{{Short description|American soccer player, coach, and team owner (born 1968)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Greg Bajek | image = | caption = | fullname = Gregory Bajek | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|5|29}} | birth_place = Clifton, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = 1988–1990 | youthclubs1 = Kean College | years1 = 1991 | clubs1 = Penn-Jersey Spirit | caps1 = 10 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 1992–1993 | clubs2 = Stal Stalowa Wola | caps2 = 6 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 1994–1996 | clubs3 = North Jersey Imperials | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 1996–1998 | clubs4 = Central Jersey Riptide | caps4 = | goals4 = 16 | years5 = 2000 | clubs5 = New Brunswick Brigade | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2002–2004 | clubs6 = Jersey Falcons | caps6 = 30 | goals6 = 2 | years7 = 2005 | clubs7 = Western Mass Pioneers | caps7 = 10 | goals7 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2001, 2003–2004 | managerclubs1 = Jersey Falcons }} '''Greg Bajek''' (born May 29, 1968) is an American retired soccer player, coach and team owner who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League and owned a franchise in the USL Premier Development League.
Bajek grew up in Clifton, New Jersey and graduated from Clifton High School.<ref>[http://www.posteaglenewspaper.com/25644-2/ "Icon FC Will Host Stal Mielec of Poland This Saturday In Clifton, NJ"], ''The Post-Eagle'', June 13, 2016. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Bajek is a Clifton High School graduate who earned all-state honors for the Mustangs, and was a three-time All-American at Kean University before launching a long professional career in Poland and the U.S. 'Clifton will always be home. I was raised here, learned to play soccer here and now very proud to return with a professional team and the opportunity to showcase world-class soccer matches at Clifton High School Stadium.'"</ref> He attended Kean College, playing on the men's soccer team from 1988 to 1990. He was a 1988 NCAA Division III First Team All American.<ref>[http://www.keanathletics.com/sports/msoc/history/Kean_Men-s_Soccer_History_060409.pdf?dec= Kean College soccer records]</ref>
In July 1991, Bajek turned professional when he signed with the Penn-Jersey Spirit of the American Professional Soccer League.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/07/20/bays-travel-to-meet-renewed-spirit/ Bays travel to meet renewed Spirit]</ref><ref>[http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1991/stats91.htm#PJ 1991 Penn-Jersey Spirit]</ref> In 1992, he moved to Poland where he played for Stal Stalowa Wola. On March 3, 1994, Bajek signed with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140611113009/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22538914.html BAJEK SIGNS WITH IMPERIALS]</ref> In 1995 and 1996, the Imperials played in the USISL Pro League. In 1996, Bajek joined the Central Jersey Riptide of the USISL Pro League. In 1998 and 1999, the team moved down to the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 2000, he played for the New Brunswick Brigade. In 2001, Bajek became the owner and coach of the Jersey Falcons. From 2002 to 2004, he played for the Falcons. In 2003, he again became the head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010603%2FNEWS01%2F306039842&template=printart |title=Second half gives Crusaders 2nd life |access-date=2020-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407100312/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010603%2FNEWS01%2F306039842&template=printart |archive-date=2014-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/college/college2.php?article_id=227&offset=45 FALCONS LOOK TO SOAR IN '04]</ref> When the team collapsed in 2005, Bajek finished his career with the Western Mass Pioneers.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajek, Greg}} Category:Living people Category:1968 births Category:American soccer coaches Category:American men's soccer players Category:American expatriate men's soccer players Category:American soccer chairmen and investors Category:American Professional Soccer League players Category:Stal Stalowa Wola players Category:Jersey Falcons players Category:North Jersey Imperials players Category:Central Jersey Riptide players Category:New Brunswick Brigade players Category:Penn-Jersey Spirit players Category:USISL players Category:USL Second Division players Category:USL League Two players Category:Western Mass Pioneers players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Clifton High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:Soccer players from Clifton, New Jersey Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland