1997 New York/New Jersey Metrostars Roster
Team Record: 11-17 (SO: 2-2) - 35 points
Finishing 5th in MLS's Eastern Conference
Coach: Carlos Alberto (11-17, SO: 2-2)
Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
Attendance: 270,388, Avg. 16,899 in 16 home dates
The New York/New Jersey Metrostars of Major League Soccer ended the 1997 season with a record of 11 wins and 17 losses, with a 2-2 showing in shootouts for 35 points finishing fifth in MLS's Eastern Conference.
The Metrostars chalked up 45 goals and yielded 55. Giovanni Savarese scored 14 goals for New York/New Jersey, while Antony De Avila netted five or more also. Miles Joseph contributed 10 assists. Tony Meola topped the squad with 12 wins and a team-best 1.07 goals against average, best among goalkeepers with enough qualifying appearances.
Carlos Alberto coached the team.
Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Pos. | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaun Bartlett | F | October 31, 1972 | 6'2" | 180 | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Brian Bliss | D | September 28, 1965 | 5'8" | 150 | Rochester, NY |
| Branco | D | April 4, 1964 | 6'0" | 180 | Bage, Brazil |
| Braeden Cloutier | M | October 3, 1974 | 5'11" | 165 | Wichita, KS |
| Cristian da Silva | D | February 3, 1971 | 5'11" | 172 | Rosario, Argentina |
| Antony De Avila | F | December 21, 1963 | 5'3" | 135 | Santa Marta, Colombia |
| John DeBrito | D | December 3, 1968 | 6'2" | 170 | , Cape Verde |
| Roberto Donadoni | M | September 9, 1963 | 5'9" | 160 | Bergamo, Italy |
| Gerson Echeverry | F | August 25, 1971 | 5'11" | 175 | Paterson, NJ |
| Guido | M | March 9, 1976 | 5'8" | 150 | |
| Rhett Harty | D | March 8, 1970 | 6'1" | 175 | Pasadena, CA |
| Ezra Hendrickson | D | January 16, 1972 | 6'3" | 185 | Layou, St. Vincent & Grenadines |
| Rob Johnson | F | February 10, 1973 | 5'11" | 175 | Freehold, NJ |
| Miles Joseph | M | May 2, 1974 | 5'9" | 165 | West Springfield, MA |
| Brian Kelly | M | October 6, 1974 | 5'7" | 140 | Mission Viejo, CA |
| Matt Knowles | D | October 7, 1970 | 6'1" | 190 | Philadelphia, PA |
| Manny Lagos | M | June 11, 1971 | 6'0" | 165 | St. Paul, MN |
| Andrew Lewis | M | July 10, 1974 | 6'1" | 175 | New Providence, NJ |
| Joao Luiz | D | June 23, 1971 | 6'0" | 170 | |
| Tony Meola | G | February 21, 1969 | 6'1" | 205 | Belleville, NJ |
| Carlos Parra | M | February 3, 1977 | 6'0" | 165 | West Haven, CT |
| Tab Ramos | M | September 21, 1966 | 5'7" | 140 | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Marco Rizi | D | September 15, 1968 | 6'1" | 185 | Toronto, ON |
| Giovanni Savarese | F | July 14, 1970 | 6'0" | 180 | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Mark Semioli | D | March 20, 1968 | 6'0" | 175 | Brooklyn, NY |
| Mike Sorber | M | May 14, 1971 | 5'10" | 165 | St. Louis, MO |
| Zach Thornton | G | October 10, 1973 | 6'3" | 230 | Baltimore, MD |
| A.J. Wood | F | August 17, 1973 | 6'2" | 195 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Jeff Zaun | D | April 2, 1971 | 6'0" | 165 | Orange, NJ |
| Kerry Zavagnin | M | July 2, 1974 | 5'10" | 170 | Plymouth, MI |
