PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Ahead of his 26th season at the helm of the Knights men's soccer program, FDU head coach Seth Roland has been selected to coach the United States Master's (35+ years old) men's soccer side at the 21st World Maccabiah Games, scheduled to be played from July 12 through 26th in Israel.

The third-largest international sporting event, the Maccabiah games are held quadrennially in Israel and is the largest Jewish athletic competition in the world. Beginning in 1932, the games have grown to include 10,000 participating athletes representing 85 countries across 45 sports, putting the number of competitors just behind the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.

"I'm thrilled to be appointed head coach in the upcoming 21st World Maccabiah Games. It's an honor anytime you're asked to represent your country and to do so in an exciting quadrennial event like this is truly special," commented Roland. "It's the first time I've coached the Master's as the other seven times I've competed has been as either a player or coach with the Open team. The Master's [team] have never won a medal in this event so I'm looking forward to trying to help guide them to their first one ever."

No stranger to the Maccabiah games, Roland played on the 1981 U.S. team which took home the silver medal. The Teaneck, N.J. native was the U.S. leading scorer and played center midfield for the Stars and Stripes. FDU's gaffer returned over a decade later to coach the 1993 side to a bronze medal finish. A three-year starter at Penn, Roland played in four Maccabiah games and has coached in three heading into this year's games with the most recent being 2009.

Further connecting the Burgundy and Blue to the event, Roland added, "One of our top players is former FDU student-athlete and future Knights Hall of Famer Nadav Gottesman, who captained FDU soccer in 2004 and 2005." Gottesman, a four-year student-athlete, was FDU's goals and points leader in 2002, his freshman season. A First Team All-NEC honoree in 2003 and 2004, Gottesman earned Second Team All-NEC honors in 2002 and 2005, while also garnering CoSIDA Academic All-District Honors in back-to-back seasons (2004, 2005). The midfielder also collected Third Team All-Region recognition in 2003 and was the Northeast Conference men's soccer Scholar-Athlete in 2004, his junior campaign. Gottesman finished his time at FDU with 18 goals, five assists and 41 statistical points in 76 fixtures.

"There's a unique and special spirit of Jewish brotherhood during the Maccabiah event, but once the whistle blows it's all about the US trying to beat our opponents," remarked Roland. "I can't wait to compete there again."

This year's Master's team has been grouped in soccer competition against Brazil, Canada, Chile and England with the top two finishers advancing to the semifinal.

For more information on this year's event, please click here or the link above.

Connect with FDU men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMSOC.