Dan Karbassiyoon (Player) - Inducted 2025

Daniel “Danny” Karbassiyoon’s soccer career began at the age of six, when he joined the Roanoke Star Soccer Club. He played for the club for thirteen years, becoming a fixture of their senior team.

While playing for Roanoke Star, Danny played for the McDonald’s All-American team, along with the Olympic Development Program Regional team. He attended the Elite Soccer Program Camp in Wilmington NC, where he was then noticed by an Arsenal scout.

 

In 2003, Danny was officially signed by Arsenal. Although he joined the team as a forward, he would change his positioning to that of a left back as time went on. In the same year, he became a member of the US Men’s Under 18 Team. He had 4 appearances and scored 2 goals.

 

Danny made his Arsenal debut on October 27^th, 2004, during a League Cup match against Manchester City. He would make a dramatic first impression, scoring a goal in the 90^th minute, securing Arsenal’s victory with a 2-1 lead. He played for Arsenal for the rest of the League Cup year, until he was released in the summer of 2005.

 

A series of injuries left Danny unable to continue playing the game he loved, but he stayed involved however he could. In April of 2007, Danny returned to Arsenal as a scout, and he is credited for scouting talents like Costa Rican international Joel Campbell, as well as German-born Gedion Zelalem. He now serves as Arsenal’s “Head of Football Platforms,” and oversees designing, building and implementing analytical software utilized to manage both Arsenal players and their opposition.

 

In 2016, Danny published an e-book, The Arsenal Yankee, detailing his journey from club player to league scout. Alongside his impressive career as a player, Danny continues to make an impact in soccer by remaining in the sport he loves, however
he can.