2014 (Seattle): Pappa made 29 appearances during the regular season, including 24 starts. He recorded six goals and five assists, which ranked fifth-most and tied-fifth-most, respectively, for the club. Pappa made his club debut in the season opener versus Sporting Kansas City (March 8). Against Real Salt Lake (May 31), Pappa scored his first Sounders FC goal and recorded his first assist. In a substitute role, he tallied two goals in the final five minutes to secure the Supporters’ Shield in a 2-0 win versus LA Galaxy (October 25). During four postseason appearances, Pappa recorded one assist in the First Leg of the Western Conference Semifinals. After his 2014 campaign, Pappa earned the Premios Univision Deportes’ MLS Player of the Year Award and FutbolMLS.com’s 2014 Latino del Año award. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week in Week 18 and Week 33. In Week 33, he was also named the MLS Player of the Week.
2012-13 (SC Heerenveen): Pappa played in 11 matches in his only season with SC Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie. He made one start and recorded two assists. Pappa appeared in eight matches for the team’s reserve squad in the Beloften Divisie A, scoring one goal and starting seven matches.
2012 (Chicago): Pappa started 20 of 22 matches, logging 1,615 minutes in his final season with the Fire. He scored six goals with five assists. Pappa scored in back-to-back games twice: versus Seattle (April 28) and at Chivas USA (May 4) as well as Columbus (June 23) and at Kansas City (June 29). He tied a career-high with three game-winning goals and set career-high with two game-winning assists.
2011 (Chicago): Pappa appeared in 29 matches, starting 27. He finished second behind Dominic Oduro and set a career-high with eight goals, adding two assists. Pappa scored his first career hat trick against Real Salt Lake (September 28), becoming the fifth player in Chicago history to record a hat trick. In addition, he appeared in four U.S. Open Cup matches, logging 366 minutes in the team’s run to the 2011 final. He started two international friendlies against Manchester United (July 23) and Chivas de Guadalajara (September 14).
2010 (Chicago): Pappa appeared in 25 matches, winning the team’s Golden Boot award with seven goals and finishing second on the team with five assists. He won the 2010 MLS Goal of the Year award for his one-time half volley in a 2-1 loss versus San Jose on April 10. He was voted a starter and made his first career MLS All-Star appearance as the team fell, 5-2, to Manchester United in Houston. Pappa scored a brace in a 2-2 draw versus Colorado (June 9). He recorded three game-winning goals: 2-0 win at DC (April 17), 2-1 win versus Philadelphia (June 5) and 1-0 win at NE (June 27). He appeared in all three matches in the Superliga, providing the game-winning assist in the 1-0 win versus Pumas UNAM (July 20). He played the full 120 minutes during the scoreless draw versus Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open Cup. In addition, Pappa appeared in all three friendlies, starting in 1-0 losses to Paris Saint Germain (May19) and A.C. Milan (May 30).
2009 (Chicago): Pappa started 28 of his 30 appearances in his first full season with the Fire, recording five goals and four assists on the season. He appeared in five Superliga games as the Fire progressed to the final of the international tournament, plus another 23 minutes in the friendly against Club America (April 29).
2007-2008 (Chicago/C.S.D. Municipal): Pappa played in six matches, starting in three after joining the Fire on loan from CSD Municipal (July 30). With Chicago, Pappa appeared in seven total matches.
2005-2006 (C.S.D. Municipal): Pappa joined Guatemalan side CSD Municipal in 2004 at the age of 16, and made his professional debut in a domestic league match in August 2006 against Guatemalan club Deportivo Pepata. His first professional goal came against the Nicaraguan club Real Madriz during the 2006 UNCAF tournament.
Pappa has 37 caps with 10 goals and three assists for Guatemala. He has three goals in 15 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, including one goal against the United States in 2012. In the 2014 Copa Centroamericana, he earned the Golden Boot and earned the Golden Ball for best player after scoring four goals and leading Guatemala to a second-place finish. He helped Guatemala finish with a perfect 6-0-0 record and move to the 2014 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying semifinals. Overall, Pappa appeared in nine 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He also represented Guatemala at the U17, U20, U21 and U23 levels. Pappa was on the roster for the U23 team in the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, just missing a trip Beijing by finishing third in the tournament.
Pappa and his wife, Maricela, have one daughter, Paula. He has two older brothers and one younger sister. His father, Vinicio Pappa, coaches karate in Guatemala. He enjoys going to the movies and spending time with his family.
Acquired via allocation on January 31, 2014.
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