Nikolas Besagno

Nikolas Besagno

Personal information
Full name	Nikolas Besagno
Date of birth	(1988-11-15) November 15, 1988
Place of birth	Maple Valley, Washington, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Washington Crossfire (player/coach)
Number	17
Youth career
2004–2005	IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	Real Salt Lake	8	(0)
2008	→ Seattle Sounders (loan)	10	(0)
2009	Tacoma Tide	15	(2)
2010–2011	Kitsap Pumas	27	(4)
2012–	Washington Crossfire	14	(1)
International career‡
2005	United States U17	2	(0)
Managerial career
2013–	Washington Crossfire
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 1, 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 13, 2009

Nikolas Besagno (born November 15, 1988 in Maple Valley, Washington) is an American soccer player who is currently a player/coach for Washington Crossfire of the USL Premier Development League.

Career

Professional

One of the most touted young players in the country, Besagno became the first overall pick of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft when he was drafted by his former United States Under-17 coach and then Salt Lake boss John Ellinger. At the age of 16, Besagno, who signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS, became the second-youngest player in league history to be drafted, behind 2004's number one overall choice, 14-year-old Freddy Adu. In June 2008, Real Salt Lake loaned Besagno for ninety days to the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division. His older brother Jacob Besagno had previously spent two seasons with Seattle.

On November 24, 2008, Besagno was released by Real Salt Lake. Besagno started 2009 in camp with Seattle Sounders FC, but was cut toward the end of January. Having been unable to secure a professional contract, Besagno signed with Tacoma Tide of the USL Premier Development League for the 2009 season. Besagno is currently playing for PDL rival Washington Crossfire.

International

Besagno, a graduate of the Bradenton Academy, was a regular for the Under-17 United States national team, and later moved up to the Under-20 squad. In 2005, he played two games for the USA U-17 team at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship.