Ante Razov
Encyclopedia
Ante Razov is a retired American
soccer player of Croatian
descent who last played for Chivas USA
in Major League Soccer
.
n immigrants, spent his childhood in Fontana, California
, attended Fontana High School
, and went on to play college soccer
at UCLA, before being drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy
in the third round of the 1996 MLS College Draft
. He played two seasons in LA, but did not get much playing time, scoring just one goal, and signed with the expansion Chicago Fire
prior to the 1998 season. During his time with the Galaxy, he went on loan with the Sacramento Scorpions
of USISL.
Razov spent the next seven years with Chicago, save a brief period in 2001 that he spent with Spanish
second division club Racing de Ferrol
. In his seven years with the Fire he led the club in goals and points five times (including club record 18 goals and 42 points in 2000). He is the club's all-time leader with 76 goals and 190 points. Razov was named to the MLS Best XI
in 2003. With Chicago, he won the MLS Cup
in 1998 and the US Open Cup in 1998, 2000, and 2003. Following a disappointing 2004 season and clashes with head coach Dave Sarachan
, Razov was traded to the Columbus Crew
in exchange for Tony Sanneh
. However, one blemish in Razov's career was being stopped from the penalty spot in the 2003 MLS Cup. The Fire went on to lose the game 4-2.
But Razov did not last long in Columbus. Even though he scored in the 2005 season opener, his tenure with the club lasted all of five games. Disagreement with head coach Greg Andrulis
led to Razov's reuniting with his ex-coach with the Fire, Bob Bradley
, at the MetroStars
. He was acquired in exchanged for John Wolyniec
and a partial allocation
. After the season, Bradley acquired Razov again, for Thiago Martins
and another partial allocation. Razov's 104 league goals stands third in MLS history through July 2007.
On April 21, 2007, Ante scored his 100th career regular season MLS goal. At 33 years old, he became the third player in MLS history to reach 100 goals. He trails only D.C. United
's Jaime Moreno
and the Columbus Crew
's Jeff Cunningham having passed Jason Kreis. All three joined MLS at its inception in 1996.
on March 25, 1995 against Uruguay
. Although he never played in the World Cup
, he has scored a couple of key goals in qualifiers, including one against Guatemala
in 2000 and Trinidad and Tobago
in 2001. Overall, Razov has scored six goals in 25 caps for the US. Razov holds the distinction of being the last American soccer player to receive his first cap for the national team while still in college.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player of Croatian
Croatian-American
Croatian Americans are citizens of the United States of Croatian descent.-Numbers:According to the 2007 US Community Survey, there are 420,763 Americans of full or partial Croatian descent....
descent who last played for Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Club
Razov, who was born in a family of CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n immigrants, spent his childhood in Fontana, California
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
, attended Fontana High School
Fontana High School
Fontana High School is a secondary public school in Fontana, California in the Fontana Unified School District. Fontana High serves grades 9 through 12....
, and went on to play college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at UCLA, before being drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in the third round of the 1996 MLS College Draft
1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
. He played two seasons in LA, but did not get much playing time, scoring just one goal, and signed with the expansion Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire (soccer)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top soccer league in the United States and Canada...
prior to the 1998 season. During his time with the Galaxy, he went on loan with the Sacramento Scorpions
Sacramento Scorpions
The Sacramento Scorpions were an American soccer team that played in Sacramento, California.-Year-by-year:...
of USISL.
Razov spent the next seven years with Chicago, save a brief period in 2001 that he spent with Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
second division club Racing de Ferrol
Racing de Ferrol
Racing Club de Ferrol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ferrol in the province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia.Founded in 1919, in currently plays in Tercera División, holding home games at Estadio de la Malata...
. In his seven years with the Fire he led the club in goals and points five times (including club record 18 goals and 42 points in 2000). He is the club's all-time leader with 76 goals and 190 points. Razov was named to the MLS Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
in 2003. With Chicago, he won the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
in 1998 and the US Open Cup in 1998, 2000, and 2003. Following a disappointing 2004 season and clashes with head coach Dave Sarachan
Dave Sarachan
Dave Sarachan is a former U.S. soccer coach and player. He spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League and four in Major Indoor Soccer League before retiring in 1982...
, Razov was traded to the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in exchange for Tony Sanneh
Tony Sanneh
Anthony "Tony" Sanneh is an American soccer player who most recently played for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
. However, one blemish in Razov's career was being stopped from the penalty spot in the 2003 MLS Cup. The Fire went on to lose the game 4-2.
But Razov did not last long in Columbus. Even though he scored in the 2005 season opener, his tenure with the club lasted all of five games. Disagreement with head coach Greg Andrulis
Greg Andrulis
Greg Andrulis is an American soccer coach, currently the head coach at George Mason University....
led to Razov's reuniting with his ex-coach with the Fire, Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
, at the MetroStars
Red Bull New York
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The team competes in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. He was acquired in exchanged for John Wolyniec
John Wolyniec
John Wolyniec is a former American soccer player who is now a coach in the New York Red Bulls youth system.-Youth and Amateur:...
and a partial allocation
Allocation (MLS)
In Major League Soccer, an allocation represents an amount of money teams can use to sign players and/or allocate to their salaries to get under the salary cap. Allocations are given to teams that have missed the playoffs the previous seasons, given to expansion teams, or awarded as compensation...
. After the season, Bradley acquired Razov again, for Thiago Martins
Thiago Martins
Thiago Martins is a retired Brazilian football striker.-Early Life and Amateur Career:Martins was born on the east side of São Paulo, Brazil, and came to the United States in 1996. He landed in Los Angeles, California, at 19 years old and with little money...
and another partial allocation. Razov's 104 league goals stands third in MLS history through July 2007.
On April 21, 2007, Ante scored his 100th career regular season MLS goal. At 33 years old, he became the third player in MLS history to reach 100 goals. He trails only D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
's Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno Morales is a former Bolivian footballer now serving as Youth Academy Technical Training Coach for D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and as the head coach of D.C. United's U-23 side....
and the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
's Jeff Cunningham having passed Jason Kreis. All three joined MLS at its inception in 1996.
International
Razov received his first cap with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on March 25, 1995 against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
. Although he never played in the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, he has scored a couple of key goals in qualifiers, including one against Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
in 2000 and Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
in 2001. Overall, Razov has scored six goals in 25 caps for the US. Razov holds the distinction of being the last American soccer player to receive his first cap for the national team while still in college.