Anthony Marcucci Bio
Anthony Marcucci Jr., commonly known as AJ Marcucci, is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls. Born on August 31, 1999, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Marcucci rose through the youth soccer ranks in his home state before developing into one of the top goalkeepers in NCAA Division III during his time at Connecticut College. Selected by the New York Red Bulls in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, he has built his professional career with the Red Bulls organization, including a developmental spell with New York Red Bulls II and a loan to Finnish club IF Gnistan. Standing at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), he wears the number 1 shirt for the Red Bulls first team.
Marcucci became the first player ever drafted into Major League Soccer from Connecticut College and the first Division III selection since 2016, marking a significant milestone for both the program and lower-division college soccer as a whole. After years of steady development in college and the lower professional ranks, he debuted for the New York Red Bulls first team in March 2025 and continues to feature as a member of the senior goalkeeping corps.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Marcucci Jr. was born on August 31, 1999, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a suburb located in the western part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The community of West Chester has long been a fertile environment for youth sports, and Marcucci grew up surrounded by competitive soccer opportunities that helped shape his early development as a goalkeeper. From a young age, he displayed a natural aptitude for the position, drawing the attention of local coaches and academy staff.
Marcucci attended the Episcopal Academy, a private school in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, where he continued to play organized soccer through high school. Outside of school competition, he joined the Penn Fusion Soccer Club, one of the region’s most respected development academies, and remained a member of that program until 2017. His time with Penn Fusion provided high-level training and regular match exposure, helping him transition from a promising youth talent into a nationally recognized goalkeeping prospect by the time he finished his club youth career.
Path to Soccer
Marcucci’s progression into the upper levels of American soccer began in earnest when he enrolled at Connecticut College in 2017 to play for the Camels men’s soccer team in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Over the course of three active seasons with the Camels, he appeared in 54 of the team’s 55 matches, an extraordinary level of durability and consistency for a starting goalkeeper. His college career was cut to three playing seasons when the 2020 campaign was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his time at Connecticut College, Marcucci set a school record with 25 career shutouts and finished his career with an .887 save percentage and a 0.50 goals against average. His performances earned him NCAA All-America First Team honors from both the United Soccer Coaches and D3soccer.com in 2018 and 2019, recognizing him as the nation’s top Division III goalkeeper in back-to-back seasons. He was also named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the NESCAC Player of the Year in 2018. While at college, Marcucci also gained senior-level experience with National Premier Soccer League side West Chester United during the 2019 season, and he was set to return to the club for a 2020 USL League Two campaign that was ultimately canceled.
Anthony Marcucci Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Marcucci’s senior career began in 2019 when he featured for West Chester United in the National Premier Soccer League. Playing close to home in Chester County, Pennsylvania, he gained valuable minutes against experienced semi-professional opposition while still a teenager balancing his college commitments with Connecticut College. The experience of training and competing in an adult environment allowed him to refine his shot-stopping, distribution, and communication with back lines organized by older, more seasoned players.
The 2020 season, which was expected to be his second year with West Chester United after the club’s move to USL League Two, was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his senior opportunities. Nevertheless, his body of work in the NPSL and his standout college statistics positioned him as an attractive prospect ahead of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
New York Red Bulls II Breakthrough (2021–2024)
On January 21, 2021, Anthony Marcucci was selected 67th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls, becoming both the first player ever drafted from Connecticut College and the first Division III player drafted since 2016. Shortly after, on April 15, 2021, he signed with the organization’s USL Championship affiliate, New York Red Bulls II, providing him with a professional environment to continue his development.
Marcucci made his professional debut with New York Red Bulls II on May 14, 2021, starting in a 1–0 loss to Miami FC, and recorded his first professional victory just four days later in a 2–1 win over Loudoun United on May 18, 2021. His strong form during the 2021 season was rewarded on September 11, 2021, when he was moved to the New York Red Bulls first team roster in Major League Soccer, signaling the club’s confidence in his long-term potential. He continued to feature for Red Bulls II through 2024, gaining a reputation as a reliable, shot-stopping presence.
IF Gnistan Loan (2024)
On July 21, 2024, Marcucci was loaned to Finnish Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan until the end of the 2024 season, marking his first experience in European professional football. He debuted the very next day, on July 22, 2024, in a 2–2 away draw against Inter Turku, saving a stoppage-time penalty to help his side secure a point in dramatic fashion. The performance immediately established him as a fan favorite in Helsinki.
During his loan stint in Finland, Marcucci made 14 appearances for Gnistan and recorded five clean sheets, offering the club a steady foundation in goal during a difficult campaign. He played a key role as Gnistan navigated the relegation round and reached the semifinals of the Conference League play-offs, gaining meaningful experience in high-pressure knockout football.
New York Red Bulls Era (2021–Present)
Marcucci returned to the New York Red Bulls organization for the 2025 season following the conclusion of his loan in Finland. On March 22, 2025, he made his long-awaited first team debut for the Red Bulls, starting in a 2–1 victory over Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. The performance underlined the club’s continued faith in him as a goalkeeping option at the top level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Anthony Marcucci’s signature moments are his record-setting 25 career shutouts at Connecticut College, his back-to-back NCAA Division III All-America selections in 2018 and 2019, and his historic status as the first ever MLS SuperDraft pick from Connecticut College. His penalty save on debut for IF Gnistan in Finland and his first team debut victory for the New York Red Bulls against Toronto FC in March 2025 further highlight a career marked by clutch performances on important stages.
Anthony Marcucci Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Anthony Marcucci’s immediate family remains limited, and detailed background on his parents or any extended relatives is not widely documented.
Personal Life
Anthony Marcucci Jr. is recognized primarily through his work as a professional athlete, and details about his marital status, partner, or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents a new chapter for Anthony Marcucci with the New York Red Bulls after his return from the IF Gnistan loan in Finland. Following a stint that sharpened his game against international competition, he rejoined the Red Bulls squad looking to push for a more consistent role in Major League Soccer. He made his first team debut for the club on March 22, 2025, helping the Red Bulls to a 2–1 victory over Toronto FC and providing an early signature result in his top-flight career.
Marcucci’s time in Finland, where he played 14 matches and kept five clean sheets, is expected to bolster his case for more minutes with the Red Bulls in 2025. His performances in the Veikkausliiga relegation round and Conference League play-off semifinals demonstrated his ability to handle pressure and lead a back line in decisive fixtures. The 2025 campaign offers him the opportunity to consolidate his place within the Red Bulls’ goalkeeping hierarchy and build on his trajectory as one of the more intriguing late-round success stories of recent MLS drafts.