All-Decade Team: Major League Soccer By Ridge Mahoney, Special to SI.com, Soccer America
In picking an MLS All-Decade Team, we’re not picking the best of the best who have played in America’s league since 2000. The criteria are clear: Which players achieved the most, preferably both as individuals and as members of successful teams, in MLS during the 10 seasons from 2000 to ‘09?
By this rationale, players who went onto bigger things — such as Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey — after a relatively short stay are passed over in favor of those who made MLS their career, more or less. But several players who have moved on are included. It all depends.
This insistence on success, rather than simple persistence, will rule out a few staunch veterans who consistently answered the bell but seldom drew official honors, and MLS originals whose careers wound down before the decade ended. Marco Etcheverry, for example, just wasn’t what he was in his last four seasons (‘00-03) than the quartet that preceded it.
Starting XI
G
Pat Onstad
Teams in 2000s:San Jose, Houston
MLS debut: 2003
Twice Goalkeeper of the Year and the honoree in the Best XI both times (‘03, ‘05), Big Pat took over for another two-time GOTY, Joe Cannon, and helped San Jose/Houston to three MLS championships.
D
Jimmy Conrad
Teams in 2000s:San Jose, Kansas City
MLS debut: 1999
He’s been to an MLS Cup only once, in ‘04, and didn’t come away with a title. But three selections to the Best XI and a Defender of the Year award (‘05) give the All-Decade Team a major dose of, shall we say, personality.
D
Carlos Bocanegra
Teams in 2000s:Chicago
MLS debut: 2000
He left after just four seasons (‘00-’03) to play in England and then France, yet as Rookie of the Year, he helped the Fire to the MLS Cup final, and nabbed back-to-back Defender of the Year Awards before departing, so it’s tough to leave him out.
D
ChadMarshall
Teams in 2000s:Columbus
MLS debut: 2004
Duplicated Bocanegra’s feat with back-to-back Defender of the Year awards the past two seasons and was a major reason the Crew won their first league title in ‘08.
D
Wade Barrett
Teams in 2000s:San Jose, Houston
MLS debut: 1998
Three championship rings edge Barrett, who played two Danish league seasons before coming back to MLS, into the elite.
M
Shalrie Joseph
Teams in 2000s:New England
MLS debut: 2003
The league’s best player never to win the MVP Award or a league title, four Best XI honors in the past five seasons give some indication of his prowess.
M
Dwayne De Rosario
Teams in 2000s:San Jose, Houston, Toronto
MLS debut: 2001
The other four-time Best XI honoree, DeRo also has four championship rings and tied his career high in goals (11) to mark the first season for his hometown team.
M
Landon Donovan
Teams in 2000s:San Jose, Los Angeles
MLS debut: 2001
Duh. He capped off a great decade that included three league titles and amazing playoff performances with his third Best XI mention and first MVP selection in ‘09. He holds the record for playoff goals with 17.
M
Steve Ralston
Teams in 2000s:TampaBay, New England
MLS debut: 1996
A paragon of professionalism and quiet dedication, he’s the all-time league leader in assists, games and minutes played.
F
Taylor Twellman
Teams in 2000s:New England
MLS debut: 2001
Hit double figures in goals five times in six seasons (‘02-07) before missing most of the past two years with injuries. He’s the prototypical fearless forward.
F
Jaime Moreno
Teams in 2000s: D.C. United, MetroStars
MLS debt: 1996
The league’s cleverest attacker for many years and its all-time leader in goals scored.
Santa Cruz
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