Mike Grella

Michele Grella (born January 23, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward and winger, who is currently a soccer analyst for CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.

Grella was born in Glen Cove, New York and had a highly successful youth career playing as a striker.

He was a 2003 and 2004 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player and the 2004 NSCAA National High School Player of the Year for the Glen Cove Big Red.

He led his club team, the Albertson Red Storm, to both the 2003 and 2004 USYSA National Championships and the Red Storm Academy to the 2004 Super Y-League Championship.

During the 2007 collegiate offseason, he played for the Long Island Rough Riders in the fourth division USL Premier Development League for coach Mike Mackney.

Grella played college soccer for Duke University where he was a 2008 first team All American.

In 2008, he played five more games for Long Island before switching to play for the Cary RailHawks U23's mid-season.

In February 2009, he was drafted in the third round (34th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC.

However, Grella decided against signing for the Canadian club, and instead tried his luck at playing in Europe.

Grella went on trial with Leeds United in January 2009, and scored a hat-trick for the club's reserves on the 21st of that month against Barnsley FC.

He also scored a goal in a behind closed doors game, with news of a permanent deal pending.

He signed a full-time contract for Leeds United on transfer deadline day, 2 February 2009, until the end of the 2009–10 season.

He made his Leeds debut on 14 February 2009, after coming on as a 74th minute substitute for Lee Trundle in a 1–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.

His first season in professional football was mainly spent making short cameos as a substitute during Leeds fight for promotion.

He came on late in Leeds' playoff semi final against Millwall but was unable to grab a goal during his first team appearances for Leeds.

Grella scored his first senior goal for Leeds in a pre-season friendly against Burnley.

On 10 August 2009 he was voted Man Of The Match in a League Cup match against Darlington although he didn't score.

He signed a new long-term contract with Leeds.

Grella had to wait just over seven months for his first league start.

Replacing the injured Jermaine Beckford in the starting line up for the visit of Stockport County to Elland Road on 5 September 2009, it took him just eight minutes to score his first league goal, curling in an opportunistic effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Grella scored for Leeds after coming on as a late substitute in the 2–0 FA Cup win against Oldham.

He repeated this FA Cup goalscoring form on 8 December 2009 in the FA Cup replay against Kettering Town, coming on as a substitute during the second period of extra time.

Grella's introduction changed the pace of the game (which had previously been 1–1), as he scored twice as Leeds won the game 5–1, taking his tally to four for Leeds.

Grella started for Leeds in the Football League Trophy game against Accrington Stanley.

Grella was substituted in the same game and replaced by Sam Vokes.

Grella was an unused substitute for Leeds' victory away to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round.

Grella started Leeds' Football League Trophy Northern Area Final first leg against Carlisle United, and he was substituted late in the second half by Luciano Becchio.

Grella's fifth goal of the season for Leeds came in Football League Trophy Northern Area Final second leg against Carlisle United.

With Grella coming on as a second-half substitute and scoring the late winner to send the tie to penalties, one of which Grella converted in the shootout, but Leeds ended up crashing out of the tournament after losing 6–5 on penalties.

After coming on as a first-half substitute against Norwich City, Grella was given a start against Swindon Town after Luciano Becchio's head injury ruled him out.

Grella dropped back onto the bench for the rest of the season, and was limited to late substitute appearances.

Leeds were promoted as League 1 runners up after beating Bristol Rovers.

Over the course of the season Grella was unable to break up the 48 goal partnership that consisted of Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio and had to settle for a role mainly as a substitute.

He made his first appearance in The Championship when he came on in the opening fixture as a second-half substitute in the loss to Derby County and remained on Leeds' bench as an unused substitute in the opening fixtures.

After the arrival of Ross McCormack and the emergence of Davide Somma saw Grella dropped down the pecking order at Leeds, Grella was set to go out on loan in order to gain some more first team experience, on transfer deadline day he turned down a loan move to League Two side Oxford United.

To help maintain match fitness, Grella played 90 minutes in Leeds' 3–1 behind closed doors friendly win against Middlesbrough on 14 September, scoring a brace in the process.

On 22 September 2010, Grella turned down the opportunity of joining Bradford City on loan.

Simon Grayson revealed his disappointment that Grella turned down the loan move as he wanted him to get a regular run of games out on loan.

On 12 October 2010, Grella joined Carlisle United on a month's loan to gain some more first team experience and gain regular football.

He joined fellow Leeds loanee Ľubo Michalík who was already at the club.