Mike Grella, a native of Glen Cove, New York, was a finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year, and turned heads throughout the season as he racked up nine goals and seven assists, good for third-most on the team in each category. The former Leeds man returned home as a preseason trialist and played himself into a starting role for the Red Bulls. Grella scored several highlight reel goals, and made himself known to MLS defenders with his step overs and clever touches along the end line.
Grella scored his first for New York on the road in Columbus early in the season. His game-winning chip of Steve Clark from distance would go down not just as one of the best goals of the MLS season, but also as the 1,000th goal in franchise history across all competitions.
In October, Grella set a new MLS record for fastest goal to start a match, stealing possession from the Philadelphia Union off the opening kick and tearing down the field to score just seven seconds after the opening whistle.
