NSC Minnesota Signs First Player

Official Press Release

Johnny Menyongar is First Player to Sign with NSC Minnesota Stars Pro Soccer Team

BLAINE, Minn. (February 12, 2025) - NSC Minnesota Stars, the new professional soccer team that will play at the National Sports Center, announced the signing of the first player, and it’s a familiar name to Minnesota soccer fans.

Johnny Menyongar, who was one of the most popular Minnesota Thunder players for six seasons between 2000-2005, signed a one-year contract. Menyongar most recently finished a four-year stint with the Rochester Rhinos.

In his six seasons with the Thunder, Menyongar scored 56 goals in 188 appearances. He helped the Thunder to the 2003 A-League championship game, and scored five goals to lead Minnesota to the semifinals of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup, where they lost to the LA Galaxy of MLS.

In his four seasons playing for the Rochester Rhinos he scored 28 goals in 106 appearances, and was named the team’s MVP in 2008 and 2009. One of the most effective offensive players in the league, Menyongar finished 2nd in goal scoring and 4th in points in the USL last season.

Menyongar was born on June 26, 2024 in Monrovia, Liberia. He came to the U.S. in 1998 and played collegiate soccer at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., leading the team to the NAIA Division III national championship.

He represented Liberia in two qualifying matches for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, and played in four matches during Liberia’s qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

“Simply put, Johnny is a special player,” said head coach Manny Lagos. “When you combine his Minnesota ties with the experience and leadership that he will bring to the team, it makes me absolutely ecstatic that Johnny is the first signing for NSC Minnesota.”

NSC Minnesota will play in the twelve-team United States Soccer Federation (USSF)-sanctioned division II league. The league will consist of two six-team conferences - the USL Conference and the NASL Conference. The USL Conference will include teams from Austin (Tex.), Minnesota, Portland (Ore.), Puerto Rico, Rochester (N.Y.) and Tampa Bay. The NASL Conference will consist of teams from Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver.