Justin Bilyeu Explained

Justin Bilyeu
Fullname:Justin Bilyeu[1]
Birth Date:3 February 1994
Birth Place:St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Position:Defender
Collegeyears1:2012–2015
College1:SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Collegecaps1:59
Collegegoals1:5
Years1:2015
Clubs1:FC Tucson
Caps1:7
Goals1:1
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:New York Red Bulls
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2016–2017
Clubs3:New York Red Bulls II
Caps3:29
Goals3:1
Years4:2017
Clubs4:Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
Caps4:13
Goals4:1
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Swope Park Rangers
Caps5:11
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:64
Totalgoals:3
Club-Update:May 8, 2019

Justin Bilyeu (born February 3, 1994) is an American former soccer player.[2]

Early career

Bilyeu attended soccer powerhouse program, Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, where he won a state championship in 2009, and was voted to the all-state team during his senior year.[3] Bilyeu was voted to the inaugural High School All-American All-Star game in 2011. After high school, Bilyeu attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he played in 59 games for the Cougars throughout his four-year career.[4]

In 2015, Bilyeu made 7 appearances for Premier Development League club, FC Tucson.[5]

Professional

On January 14, 2016, Bilyeu was selected by the New York Red Bulls in the first round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft as the 18th pick.[6] After a successful preseason, Bilyeu signed his first professional contract days before the 2016 season on March 3.[7] On April 10, New York loaned Bilyeu to USL affiliate club, New York Red Bulls II.[8] Hours later, Bilyeu made his first appearance with the club, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4–0 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC.[9]

Bilyeu made his professional debut with the senior team on April 29, during a 4–0 victory against FC Dallas.[10] On June 15, Bilyeu made his first start for the senior team during a 1–0 victory against the Rochester Rhinos in the U.S. Open Cup.[11] On June 26, Bilyeu made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss to Real Salt Lake. On July 19, in a 2–1 victory over FC Cincinnati with Red Bulls II, Bilyeu scored his first professional goal off a free kick, curling the ball into the lower left corner.[12] Bilyeu was part of the 2016 USL Cup Champion Red Bull II side.

Bilyeu was waived by New York on June 28, 2017.[13]

On August 2, 2017, Bilyeu signed with United Soccer League side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros. Bilyeu led the team with four assists. On October 5, Bilyeu was called up and made his Houston Dynamo debut in a friendly against Liga MX side Cruz Azul.

On March 7, 2018, Bilyeu signed with United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers. Bilyeu missed all but 10 games during the 2018 campaign due to knee surgery.

On November 30, 2018, Bilyeu resigned with United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers. However, due to ongoing concussion issues, Bilyeu retired from playing soccer on April 24, 2019.[14]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueMLS Cup/PlayoffsUS Open CupCONCACAFTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York Red Bulls20163000203080
20171000001020
Total40002040100
New York Red Bulls II (loan)2016151000000151
2017140000000140
Total291000000291
Career total331002040391

External links

Personal Life:

He is fluent in Amharic

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Justin Bilyeu New York Red Bulls Bio. NewYorkRedBulls.com.
  2. Web site: Swope Park Rangers defender Justin Bilyeu announces retirement from professional soccer.
  3. Web site: St. Louis is nation's hotbed of high school boys soccer. old.nfhs.org. April 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419192217/http://old.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id=8023. April 19, 2016. dead.
  4. Web site: Justin Bilyeu College Profile. SIUECougars.com.
  5. Web site: 2015 Player Stats. USLPDL.com. April 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170706105832/http://www.uslpdl.com/page/show/2339973-player-stats. July 6, 2017. dead.
  6. Web site: Red Bulls select Justin Bilyeu in MLS SuperDraft. EmpireOfSoccer.com.
  7. Web site: New York Red Bulls Sign SuperDraft Picks Zach Carroll and Justin Bilyeu. NewYorkRedBulls.com.
  8. Web site: New York Red Bulls Loan Two Players to NYRB II; NYRB II Complete Loan of Amobi Okugo. NewYorkRedBulls.com.
  9. Web site: NYRB II Chemistry, Depth on Display against Steel. uslsoccer.com. April 11, 2016.
  10. Web site: New York Red Bulls 4, FC Dallas 0: 2016 MLS Match Recap. MLSSoccer.com.
  11. Web site: New York Red Bulls 1, Rochester Rhinos 0. MLSSoccer.com.
  12. Web site: Red Bulls II Stun Crowd of 16,127 with Dramatic Win. uslsoccer.com. July 20, 2016.
  13. Web site: New York Red Bulls Place Justin Bilyeu on Waivers | New York Red Bulls.
  14. Web site: Swope Park Rangers defender Justin Bilyeu announces retirement from professional soccer.