UCLA Greatest All-Time Soccer Team
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for the club. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public research university in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is among the best institution of higher learning in the world. There soccer program completes in the Pac-12 and it is the best in the conference. Moreover, it has won 4 NCAA titles. A large number of MLS soccer players came from them.
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| 2002 NCAA Champion |
GK: Brad Friedel (USA)
Brad Friedel is the current holder of the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 310. He played with Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspurs. He is one of the oldest player to start a game at the Premiership. He also played for clubs in Denmark and Turkey. He represented the USA at the World Cup in 1994, 1998 and 2002. He is best remembered for reaching the quarterfinal in 2002.
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| Brad Friedel |
GK: Nick Rimando (USA)
Rimando's father is of Filipino descent and his mother is of Mexican descent. He played for Miami Fusion, DC United and Real Salt Lake. He is one of the best keeper in MLS. At the time of writing, he was capped 21 times for the United States. He is mainly a backup to Tim Howard.
GK: Kevin Hartman (USA)
Nicknamed El Gato (Spanish for "the cat") , he was drafted 29th overall in the 1997 MLS College Draft by Los Angeles Galaxy. He played with them until 2006. He won two MLS Cups with them and was MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: 1999. He also played with KC Wizards, FC Dallas and NY Red Bulls. He earned 6 caps with USMNT.
RB: Paul Caligiuri (USA)
He is best remembered for his game-winning goal widely dubbed the"Shot heard round the world," which helped the USA to qualify for the WC Finals in 1990. He was one of the few professional players on the 1990 WC team. He spent most of his career playing in Germany. He was capped 110 times. He went to two WC Finals: 1990 and 1994.
RB: Frankie Hejduk (USA)
Hejduk played for Tampa Bay Mutiny. In 1998 after an impressive WC Finals, he signed with Bayer Leverkusen. He stayed there in 2003. He then joined St Gallen in Switzerland. He later played for Colombus Crew and LA Galaxy. He was capped 85 times. Hejduk was a frequent starter for the U.S. Men's National Team, and is the only individual to have represented the U.S. in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games and the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals tournaments.
CB/LB: Carlos Bocanegra (USA)
Bocanegra started his career playing NCAA soccer with UCLA. He joined Chicago Fire in 2000. He also played professionally in England, Scotland, France, and Spain. He earned over 100 caps with the United States, serving as captain for six years. He played in the WC Finals of 2006 and 2010.
CB: Jimmy Conrad (USA)
While playing for UCLA, he was a member of the 1997 NCAA Championship team. During his 13-year MLS career, he was four-time MLS Best XI and the 2005 MLS Defender of the Year. He also earned 27 caps with the United States men's national soccer team and went to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
CB: Mike Lapper (USA)
During his fifteen-year career, most of it spent as a sweeper, he played in England, Germany and the United States. He earned 44 caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national soccer team between 1991 and 1995. He was part of the U.S. teams at both the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
CB/DM: Paul Krumpe (USA)
Krumpe spent two seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League, two in the Western Soccer Alliance and two in the American Professional Soccer League. He was a member of the U.S. national team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
LB: Jonathan Bornstein (USA)
He was a son of a Mexican mother and a Jewish father. Drafted by Chivas USA, he also played for Tigres de la UANL. Now, he is with Queretaro in Mexico. Capped over 30 times. He went to South Africa 2010.
DM: Jorge Salcedo (USA)
Salcedo was a star at UCLA. He played with the Los Angeles Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League and Monarcas Morelia of the México He joined LA Galaxy in 1996. Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, Tampa Bay Mutiny and Orange County Zodiac. Capped 3 times.
CM: Leo Stolz (Germany)
Stolz was offered a senior contract with Munich 1860 in 2011 but decided to play college soccer in the United States joining George Mason University and then, UCLA. He was awarded the Hermann Trophy recognizing him as the top college soccer player in the country. Since 2015, he has been playing for NY Red Bulls.
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| Leo Stolz |
Vagenas was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy in the second round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft and subsequently spent nine years with the team, winning the U.S. Open Cup in 2001 and 2005, and the MLS Cup in 2002 and 2005, captaining the team to the 2005 double. He later played for Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Chivas USA. He earned only 3 caps largely due to injuries.
