| Intro | Footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | United States of America |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 5 June 1986, Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain |
| Age: | 34 years |
| Star sign | Gemini |
Nicolas Perera (born 5 June 1986) is a Spanish-born, American professional footballer currently with Ontario Fury of the MASL as well as the United States national beach soccer team.
Early life
Perera was born in Madrid, Spain to Prudencio and Dione Perera. Despite having a Spanish father and an American mother, Perera spent most of his childhood in Belgium and can speak 5 languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French.
Playing career
Youth and college
Perera played youth soccer in Belgium with club team K.N.S. Tervuren, as well as his high school team European School of Brussels. He walked on to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men’s soccer team in 2005 after receiving a recommendation from his mother.
I asked my mom where would be a good place to go to college, and she said Santa Barbara sounded like a fun place. Junior year of high school I came to visit the campus and I fell in love with Santa Barbara.
—Nick Perera
Perera played an integral role in UC Santa Barbara’s attack, leading the Gauchos to the 2006 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship and winning the national title. For his performances in the 2006 tournament, he was named the College Cup’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
Professional
After finishing college, Perera played a few matches with California-based Bakersfield Brigade of the USL Premier Development League where he was reunited with UC Santa Barbara teammates Tino Nuñez, Greg Curry, Jon Curry, and Andrew Proctor. Additionally, Eric Wynalda was also on the squad.
Perera then joined Benidorm CF in Spain, before heading back to America to join San Diego Sockers where he played indoor soccer. Despite appearing in just 6 games, he scored 5 goals for the club.
In the off-season, Perera joined Milwaukee Wave. Perera racked up 69 appearances, scoring 52 goals, before moving back to San Diego Sockers ahead of their 2014/15 season. In October 2016 Nick was traded to Ontario Fury.
International
Perera represented the United States in the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup where he led the team in goals scored. Despite the United States not advancing past the group stage, his 5 goals were good for a seventh place finish overall in the tournament.
Honours
Club
- NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship: 2006
Individual
- College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player: 2006