Mike Petke

A fan favorite, Petke returns to New York for his second stint with the club. Petke is the team's all-time games played (134), started (129) and minutes played (11,520) leader. A central defender, Petke immediately adds experience and depth to the team. Petke missed the first part of last season due to early-season foot surgery.

Professional:

2008: In his second full season with the Rapids, Petke appeared in 11 matches, making 10 starts. He played a total of 831 minutes and scored two goals, his first as a Rapid on Aug. 26, and the second Sept. 27 at New York.

2007: Appeared and started in 24 games, playing 2,018 minutes, tied for a team high among defenders. Scored one goal, on Aug. 26 vs. Los Angeles.

2006: Appeared and started 26 games, playing 2,256 minutes. Played 120 minutes in Western Conference Semifinals Game 2 at FC Dallas on Oct. 28, and played 74 minutes in Western Conference Final at Houston, Nov. 5.

2005: Began the season with D.C. United, scoring one goal (vs. Chicago, April 9). Moved on to Colorado, appearing in and starting 19 games.

2004: Made 26 appearances, starting 23 times. Helped D.C. maintain one of the lowest goals against totals in club history, while his lone goal of the season was a game-winner vs. New York.

2003: Made 25 appearances, all in a starting role in his first season in D.C.. Found the back of the net three times, including the first goal of the season for D.C. against Kansas City on April 12. Forced overtime against Columbus with a spectacular header six minutes into stoppage time on Oct. 19.

2002: Petke became New York's all-time regular season leader in games (134) and minutes played (11,520). Started all 27 games in which he appeared. Captained the side in the absence of Tab Ramos and Tim Howard for the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals against Columbus (Aug. 7), and was named a starter for the MLS All-Star team that faced the U.S. Men's National Team in RFK on Aug. 3. 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: 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. Started and played the first 45 minutes of the 6-6 draw. Scored the second goal against Deportivo Italchacao of Venezuela on Aug. 8 in the MetroStars' Copa Merconorte opener, winning 2-0. With his 92nd appearance as a MetroStar, he broke the team record for games played against the Kansas City Wizards on May 24.

2000: Recorded career-highs in minutes (2,672), goals (3), games played (30), and games started (29) while helping the MetroStars to the 2000 Eastern Division Title. Clinched the club's first ever overtime win (3-2) against D.C. off a 98th minute Lothar Matthaus free kick on April 22. In his first MLS All-Star game, Petke played 56 minutes as the East defeated the West 9-4 at Columbus Crew Stadium. Tallied two assists in the MetroStars' postseason run.

1999: Equaled his rookie season's production with one goal and one assist. Missed four matches due to a sprained left ankle. Scored the game-winner off a header in the home opener on March 28 against Columbus, his lone tally of the season.

1998: Started 25 of his 27 games as a rookie, totaling 2,234 minutes. Recorded his first start on April 17, a 1-0 win over Chicago. His first and only goal of the season was the 69th minute game-winner on June 24 against New England. The fans voted the goal as the MetroStars.com Goal of the Year.

International:

Was part of the 2002 U.S. Men's National Team player pool, earning his first cap during a scoreless draw with Ecuador in Columbus on June 7, playing the full 90 minutes. Was part of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team player pool in Atlanta. Captained the U.S. Under-21 Team, and was a member of the U.S. squad that competed in the 1995 World University Games in Japan.

College/Club:

At Southern Connecticut State University, Petke was awarded All-New England Collegiate Conference First Team honors in 1998. Totaled two goals and four assists in 22 starts as a tri-captain of the team. In 1997, was named NECC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-NECC and was a consensus NSCAA/Umbro First Team All- America selection. In 1995, led SCSU to the NCAA Division II national championship and was named Conference Rookie of the Year.

Personal:

Served as the Rapids' official spokesplayer for the Denver SCORES inner-city school soccer and creative writing program. Married to wife Kim, with two children. Created his own charitable foundation, the "Mike Petke Kick the Violence Foundation".