John Murphy made his professional debut on March 24, 2018, with New York Red Bulls II in a match at Atlanta United 2 as a registered academy player. On March 16, he will return to Atlanta in a Red Bulls II uniform, this time as the captain of the team.
The midfielder came back to New York this season after playing collegiately at Clemson University along with other professional clubs. He wore the captain’s armband in the team’s season-opening match at Miami FC on March 12.
“It’s a really proud moment for me,” Murphy said. “Preseason moved really fast; I came in as pretty much a trialist, then making the team and getting this role, it’s been a lot.”
Murphy logged 19 minutes over two matches in 2018 for Red Bulls II before playing 11 matches for Clemson in the fall. He returned to USL Championship as a member of Loudoun United FC. Last season, he was part of the USL League One championship-winning Union Omaha, where he appeared in eight matches.
He started three of New York’s four matches during the 2022 preseason, scoring a goal against Stony Brook from 20 yards out. His standout play and leadership within the team earned him a contract and the captain’s armband.
The team Murphy will lead is younger than the one he was part of in 2018, but the Scotch Plains, New Jersey, native is ready to take on the role.
“I think that it’s definitely a big responsibility, especially with such a young group,” Murphy said. “I just plan to be the best leader I can and help these guys out the best I can.”
Saturday’s home opener against Loudoun United FC will mark Murphy’s home debut with the club, culminating a journey that started with the club and ultimately brought him back as the team’s captain.
“I think it’s really going to kick in once I get to walk out at Montclair State and see my family out there in the stands,” Murphy said. “Leading a group of guys that all have the same common goal and being able to be the first guy to walk out on the field with the armband means a lot to me.”
