Matt Luzunaris

Matt Luzunaris (born March 6, 1989) is an American retired soccer player. During the 2000s and 2010s he played for clubs in Austria and the United States.

Career

Youth and college Luzunaris was born on 6 March 1989 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After Schwanenstadt reorganized he re-signed with the club under the Magna Wiener Neustadt moniker. In early 2009 he was loaned to Brazilian club Botofogo, but was unable to play for the club due to visa restrictions in Brazil; he returned to Wiener Neustadt in June. He was then signed in July by SK Rapid Wien to a three-year contract, where he played for the second team.

United States On March 25, 2011, Luzunaris was signed by the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, and he made his debut for the team on April 9 in a 1–1 tie with Toronto FC. In July 2011, the Earthquakes loaned Luzunaris to Orlando City for an unspecified length but with the right to recall. Luzunaris scored goals in his first two games playing for City against Rochester

Luzunaris and San Jose parted ways after the 2011 season and signed with Orlando City on December 5, 2011. Luzunaris appeared in 18 matches for the Lions scoring 9 goals and becoming the team's second leading goal scorer and USL PRO's 3rd leading goal scorer in the league. He also made USL PRO's team of the year.

Luzunaris announced his retirement on January 13, 2015.

Personal life Luzunaris was engaged to Austen Everett (1986–2012), herself a college soccer player for Miami. She died after a lengthy battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma on August 14, 2012. Luzunaris and Everett founded a foundation, the Austen Everett Foundation, to connect children challenged by life-threatening illnesses and professional, intercollegiate teams and athletes.

Luzunaris married Sara Luzunaris (née Deisinger) on September 3, 2016. They live in Williamson, New York with their four-year-old son and a menagerie of pets.