AJ Marcucci
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = AJ Marcucci
|image = AJ Marcucci Red Bull Atlanta 5.31.25-03 (cropped).jpg
|caption = Marcucci in 2025
|fullname = Anthony Marcucci Jr.
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|8|31}}
|birth_place = West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
|position = Goalkeeper
|currentclub = New York Red Bulls
|clubnumber = 1
|youthyears1 = 2014–2017
|youthclubs1 = Penn Fusion
|collegeyears1 = 2017–2020
|college1 = Connecticut College Camels
|collegecaps1 = 54
|collegegoals1 = 0
|years1 = 2019–2020
|clubs1 = West Chester United
|caps1 = 4
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2021–2024
|clubs2 = New York Red Bulls II
|caps2 = 54
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2021–
|clubs3 = New York Red Bulls
|caps3 = 1
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2024
|clubs4 = → Gnistan (loan)
|caps4 = 14
|goals4 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|medaltemplates =
|club-update = 26 October 2024
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Anthony "AJ" Marcucci Jr. (born August 31, 1999) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for New York Red Bulls.
Career
=Youth career=
Marcucci played at the Episcopal Academy through high school. He also played as part of the Penn Fusion academy until 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennfusion.org/college|title=Boys College Alumni|website=Penn Fusion Soccer Academy}}
=College career=
In 2017, Marcucci attended Connecticut College to play college soccer. With the Camels, Marcucci appeared in 54 of the team's 55 matches between 2017 and 2019; the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marcucci finished his career with a school-record 25 career shutouts to go along with an .887 save percentage, and an 0.50 goals against average.{{Cite web|url=https://conncoll.prestosports.com/sports/msoc/2018-19/bios/marcucci_a.j._r0ki?view=career&pos=goalie|title=AJ Marcucci|website=Connecticut College}}
Marcucci earned a place on the NCAA All-America First Team as the nation's top Division III goalkeeper twice by both the United Soccer Coaches and D3soccer.com in 2018 and 2019. He was also named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the NESCAC Player of the Year in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://nescac.com/news/2021/1/22/mens-soccer-connecticut-colleges-aj-marcucci-selected-by-new-york-red-bulls-in-mls-superdraft.aspx|title=Connecticut College's AJ Marcucci Selected by New York Red Bulls In MLS SuperDraft|website=nescac.com}}
While at college, Marcucci also appeared for NPSL side West Chester United during their 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=http://npsl.bonzidev.com/sam/standings/ss/schedule.php?v=3&containerID=MTAwODk2NDA=|title=National Premier Soccer League|website=npsl.bonzidev.com}} He was set to play with the team during their 2020 season in the USL League Two, but the season was eventually canceled.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/39246205?subseason=670333|title=West Chester United SC - 2020 Regular Season - Roster - # - Anthony Marcucci -|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}
=New York Red Bulls=
On January 21, 2021, Marcucci was selected 67th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-select-three-2021-mls-superdraft|title=New York Red Bulls Select Three in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft | New York Red Bulls|website=nysoccer}} He became the first ever draft pick from Connecticut College and was the first Division III pick since 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theday.com/article/20210201/SPORT04/210209939|title=Conn's Marcucci grateful for chance to play in MLS with New York Red Bulls}}
On April 15, 2021, Marcucci signed with New York's USL Championship side New York Red Bulls II.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-sign-goalkeeper-aj-marcucci|title=New York Red Bulls II Sign Goalkeeper AJ Marcucci | New York Red Bulls|website=nysoccer}} He made his debut on May 14, 2021, starting in a 1–0 loss to the Miami FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/newyorkredbullsii-themiamifc-2199459|title=New York Red Bulls II vs. The Miami FC - May 15, 2021 | USLChampionship.com|website=www.uslchampionship.com}} On May 18, 2021, Marcucci recorded his first win with New York in a 2–1 victory over Loudoun United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1164780|title=Red Bulls II Edge Past Loudoun as Egbo Converts from Spot; USLChampionship.com|website=www.uslchampionship.com|date=18 May 2021}}
On September 11, 2021, Marcucci moved to the New York Red Bulls first team roster in MLS.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-sign-nyrbii-goalkeeper-a-j-marcucci|title=New York Red Bulls Sign NYRBII Goalkeeper A.J. Marcucci | New York Red Bulls|website=newyorkredbulls.com}}
==Loan to Gnistan==
On 21 July 2024, Marcucci was loaned out to Finnish Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan until the end of the 2024 season.[https://gnistan.fi/2024/07/aj-marcucci-liittyy-if-gnistaniin/ AJ MARCUCCI LIITTYY IF GNISTANIIN], gnistan.fi, 21 July 2024 He debuted with his new team in Veikkausliiga in the next day on 22 July 2024, saving a penalty in stoppage-time and securing his side a point by a 2–2 away draw against Inter Turku.[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2024/07/22/inter-ja-gnistan-tasapeliin-kierroksen-paatteeksi-hjk-kups-ja-sjk-jatkavat-karkikolmikkona Inter ja Gnistan tasapeliin kierroksen päätteeksi - HJK, KuPS ja SJK jatkavat kärkikolmikkona], veikkausliiga.com, 22 July 2024[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/tilastot/2024/veikkausliiga/ottelut/3357149/seuranta/ FC Inter 2 – 2 Gnistan], veikkausliiga.com During his loan stint, Marcucci made 14 appearances for Gnistan, keeping five clean sheets. During this period he helped guide the club through the relegation round and into the Conference League play-offs, where they reached the semifinals.
==Return to New York Red Bulls==
At the conclusion of his loan period in Finland, Marcucci returned to New York for the 2025 season. On 22 March 2025, he made his first team debut for New York, starting in a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/match-recap-pres-by-provident-bank-emil-forsberg-brace-powers-red-bulls-to-victory-at-sports-illustrated-stadium|title=Emil Forsberg Brace Powers Red Bulls to Victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium|website=newyorkredbulls.com}}
Career statistics
{{updated|26 October 2024}} {{Soccerway|anthony-marcucci/609430}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=5|New York Red Bulls II
|2021 | 19 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 14 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 20 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!54||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||54||0 | ||||||||||
| Gnistan (loan)
|2024 |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| New York Red Bulls
|2025 |1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!69||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||70||0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|anthony-marcucci/609430}}
{{New York Red Bulls squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marcucci, AJ}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:National Premier Soccer League players
Category:New York Red Bulls draft picks
Category:New York Red Bulls players
Category:New York Red Bulls II players
Category:Sportspeople from West Chester, Pennsylvania
Category:Soccer players from Chester County, Pennsylvania
Category:USL Championship players
Category:Connecticut College Camels men's soccer players
Category:Connecticut College alumni
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Finland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland
Category:Veikkausliiga players