CM/DM: Benny Feilhaber (USA)
Born in Brazil, he moved to the US as a 6 years old. From 2006 onward, he played in Europe or Hamburg, Derby County and AGF Aarbus. In 2011, he joined MLS playing for NE Revolution. At the time of writing, he is playing for Sporting Kansas City. Capped over 40 times. He played in the 2010 WC Finals.
CM: Dale Ervine (USA)
Ervine helped UCLA to win the NCAA title in 1985. He played professionally all across the United States between the end of NASL and the formation of MLS. Capped 5 times.
CM: Sasha Victorine (USA)
He spent his entire professional career in Major League Soccer in the United States, making over 100 appearances for both Los Angeles Galaxy and Kansas City Wizards, before finishing his career with Chivas USA. Victorine spent five years with LA, winning the U.S. Open Cup in 2001 and the MLS Cup in 2002. He also made four appearances and scored one goal for the United States national team, and represented his country at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
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| Sasha Victorine |
RW/LW/FW: Kamani Hill (USA)
Hill played briefly with VfL Wolfsburg and Vitoria Guimaraes. Hill signed with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids on March 28, 2012. He stayed there until 2014. Capped twice by the USA.
RW: Cobi Jones (USA)
After playing college soccer with UCLA, Jones played with Coventry City and Brazilian side Vasco da Gama before joining the MLS in 1996, where he won two MSL Cups with LA Galaxy. He won two MLS Cups. Capped 164 times. He is the all-time cap recorder for the USA. He played in three WC Finals.
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| Cobi Jones |
LW: Eddie Lewis (USA)
During his 14-year professional career, Lewis played for San Jose Clash, Fulham, Preston North End, Leeds United, Derby County and Los Angeles Galaxy. He was also a veteran member of the United States national team throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s; he acquired 82 caps, scored 10 goals and represented his country at the 1999 Confederations Cup, 2002 World Cup, 2003 Confederations Cup, 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2006 World Cup.
FW: Jeff Hooker (USA)
Hooker played UCLA, but missed the season in which UCLA won its NCAA title in 1985. He earned twelve caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team between 1984 and 1987 and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He played professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance and American Professional Soccer League.
FW/AM: Billy Thompson (USA)
Thompson attended UCLA where he played as a forward on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1990. Thompson earned first team All American honors as a senior. That year he was the captain of the Bruins team which won the NCAA championship. Thompson was also the 1990 ISAA Player of the Year and finished his time at UCLA with 42 goals and 27 assists. In 1995, he spent a single season with the Hawaii Tsunami of the USISL. He was the league’s Offensive MVP. That same year he also guest played with Raj Pracha FC of Thailand. He also played for Colombus Crew. Capped once.
FW: Chris Henderson (USA)
Henderson played two years of college soccer at UCLA, where he helped the team win a national championship his sophomore season. Henderson played for FSV Frankfurt and Stabæk. From 1996 to 2006, he played in MLS. At the time of his retirement, he was the league's all-time leader in games played. Capped 79 times. He was the youngest member at WC 1990.
FW: Chad Barrett (USA)
Barrett currently plays as a forward for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. He also played for Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, San Jose Earthquake and Real Salt Lake City. Capped a cap in 2008.
ST: Antè Razov (USA)
Razov is the all-time leading goal scorer for two current or former MLS clubs: the Chicago Fire with 76 goals and Chivas USA with 30 goals. In April 2007, Razov became the third player in MLS history to score 100 goals. He also played for Racing de Ferrol in Spain, Metrostars and Colombus Crew. Capped 25 times.
ST: Joe-Max Moore (USA)
He played professionally for clubs in Germany, England and the United States. He finished his career with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. In addition to his club career, Moore earned 100 caps, scoring 24 goals, for the U.S. national team between 1992 and 2002. During those years, he was part of U.S. teams at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. On April 4, 2013, Moore was elected to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mention
Sergio Velázquez, David Vanola, Matt Reis, Zak Ibsen, Kamani Hill, Chandler Hoffmann, Frank Marshall, Sigi Schmid, Sal Zizzo, Tony Beltran, Marvell Wynne.
