Once the World Cup ended with Germany's victory, the soccer fever that swept the city — packing bars and helping to birth a national spirit not seen since Rocky fought Drago — cooled down.
But if you're still jonesing for a soccer fix, Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls play just a short PATH-train ride away at a 25,000-seat arena in Harrison, NJ. And the roster is packed with hotties, personalities and skilled players.
"The record level of interest in this summer's World Cup has clearly shown that soccer is here to stay, both in the New York/ New Jersey area and around the country," says Marc de Grandpre, head of operations for the Red Bulls, who started out as the MetroStars in 1996 before switching names 10 years later. You can check out the action 7 p.m. Saturday when the Red Bulls play the San Jose Earthquakes. Here's a rundown of our local soccer heroes:
Thierry HenryPhoto: Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Thierry Henry, Forward
Age: 36
The French stud made headlines when he signed with the Red Bulls in 2010 after playing for top teams in Europe: Barcelona and Arsenal. He's the highest-paid player in the MLS. He was married to English model Nicole Merry, with whom he has a daughter named Téa. He's now dating Bosnian model Andrea Rajačić. Henry — a major sneakerhead — is also an avid fan of the NBA and pals around with his fellow countryman, San Antonio Spur Tony Parker.
Bradley Wright-PhillipsPhoto: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
Bradley Wright-Phillips, Striker
Age: 29
Phillips leads the league in scoring, but that is no surprise considering his pedigree. His father is Ian Wright, who was the all-time leading scorer for Arsenal, one of England's top teams — until Thierry Henry, who is now Phillips' Red Bull teammate — took that mantle. The Londoner's older brother, Shaun, also plays professional soccer.
Tim CahillPhoto: Rick Rycroft/AP
Tim Cahill, Midfielder
Age: 34
The Aussie midfielder is coming off not only playing for his home country in the World Cup, but also scoring one of the most beautiful goals in the tournament against the Dutch in the first round. He's the all-time leading goal-scorer for his country, and just this week picked up the ESPY for MLS Best Player. When he's not busy scoring goals, he's parenting his four children with his wife, childhood sweetheart Rebekah Greenhill. The pair married in 2010 in Vegas, while en route to Sydney.
Mike PetkePhoto: Bill Kostroun
Mike Petke, Coach
Age: 38
There is no bigger fan favorite than handsome coach Mike Petke. The Long Island native played 14 years of pro soccer and retired as a Red Bull. Petke, who lives in Red Bank, NJ, with his wife, Kim, and sons, Dylan and Mason, is in his second season as head coach. As a player, he was known for his hard-nosed defense. But now that he's on the sideline, he's carving a new niche — with his wardrobe. He's been vocal about eschewing track suits and opts for ties with sweater vests, cardigans and suits that his wife picks out.
Roy MillerPhoto: Juan Carlos/REUTERS
Roy Miller, Defender
Age: 29
The Costa Rica native is just back from the World Cup, where he played for his Central American homeland. Somewhat injury-prone, Miller was sidelined before the quarterfinals by a muscle strain in his leg, and last year he sliced his hand trying to cut open a coconut.
Dax McCartyPhoto: Mike Pont/Getty Images
Dax McCarty, Midfielder
Age: 27
The playful ginger has 146,000 Twitter followers and an avatar that shows him sporting a fur hat and a creepy mustache. The fun-loving but intense McCarty wrote a hilarious column for Yahoo Sports when he was injured last season.
Matt MiazgaPhoto: Corky Trewin
Matt Miazga, Defender
Age: 18
This Clifton, NJ, native is most definitely at home. The 6-foot-3 defender, has swarthy good looks and a quiff that will ensure he'll be a hit both on the field with fans and off the field with the ladies.
Luis RoblesPhoto: Nomi Ellenson/Getty Images
Luis Robles, Goalie
Age: 30
The Arizona-born Robles is something of an ironman — he was the only Red Bull to play all 3,060 minutes of the season last year. The team also named him its Humanitarian of the Year, after he spent time visiting area children's hospitals as well as helping out at soccer clinics and other programs for underprivileged children. On the field this season, he's started in all 19 games.
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