
1-0 loss 9/14 vs. Chivas de Guadalajara.

2010:  Played 34 matches for the Carolina RailHawks, finishing second on the team in goals (7) and leading the team in assists (5)… Earned a second consecutive selection to the USSF Division 2 Best XI…Helped the Railhawks to the NASL Conference regular season championship and a runner-up finish in the league playoffs…

2009: Appeared in 28 matches, tallying five goals and four assists for USL First Division side Carolina RailHawks…Was named an All-League Best XI midfielder as he helped the club to a second place regular season finish.

2008: Appeared in eight matches, scoring one goal with Chivas USA…Scored his first professional goal in the 31st minute of a 3-1 win at Toronto FC.

2007: Played in 14 matches, scoring three goals helping the USL Premier Development League’s San Fernando Valley Quakes to its first-ever playoff appearance.

2006:  Selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2006 Supplemental Draft, Paladini spent the year with the side, but did not appear in a first-team match.

College:  Named All-Big West Second Team as a sophomore at Cal State Northridge and made back-to-back All-Big West First Teams as a junior and senior. In 2005, he was the Big West Midfielder of the Year, and ranks among Northridge’s all-time leaders in matches played (78) and assists (19).

Personal: Enjoys vacationing at his family’s lake house… Favorite movie is Gladiator… Most influenced by his dad… Looks up to the historical figure, John F. Kennedy… Given the nickname D by a teammate when he was younger…Sister Michelle is married to Sporting Kansas City midfielder Josh Gardner.