Squad Explanation-- Any player who played a single game for UCLA is eligible.
-- I tried my best to look at the players' college career, but I have selected players based on achievements after college.-- I based a lot of my selection on careers after UCLA because I do not know much about the players while at UCLA.
-- There are too many good rightbacks: Marvell Wynne, Zak Ibsen, Tony Beltran and Sal Zizzo stayed with Honorable Mention.
-- BillyThompson was the ISAA Player of the Year and was named in the PAC-12 Team of the Century. Dale Ervine was on the second team.
-- Frank Marshall was honored as a pioneer at UCLA. He is also a well-known movie producer in the Hollywood.
Formation
During his 14-year professional career, Lewis played for San Jose Clash, Fulham, Preston North End, Leeds United, Derby County and Los Angeles Galaxy. He was also a veteran member of the United States national team throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s; he acquired 82 caps, scored 10 goals and represented his country at the 1999 Confederations Cup, 2002 World Cup, 2003 Confederations Cup, 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2006 World Cup.
FW: Jeff Hooker (USA)
Hooker played UCLA, but missed the season in which UCLA won its NCAA title in 1985. He earned twelve caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team between 1984 and 1987 and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team. He played professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance and American Professional Soccer League.
FW/AM: Billy Thompson (USA)
Thompson attended UCLA where he played as a forward on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1990. Thompson earned first team All American honors as a senior. That year he was the captain of the Bruins team which won the NCAA championship. Thompson was also the 1990 ISAA Player of the Year and finished his time at UCLA with 42 goals and 27 assists. In 1995, he spent a single season with the Hawaii Tsunami of the USISL. He was the league’s Offensive MVP. That same year he also guest played with Raj Pracha FC of Thailand. He also played for Colombus Crew. Capped once.
FW: Chris Henderson (USA)
Henderson played two years of college soccer at UCLA, where he helped the team win a national championship his sophomore season. Henderson played for FSV Frankfurt and Stabæk. From 1996 to 2006, he played in MLS. At the time of his retirement, he was the league's all-time leader in games played. Capped 79 times. He was the youngest member at WC 1990.
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| Chris Henderson |
Barrett currently plays as a forward for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. He also played for Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, San Jose Earthquake and Real Salt Lake City. Capped a cap in 2008.
ST: Antè Razov (USA)
Razov is the all-time leading goal scorer for two current or former MLS clubs: the Chicago Fire with 76 goals and Chivas USA with 30 goals. In April 2007, Razov became the third player in MLS history to score 100 goals. He also played for Racing de Ferrol in Spain, Metrostars and Colombus Crew. Capped 25 times.
ST: Joe-Max Moore (USA)
He played professionally for clubs in Germany, England and the United States. He finished his career with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. In addition to his club career, Moore earned 100 caps, scoring 24 goals, for the U.S. national team between 1992 and 2002. During those years, he was part of U.S. teams at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. On April 4, 2013, Moore was elected to the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame.
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| Joe-Max Moore |
Honorable Mention
Sergio Velázquez, David Vanola, Matt Reis, Zak Ibsen, Kamani Hill, Chandler Hoffmann, Frank Marshall, Sigi Schmid, Sal Zizzo, Tony Beltran, Marvell Wynne.
Squad Explanation-- Any player who played a single game for UCLA is eligible.
-- I tried my best to look at the players' college career, but I have selected players based on achievements after college.-- I based a lot of my selection on careers after UCLA because I do not know much about the players while at UCLA.
-- There are too many good rightbacks: Marvell Wynne, Zak Ibsen, Tony Beltran and Sal Zizzo stayed with Honorable Mention.
-- BillyThompson was the ISAA Player of the Year and was named in the PAC-12 Team of the Century. Dale Ervine was on the second team.
-- Frank Marshall was honored as a pioneer at UCLA. He is also a well-known movie producer in the Hollywood.
Formation
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