Swathi Karthik
Sophomore midfielder Manny Perez dribbles the ball against Virginia Tech on Friday Sept. 21 at Dail Soccer Field. Perez had 1 shot as the Wolfpack won 1-0.
NC State men’s soccer has seen recent success under head coach George Kiefer, but over the years the program has also produced some excellent players and coaches, many of whom are still playing and managing at top sides in the United States and abroad.
Nazmi Albadawi, 2010-2013
Albadawi, who has made five appearances for Palestine on the international stage, is currently plying his trade with MLS new kids FC Cincinnati. The midfielder has yet to play for the Ohio-based club in the MLS, but he impressed in the team’s 2018 USL season, scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances. Prior to joining FC Cincinnati, Albadawi made 110 appearances for NCFC between 2014 and 2017. During his time at NC State, Albadawi scored 17 goals, including a memorable overtime winner against archrivals UNC-Chapel Hill.
Conor Donovan, 2014
Donovan, unrelated to legendary USMNT forward Landon Donovan, made 15 appearances for the Wolfpack during his one season with the team, which proved enough to get the defender drafted 22nd in the MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. Since the draft, Donovan has had a bit of a journeyman’s career, playing for four different clubs since. The defender is currently playing for Rio Grande Valley FC Toros in the USL Championship. Donovan has also played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on loan, and was under contract for the Houston Dynamo but never made an appearance for the club.
Moses Makinde, 2010-2013
Makinde played for the Wolfpack during the transition period between head coaches George Tarantini and Kelly Findley. The team finished with a winning record in three out of four of Makinde’s seasons. Currently, Makinde plays for the Tulsa Roughnecks in the USL Championship, making one appearance for the Tulsa side this season, which currently sits on top of the USL Championship Group B standings.
Alex Martinez, 2012-2013
Martinez was very good for the Wolfpack in his time on campus, leading the team in points in 2012 with 32, 11 goals and 10 assists, which put him 11th in all-time single season point totals for the Pack. Having played for five clubs since his departure from campus, including MLS side Sporting Kansas City where he made 10 appearances, Martinez has found a home for himself at USL Championship team Charlotte Independence, making 86 appearances for the club since 2015.
Manny Perez, 2017-2018
The most recent export from the Wolfpack program is winger Manny Perez. Perez impressed in his freshman season registering 14 points, five goals and four assists in 15 appearances. Adding another goal and five assists to his tally in his sophomore season, along with appearances for the United States U-20 National Team was enough to earn the forward a trial with Glasgow-based club Celtic,who signed the player to a three-and-a-half year contract after he impressed in his trial. Since his move to Celtic, Perez has been loaned back to Raleigh to play for USL Championship side NCFC, where he played a majority of his youth career. Following his return to Raleigh, Perez has made one appearance for NCFC.
Dewan Bader, 1989-1992
Bader had a successful professional career bouncing between indoor and outdoor soccer, making more than 350 appearances between the two and winning four championships, including the 1995 U.S. Open Cup with the Richmond Kickers. Bader also played for the U.S. National Futsal Team during his career. Since retiring, Bader has managed both at the college level, as an assistant with Johns Hopkins, and the professional level, as an assistant for the NCFC first team and as head coach for the NCFC U-23s. Bader has been with the North Carolina club since 2010.
Roy Lassiter, 1990-1992
Lassiter played for the Wolfpack during an era of success, which included the 1990 ACC Tournament win under head coach George Tarantini. After leaving the university, Lassiter carved out a rather successful professional career with stints in Costa Rica, Italy and his native U.S., making 315 appearances and scoring 120 goals at the club level. Lassiter also made 34 appearances for the USMNT, scoring four goals. Following his retirement, Lassiter has managed or been a director at five different clubs, including the U.S. branch of Arsenal FC’s youth development. Lassiter currently manages NPSL side Kitsap SC Pumas in Bremerton, Washington.
Tab Ramos, 1984-1987
Ramos played for the Wolfpack under head coaches Larry Gross and George Tarantini, and while Ramos was on the team the Wolfpack never finished a season below a .667 win percentage. During his professional career, Ramos played for seven different clubs, making a combined 271 appearances, including a three-year spell with Real Betis in the Spanish Second Division. Ramos also made 81 appearances for the USMNT, scoring 8 goals. In 2011, Ramos took the reins of the U.S. U-20 side, and under the Wolfpack alum the side has reached the U-20 World Cup quarterfinal twice and won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship twice and finished runner-up once.