After a strong week of training, leading into a match against Rochester New York FC on April 3, Jack Panayotou (Cambridge, Mass.) had a feeling he was going to get his opportunity.
The 17-year-old midfielder’s inclination turned out to be correct.
Panayotou made his professional debut with New England Revolution II on that Sunday, as he subbed in at the 45th minute for Revolution Academy graduate Hikaru Fujiwara (Lexington, Mass.) in the team’s 2022 MLS NEXT Pro home opener. Revolution II won the match, 3-1, and Panayotou logged 45 minutes of action, as he became the 20th Revolution Academy player to make his professional debut with New England’s second team.
"It was awesome, it was unbelievable," said Panayotou. "I had some of my friends and my family in the stands, so I was telling them 'I hope I get in.' I had done well, I thought, that week in training, so I was hoping I would make my debut."
