Daniel Steres Bio
Daniel Howard Steres (born November 11, 1990) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender. Over the course of his career, he has represented clubs across Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League, including the LA Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo. Steres has earned recognition at the lower divisions of American soccer, with multiple All-League selections during his time in the USL.
Standing 6 feet tall, Steres has built his reputation as a reliable center back who contributes on both sides of the ball, scoring key goals while anchoring defensive lines. He began his career with the San Diego State Aztecs and later ventured into professional soccer, showcasing his talent on multiple platforms.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Howard Steres was born on November 11, 1990, in Burbank, California, to parents Suzie and Mark Steres. He grew up in nearby Calabasas, California, where his family established deep roots. Steres has a younger brother named Andrew, and the Steres family identifies as Jewish.
Steres grew up a devoted fan of the LA Galaxy, citing Cobi Jones and Mauricio Cienfuegos as his favorite players during that era. He is also a supporter of English club Tottenham Hotspur. These early sporting influences helped shape his passion for the game and set the foundation for his future career.
Path to Soccer
Steres began playing organized soccer with the DMS11 club team, starting at the U-11 level and continuing with the same squad through the U-19 age group. During that span, the team captured a Dallas Cup championship, an early sign of Steres’s competitive pedigree. He went on to play four years of varsity soccer at Calabasas High School, where he was twice named to the Maramonte League and earned all-California Interscholastic Federation honors.
His development continued at San Diego State University, where Steres played four seasons of college soccer on scholarship for the San Diego State Aztecs from 2008 to 2011. As a freshman, he was named the team’s Top Newcomer and was recognized on the 2008 Jewish Sports Review All-America First Team. He earned All-Pac-10 Second Team honors in 2010, and capped his senior year in 2011 with NSCAA All-Far West Region First Team, All-Pac-12 First Team, and Aztecs Team MVP recognition.
Daniel Steres Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Steres was selected 28th overall in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by Chivas USA, though he did not sign a contract with the club. He spent the 2011 and portions of the 2012 season with amateur side Ventura County Fusion in the USL PDL, where he had played during college offseasons. In June 2012, he was picked up by Seattle Sounders FC in the MLS Waiver Draft and signed a deal, but was released at the end of the year without making a first-team appearance.
He joined USL Pro side Wilmington Hammerheads for the 2013 season, where he made his debut on April 20 in a 2–0 win over Antigua Barracuda. Steres scored his first professional goal on May 18 against the Los Angeles Blues and finished the campaign with 7 goals and 3 assists in 25 league appearances, leading the team in scoring despite playing as a center back. He was named USL Pro All-League Second Team and team MVP, although the Hammerheads narrowly missed the playoffs.
LA Galaxy II Breakthrough (2014–2015)
Steres signed with LA Galaxy II of USL Pro for the 2014 season and made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut on March 22 in a 3–1 win over Orange County Blues FC. He finished the regular season with 3 goals in 24 appearances, helping Galaxy II to a third-place finish and a playoff berth. Steres started both playoff matches as Los Dos reached the semifinals, where they fell 3–2 to eventual champions Sacramento Republic FC. He earned USL Pro All-League Second Team honors for the second consecutive year and was named LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year.
In 2015, Steres served as team captain and logged 25 appearances with 2 goals in the regular season. He played every minute of Galaxy II’s four playoff games as they reached the USL Championship, where they were eliminated 2–1 in extra time by the Rochester Rhinos. Steres was elevated to the USL All-League First Team and repeated as LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year.
LA Galaxy Era (2016–2021)
On December 17, 2015, Steres signed a first-team contract with the LA Galaxy. He made an immediate splash on March 6, 2016, scoring on his MLS debut in a 4–1 win over D.C. United. Steres appeared in 31 matches with 1 goal and 1 assist, helping the Galaxy to a third-place finish in the Western Conference, and he played every minute of the team’s three playoff games before a penalty shootout loss to the Colorado Rapids in the Conference Semifinals.
In 2017, Steres started the first 12 games before a hamstring injury sidelined him for nine matches. He returned to score twice in a 4–3 loss to the New England Revolution but missed the final six games with a stress fracture in his back, ending the year with 3 goals in 21 appearances. The 2018 season saw him register 20 appearances and 1 assist, including a crucial helper in the first-ever El Tráfico match, a 4–3 comeback win over LAFC. He added 3 goals in 30 appearances during the 2019 campaign, helping LA return to the playoffs, and signed a new contract in December 2019. Steres appeared in 20 of 23 possible games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and in 2021 he logged 18 appearances and 2 assists before being traded.
Houston Dynamo Era (2022–Present)
On December 12, 2021, Steres was traded to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He made his Dynamo debut on February 27, 2022, going the full 90 minutes in a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake. His first Houston goal came on August 13 in a 3–2 loss to CF Montréal, and he added his first assist the following week, setting up Sebastián Ferreira in stoppage time against the Colorado Rapids. Steres finished the 2022 regular season with 18 appearances, 2 goals, and 1 assist, and on November 3, 2022, he signed a contract extension through 2024 with a club option for 2025. Following the 2025 season, Houston declined his contract option.
Playing Style and Strengths
Steres is recognized for his composure in central defense and his knack for contributing offensively from the back, a trait highlighted by his scoring numbers as a center back in the USL. His ability to read the game, organize the back line, and deliver on set pieces has made him a dependable option across multiple levels of American soccer. Throughout his career, he has paired his defensive duties with timely goals and assists, particularly from set-piece situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments, Steres scored on his MLS debut for the LA Galaxy in 2016, delivered an assist in the first-ever El Tráfico rivalry match in 2018, and led LA Galaxy II to a USL Championship appearance in 2015. His consistent All-League selections in the USL underscored his stature at that level before his transition to full-time MLS duty.
Daniel Steres Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Daniel Howard Steres has accumulated a diverse set of accomplishments spanning the USL Pro, USL Championship, and Major League Soccer. His awards include USL-Pro All-League Second Team honors in 2013 and 2014, USL All-League First Team in 2015, and LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.
USL and MLS Highlights
Steres’s 2013 campaign with Wilmington Hammerheads stands out, as he finished with 7 goals despite playing as a center back, leading his team in scoring. With LA Galaxy II, he was a defensive cornerstone during back-to-back playoff runs, including a trip to the 2015 USL Championship. In MLS, his debut goal for the LA Galaxy in 2016 and his role in multiple playoff appearances with the club highlight his top-flight contributions.
Other Performances
Beyond league play, Steres has made appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League and the U.S. Open Cup with the LA Galaxy, adding to his tournament experience. His captaincy of LA Galaxy II in 2015 reflected his leadership qualities and his standing within the Galaxy organization during that era.
Daniel Steres Family
Family Background and Lineage
Daniel Howard Steres was raised in a close-knit family in Calabasas, California. His parents are Mark Steres and Suzie Steres, and he has a younger brother, Andrew. On his mother’s side, his maternal grandmother is Jo Seligman, while his paternal grandparents are Bob and Rochelle Steres. The Steres family is of Jewish heritage, a background Daniel has spoken about publicly.
Personal Life
Steres grew up cheering for the LA Galaxy, the club where he would later spend six seasons as a professional, and he also follows English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. His California roots and family support have remained central to his journey from youth soccer in Calabasas to a long professional career in Major League Soccer.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented the final year of Daniel Howard Steres’s contract with the Houston Dynamo, which ran through 2024 with a club option for 2025. Across his time in Houston, Steres continued to provide veteran leadership and defensive stability for the Dynamo back line.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, the Houston Dynamo declined Steres’s contract option, marking the end of his tenure with the club. His departure closes a chapter that began with his December 2021 trade from the LA Galaxy and included a contract extension signed in November 2022.
As a free agent following the 2025 season, Steres’s next move will be a focal point for fans and analysts tracking experienced MLS defenders. His track record of durability, postseason experience, and contributions on both ends of the field make him an intriguing option for clubs seeking experienced center back help.