2001–2005 Kentucky Wildcats Name Andy Gruenebaum Salary 77,000 USD (2012) 2006–2013 Columbus Crew Spouse Lacey Sims (m. 2010) | 2005 Des Moines Menace Height 1.85 m Years Team Role Football goalkeeper Siblings Ben Gruenebaum | |
 | ||
Date of birth (1982-12-30) December 30, 1982 (age 33) Place of birth Overland Park, Kansas, United States Parents Mike Gruenebaum, Kris Gruenebaum Similar People Robert Warzycha, Gregg Berhalter, Brian Bliss, Sigi Schmid, Greg Andrulis Profiles | ||
Andy Gruenebaum (; born December 30, 1982) is a retired American professional soccer goalkeeper.
Contents
- Sporting kc new goalie andy gruenebaum
- Amateur
- Professional
- Career statistics
- Des Moines Menace
- Columbus Crew
- References
Sporting kc new goalie andy gruenebaum
Amateur
Gruenebaum, who is Jewish, is an Overland Park, Kansas, native. He was an All-American at Blue Valley North High School. He attended the University of Kentucky, where he recorded 21 shutouts in 66 collegiate games. Gruenebaum earned All-Conference honors and picked up the nickname “The Hebrew Hammer.”
Prior to his senior season, Gruenebaum starred for the Des Moines Menace in the USL Premier Development League and was named MVP of the 2005 PDL championship as the Menace won their only title.
Professional
Gruenebaum was selected by the Columbus Crew with the third overall pick in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. He made his MLS debut in May 2006 when Jon Busch suffered a knee injury in a match against D.C. United and started the final two matches of the season.
He started ten matches in the 2007 season, earning his first two career shutouts in back-to-back matches in April. However, his playing time gradually decreased as Will Hesmer established himself as the starting goalkeeper. He made just one league start in 2008 as the Crew won the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup.
Playing time remained sporadic due to the presence of Hesmer and Gruenebaum's own injuries, but he finally enjoyed a breakout season in 2012, starting 33 matches (including eight shutouts) as Hesmer missed time with injuries. He continued to start in 2013 despite missing time due to injuries.
Following the 2013 season, Gruenenbaum was traded to his hometown club, Sporting Kansas City, in exchange for a 2nd-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. After one season in Kansas City, Gruenenbaum's 2015 contract option was declined and he entered the 2014 MLS Re-Entry Draft. He was selected in stage one of the draft by San Jose Earthquakes. However, Gruenenbaum instead opted to retire and take a role as a broadcaster with Sporting.