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| DOB : 08/29/1976 |
Position : Midfielder |
| Height :
5'10''
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Weight : 170 |
| Team : U.S. Men |
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MNT Career Stats
GP: 46 – Goals: 0
World Cup Stats
GP: 3 – Goals: 0
World Cup Qualifying Stats
GP: 9 – Goals: 0
U.S. National Team: A hard-nosed tackler and tenacious ball-winner … His speed and ball control allow for him to chase down attackers and still venture forward into the attack … Has emerged as a vocal presence and more effective organizer … A member of two CONCACAF Gold Cup championship sides … A late-comer to the 2002 World Cup squad, he performed admirably in the defensive midfield role for the United States in Korea/Japan, displaying maturity and poise beyond his years… 2005: Played in 11 matches, equaling a career best for a calendar year … Played in six final round qualifiers, starting five … His tireless defensive efforts and leadership of an inexperienced side earned him Man of the Match honors in the 0-0 qualifying draw on Sept. 7 away to Guatemala … Wore the captain’s armband in that match, as well as the friendlies against Colombia on March 9 and Honduras on March 19 in Albuquerque … The Honduras match was also Bruce Arena’s 100th as Manager of the MNT … Also started against Honduras in the semifinal of the 2005 Gold Cup, one of three appearances in the tournament as the U.S. collected their third title … 2004: Made his first three qualifying appearances in 2004, making his first-ever start in the 3-2 win against Grenada on June 20 … Earned Man of the Match honors in a 1-1 WCQ draw with Jamaica in Columbus … A left quad pull limited his availability in the summer months … Had seven total appearances and five starts … 2003: Played 11 matches in 2003, including 10 appearances as a starter … Started the first five games of the year, including the 1-0 loss against his native Argentina … Appeared in all five matches in the USA’s third-place finish in the Gold Cup … 2002: Made three starts in the World Cup finals, and is credited with helping shut down Portuguese attacking midfielder Rui Costa in the USA’s 3-2 win in the opening match … Started the last four games of the 2002 Gold Cup, helping the U.S. post four straight shutouts and win the CONCACAF trophy … The U.S. recorded shutouts in all six of the matches in which he played prior to the World Cup … 2001: Started at right back against Korea Republic on Dec. 9, 2001 … Made his debut for the U.S. in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on June 7, 2001, in Columbus after obtaining his U.S. citizenship earlier that year …Participated in his first U.S. National Team training camp in January 2001 … First Appearance: June 7, 2001, vs. Ecuador … First Goal: None.
Professional: Assuming the defensive midfield role for both club and country, he quickly established himself as one of MLS’ best in that position … Also been used in central defense by the Rapids … Serves as team captain … A nine-year veteran in 2006, he began his career with the now-defunct Miami Fusion … 2005: Injuries and national team commitments once again played a role in his time on the field, limiting him to 14 appearances with 12 starts … Netted his first goal as a Rapids player in the Rapids' 2-0 win on April 23 against Columbus ... 2004: Made his 2004 debut by starting and playing all 90 minutes in the 1-0 home win over San Jose on April 24 ... Was named captain for the first time in the Rapids' 2-0 loss in Kansas City on May 1...Was named the Rapids team captain on Sept. 23 after John Spencer relinquished the armband ... Started in all 17 games he played for the Rapids adding a total of 1467 minutes on the field … 2003: Split much of the season between club and national team duty … Recorded two assists in 18 matches … Named as one of the additional All-Stars for the MLS game against Chivas … 2002: Made 15 appearances for the Rapids in his first season in Denver, serving as the workhorse behind Carlos Valderrama … Selected by the Colorado Rapids with the first pick of the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft … 2001: Established himself as one of the league’s elite defenders in 2001, helping the Miami Fusion capture the Supporter’s Shield with the league’s best record … Named to the MLS Best XI and the MLS All-Star Team in 2001… Tied for the team lead with 25 starts … Scored the game-winner against Tampa Bay in the Florida Derby on May 19, 2001, one day after earning his U.S. citizenship … After not scoring a goal in his first three MLS seasons, he tallied twice in 2001 and added two assists … 1998-2000: Recorded a career-high four assists in his rookie season for the Fusion (1998) and recorded three assists in 1999.
College: Played 16 games for North Carolina State in 1997, recording three goals and eight assists… Was first team All-ACC and All-Region as a senior for the Wolfpack… Was named second team All-ACC in 1996, starting all 15 of the matches he played… Was the school’s co-MVP in 1995.
Personal: Born in Argentina of Italian heritage … Moved to the U.S. at the age of four … Shed his famous dreadlocks after returning from the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea … Composed and performed a satirical tribute song to Landon Donovan which appeared on an episode of ESPN’s The Life … Proposed to his wife Kelly during a halftime television interview of the Fusion’s match on Sept. 5, 2000, at the MetroStars … They have one son, Gianluca, born in March of 2005 … His favorite soccer player while growing up was Diego Maradona … An accomplished musician, he played guitar in a band named “Chicken Head Killas” in Miami … Enjoys spending time in his vegetable garden with his two pugs, Zen and Reilly P. |
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