After playing college soccer at Southern Connecticut State University, Petke was drafted by the MetroStars in the first round of the 1998 MLS College Draft. He spent the next five years with the Metros, becoming the only constant under an ever-changing regime of coaches in players. A fan favorite who often dyed his hair, Petke is the MetroStars all-time leader in games played with 134 (157 in all competitions).
Perhaps Petke's finest moment as a Metro came on August 20, 2000, just four days after Tampa Bay Mutiny forward Mamadou Diallo broke the ribs of Metro goalkeeper Mike Ammann. Petke, who rarely scored goals, got one in the Metro win over the Colorado Rapids, and unveiled a t-shirt that said August 16th: Crime of the Century on the front and Revenge is Coming on the back. While such support for a fallen comrade was welcome by teammates and Metro fans, it was frowned at by the league and Petke was fined for his efforts. Amazingly, Diallo got away without any punishment.
Petke, a three-time MLS All-Star, did not have a good season in 2002 and was traded to DC United with a draft pick and an allocation for Eddie Pope, Jaime Moreno, and Richie Williams. He won the MLS Cup with DC during his season season there. In seven years in MLS, Petke has scored nine regular season goals and added four assists.
Petke currently has two caps with the US national team, the first coming June 7, 2001 against Ecuador.
D.C. United finalized its trade of veteran defenderMikePetke to the Colorado Rapids yesterday, clearing the way for the club to acquire a foreign player to bolster its defense this summer.
Several sources close to the team who requested anonymity said Petke, in his eighth year in MLS and third with United, was upset with the coaching staff last week about its decision to bench him for this past Saturday's match against the Kansas City Wizards at RFK Stadium.
Petke, who took a pay cut this past offseason in exchange for contract guarantees, started 55 games and scored five goals over the past two-plus seasons for United.
Petke often was in the mix on offensive corner kicks attempting to get his first goal as a member of the Rapids.
Petke captained the side in the absence of Tab Ramos and Tim Howard for the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals against Columbus (8/7), and was named a starter for the MLS All-Star team that faced the U.S. Men's National Team in RFK on 8/3.
Petke played the entire first half of the game and entered the second half as sub for another 20 minutes of action during the 3-2 MLS win⦠2001: Petke appeared in his second straight MLS All-Star Game when fans voted him into the Eastern Conference starting lineup for the mid-season showcase in San Jose.
Feeds |
Contact