Player Bio

2009: Scored the game-winner on June 6 with a 68th-minute diving header against Honduras in a FIFA World Cup qualifier ... Started the first five matches of final round qualifying for 2010 FIFA World Cup. … 2008: Took the captain’s armband in all nine of his appearances for the U.S. in 2008 … Scored twice to take his career total to 10 goals, three behind former MNT centerback Marcelo Balboa’s alltime high for defenders … Headed in a DaMarcus Beasley corner kick to give the U.S. its first ever FIFA World Cup qualifying win in Guatemala … Also tallied the game-winner in the USA’s comprehensive 3-0 victory against on March 26 in Krakow, where he earned Man of the Match honors … 2007: Captained the United States to victory in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the fourth time the team has won the title … Appeared in four of six Gold Cup games, scoring once against Panama in the quarterfinals … Made appearances in two 2007 victories over fierce rivals Mexico, including the memorable Gold Cup Final … Also served as captain and scored a goal in the USA’s 4-2 loss to Brazil in September … 2006: A member of the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad that competed in Germany … Though he did not feature in the opening match against the Czech Republic, he went on to start the next two matches against Italy and Ghana … Played left back in both of the World Cup games he started, completing 90 minutes in both matches … In total, he made four appearances for the squad in 2006 … 2005: Started six of 10 final round qualifiers and in total played in 11 of 18 qualifiers in his first World Cup qualifying campaign, recording one goal and two assists … Led all defenders in minutes played (958) in 2006 qualifying … Opened his World Cup qualifying scoring account in trademark fashion, heading home the USA’s first – and game-winning – goal in the important 3-0 road win against Panama on June 8 … His performance at both ends in that match earned him ussoccer.com Man of the Match honors … His hustle kept a U.S. attack alive, forcing a save from David James that handed Clint Dempsey the lone goal in the 2-1 loss to England in Chicago … 2004: Maintained his presence in the attack, tallying one goal and three assists … His 88th minute strike pulled the U.S. level in a 1-1 draw against Poland on July 11 in Chicago …Set up Eddie Johnson’s first two goals in the USA’s 6-0 pasting of Panama in D.C. … Started in five of the USA’s eight World Cup qualifiers, his first trip through a qualifying campaign … Made 10 appearances and nine starts overall … 2003: Earned Man of the Match honors three times as he became the first U.S. defender since 1994 to score four goals in one year … Notched his first international goal against Canada on Jan. 18 in Ft. Lauderdale, getting on the end of a Bobby Convey service … Scored a nearly identical goal in Jamaica on Feb. 13, again receiving a delivery from Convey … Netted the USA’s lone goal against Brazil in the 2-1 semifinal loss in the CONCACAF Gold Cup … Received consolation by getting the opening tally in the 3-2 victory against Costa Rica in the Third Place match … Made 13 appearances for the MNT, tied for second best on the side and the most of any U.S. defender … 2002: Started all five matches in the USA’s march to the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup championship prior to the World Cup … 2001: Made his debut with the full national team on Dec. 9, 2001, against the Korea Republic … Trained with the U.S. prior to home World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica on Apr. 28 and Jamaica on Oct. 7 … Under-23s: Helped the U.S. to a bronze medal in the 1999 Pan American Games … Scored his first U-23 goal vs. Canada in the third-place match … Made seven international appearances with the U-23s … Under-20s: Played every minute for the U-20 National Team at the 1999 World Youth Championship in Nigeria … First Appearance: Dec. 9, 2001, vs. Korea Republic … First Goal: Jan. 18, 2003, vs. Canada.

2008-09: Joined Rennes on a free transfer in June after four seasons at Fulham … Wearing the No. 3 shirt, he immediately became a regular for the club … After conceding four goals in their opening match of the season, Rennes let in just nine goals in 18 game … Scored the go-ahead goal in the French Cup final, only to see the lead disappear in the 2-1 loss to Guingamp … Finished 2008 on a 17-match unbeaten run in the league as Rennes climbed up to third place to close out December … Scored his first goal for Rennes in a 2-1 defeat of FC Twente in the UEFA Cup on Sept. 19 … 2007-08: In his last season with Fulham, he was part of the club’s memorable fight against relegation, which ultimately ended in success on the final day of the season … Teamed up with four other MNT players, in Clint Dempsey, Kasey Keller, Eddie Johnson and Brian McBride at Fulham … After Brian McBride was sidelined with an injury in late August, he stepped into the role of temporary captain for the club, a position that he simultaneously held for both club and country … His appearance against Wigan on September 15 marked his 100th game for the club in all competitions … 2006-07: Proved to be a banner year, as he made a career high 30 appearances for Fulham … Also chipped in with five crucial goals, another career high, making him second top scorer at Fulham, as the club barely avoided relegation … Scored a vital goal against Chelsea to secure a draw away from home … 2005-06: After opening the 2005-06 season with a minor knee injury, he assumed a regular role in Fulham’s central defense … Played in 14 of 16 league matches for which he was available in first half of the year … 2004-05: His first full season in England, he grabbed the full-time position at left back … Despite sitting out seven of the last eight matches, finished the 2004-05 seasons with 28 appearances in EPL play … Scored his first goal in a Fulham uniform in the 4-3 loss at Portsmouth on August 30 … 2003-04: Became an instant addition to the Fulham backline, playing every single match for which he was available after joining the team mid-January, a total of 19 in all competitions … Made his Fulham debut Jan. 19 at Newcastle, marking legendary striker Alan Shearer … 2003: Earned MLS Defender of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, claiming his second spot on the Best XI as well … In his second consecutive MLS All-Star appearance, set up Carlos Ruiz for the game-winning goal against Chivas … Anchored the Chicago Fire backline to their third appearance in the MLS Cup final in five years … Started 19 of 30 matches, missing playing time while cementing his spot with the national team … 2002: Named MLS Defender of the Year in 2002 and a member of the Best XI … Started and played 26 matches for Chicago, recording two goals and three assists … Named an MLS All-Star … Scored the game-winning goal and earned an assist to give the Fire a 5-4 win against Columbus on June 5 … 2001: Scored a goal for two points in the MLS Cup Playoffs … Finished his second season with Chicago making 13 starts in 15 appearances … Registered a career high four points for the season, scoring one goal and tallying two game-winning assists for four points … Sidelined for almost half a season due to a left ankle sprain suffered on May 12 at New England, missing 12 consecutive games … 2000: Honored as the MLS Rookie of the Year in 2000, after helping the Fire to the MLS Cup championship match and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title … Started and played in 27 of 32 games.

Finished his collegiate career at UCLA after his 1999 junior season, in which he earned Second Team NSCAA All-America honors and for third consecutive year was chosen First Team All-Far West (1997- 1999) … Voted as a First Team College Soccer Online All-America … Started 23 of 24 games, tallying two goals and two assists … Concluded his three seasons with 57 career games played, including 55 starts and nine goals and 10 assists.

One of his most rewarding soccer moments came in the 1999 World Youth Championship in Nigeria when the U.S. U-20s took on England … Likes to play video games and is known to shred on guitar during Rock Band sessions on the road … Enjoys listening to R&B and alternative hip-hop … Lists his older brother Diego as the most influential person in his soccer career … Holds the record at his high school for best free throw percentage … Enjoys eating Mexican food and bagels … His nickname is “Los.”