Jeff Agoos
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Agoos (born May 2, 1968, in Geneva
, Switzerland) is a retired American soccer defender
, and one of the all-time appearance leaders for the United States national team
.
Agoos (nicknamed Goose
), was born in Switzerland, when his father, who was a U.S. diplomat, was posted there. However, he was raised in Texas
, and won a record five MLS championships: three with D.C. United
and two with the San Jose Earthquakes
. He also won the 1996 U.S. Open Cup
and was the 2001 MLS Defender of the Year. He was elected for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2009.
in Richardson, Texas
. He was named a two-time Parade Magazine High School All-American as well as a Dallas All-Sports Athlete-of-the-Year. Agoos was raised Jewish , and during the summer of 1985, was selected to represent the United States at the 1985 Maccabiah Games
.
at the University of Virginia
. During his four seasons with the Caveliers, earned First-Team All-American
honors twice, in 1988 and 1990. He finished second in Hermann Award
voting his senior season.
In 1989, his junior year, Virginia went to the NCAA championship
game where it fought the University of Santa Clara to a 1–1 draw after 4 overtimes. While the teams wanted to continue to play, NCAA officials ended the game and declared the two teams co-champions. At the time there were no penalty kicks to end a tie. At the end of the season, Agoos represented the United States at the 1989 Maccabiah Games
.
of the A-League in 1991. On February 13, 1991, the Dallas Sidekicks
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
drafted Agoos with the second overall pick of the 1991 draft. He played in thirty games in the 1991–1992 season, scoring seven goals. In 1992, he left the Sidekicks to play full time for the U.S. national team, but Dallas again selected him in a draft, this time the 1993 Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL) draft, but he did not re-sign with the team. On June 26, 1994, after being cut from the U.S. roster for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
, Agoos signed with the Los Angeles Salsa
for the 1994 American Professional Soccer League season. The Salsa went to the playoff semifinals that season as Agoos was selected Second Team All League. In the fall of 1994, he moved to Germany, where he played for SV Wehen
during the 1994–95 season. Agoos returned from Germany in 1995 to sign with Major League Soccer
. While waiting for the new league's first season, Agoos served as an assistant coach to Bruce Arena
at the University of Virginia
. In order to create a league, MLS allocated
various recognized players to each team. As part of this process, the league allocated Agoos to D.C. United
where he joined Bruce Arena, the team's first coach. That year, Agoos won the first MLS Championship
as well as the U.S. Open Cup. He followed it up the next year with his second MLS Championship. In 1998, DC United achieved its greatest accomplishment when it defeated Vasco de Gama to take the Interamerican Cup
. Agoos then won his third MLS Championship with DC United in 1999. He spent 2001 through 2004 with the San Jose Earthquakes
, and proceeded to win his fourth and fifth MLS Championships. Agoos was named MLS Defender of the Year
in 2001 and earned a place in the MLS Best XI
three times (1997, 1999, and 2001). In 2005, Agoos was named to the league's tenth anniversary All-Time Best XI
. He was traded to the MetroStars
after the 2004 season for a fourth round draft pick. In ten years in MLS, Agoos scored 11 regular season goals and added 25 assists in 244 matches. In 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI
, before retiring December 8, 2005.
|1994–95||Wehen Wiesbaden||Regionalliga||9||0||||||||||||||||
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|2005||MetroStars
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244||11||||||||||||||||
253||11||||||||||||||||
. He was the last member to be cut from the US squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
and he burned his uniform upon hearing the news. He made the squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
in France but did not play a single minute, in favor of David Regis
. In the World Cup in South Korea/Japan at the age of 34, Jeff started the first three games (he scored an own goal
to finish the scoring in the surprising win against Portugal
) until he suffered a calf injury against Poland
. He later missed the rest of the tournament. He was capped a total of 134 times for the U.S. Agoos earned his last cap against Wales
on May 26, 2003.
Agoos was also a member of the 1992 Team USA Futsal
team which won a silver medal at Hong Kong. He earned 10 caps and scored 2 goals with the futsal team.
' Technical Director on September 28, 2006, serving under head coach Bruce Arena. He officially joined the Bulls organization on January 1, 2007. On January 7, 2008 he was promoted to Sporting Director.
In 2009 Agoos was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
On March 28, 2011, Agoos was hired by the MLS as their Technical Director of Competition. He will work on planning and competition strategies.
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland) is a retired American soccer defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, and one of the all-time appearance leaders for the United States national team
United 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...
.
Agoos (nicknamed Goose
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
), was born in Switzerland, when his father, who was a U.S. diplomat, was posted there. However, he was raised in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and won a record five MLS championships: three with 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...
and two with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. He also won the 1996 U.S. Open Cup
1996 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* El Paso Patriots 3-0 RWB Adria * Carolina Dynamo 5-0 Mo's Sport Shop * Fort Myers Manatees 6-0 St...
and was the 2001 MLS Defender of the Year. He was elected for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 2009.
High school
Agoos attended J.J. Pearce High SchoolJ.J. Pearce High School
J.J. Pearce High School is a high school located in Richardson, Texas, United States. It is named after Joseph Jones Pearce, who served as superintendent for the RISD from 1946 to 1977. It is one of two Richardson Independent School District high schools to have a natatorium. In 2005, it had an...
in Richardson, Texas
Richardson, Texas
Richardson is a city in Dallas and Collin Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 99,223. In 2011 the population was estimated to be 107,684. Richardson is an affluent inner suburb of Dallas and home of the Telecom Corridor with a high...
. He was named a two-time Parade Magazine High School All-American as well as a Dallas All-Sports Athlete-of-the-Year. Agoos was raised Jewish , and during the summer of 1985, was selected to represent the United States at the 1985 Maccabiah Games
1985 Maccabiah Games
The 1985 12th Maccabiah Games brought over 4,000 athletes to Israel from 40 nations to compete in 28 sports.Twenty years after his first appearance in the Maccabiah, Olympic Champion Mark Spitz returned to Israel to carry the Opening Ceremony’s Torch into Ramat Gan Stadium...
.
Collegiate career
From 1986 to 1990, Agoos played soccer for Bruce ArenaBruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. During his four seasons with the Caveliers, earned First-Team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
honors twice, in 1988 and 1990. He finished second in Hermann Award
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
voting his senior season.
In 1989, his junior year, Virginia went to the NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
game where it fought the University of Santa Clara to a 1–1 draw after 4 overtimes. While the teams wanted to continue to play, NCAA officials ended the game and declared the two teams co-champions. At the time there were no penalty kicks to end a tie. At the end of the season, Agoos represented the United States at the 1989 Maccabiah Games
1989 Maccabiah Games
The 1989 13th Maccabiah Games brought 4,500 athletes to Israel from 45 nations.Jewish athletes from Hungary participated for the first time since World War II, Jewish athletes from Russia had been permitted,by their country,to play for the first time....
.
Professional
Upon graduating from college, Agoos played for the Maryland BaysMaryland Bays
The Maryland Bays were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988.They were based in Catonsville, Maryland, and played their games at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL...
of the A-League in 1991. On February 13, 1991, the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
drafted Agoos with the second overall pick of the 1991 draft. He played in thirty games in the 1991–1992 season, scoring seven goals. In 1992, he left the Sidekicks to play full time for the U.S. national team, but Dallas again selected him in a draft, this time the 1993 Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
(CISL) draft, but he did not re-sign with the team. On June 26, 1994, after being cut from the U.S. roster for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, Agoos signed with the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
for the 1994 American Professional Soccer League season. The Salsa went to the playoff semifinals that season as Agoos was selected Second Team All League. In the fall of 1994, he moved to Germany, where he played for SV Wehen
SV Wehen
SV Wehen Wiesbaden is a German association football club based in Wiesbaden, Hesse.-History:Since the beginning of the 07–08 season the club plays its homegames in nearby Wiesbaden and no longer in Taunusstein...
during the 1994–95 season. Agoos returned from Germany in 1995 to sign with 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...
. While waiting for the new league's first season, Agoos served as an assistant coach to Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. In order to create a league, MLS allocated
1996 MLS Inaugural Allocations
The Major League Soccer Inaugural Allocations were signed by the league in 1996 and distributed to the ten initial teams prior to the beginning of the first MLS season...
various recognized players to each team. As part of this process, the league allocated Agoos to 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...
where he joined Bruce Arena, the team's first coach. That year, Agoos won the first MLS Championship
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...
as well as the U.S. Open Cup. He followed it up the next year with his second MLS Championship. In 1998, DC United achieved its greatest accomplishment when it defeated Vasco de Gama to take the Interamerican Cup
Copa Interamericana
Copa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
. Agoos then won his third MLS Championship with DC United in 1999. He spent 2001 through 2004 with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, and proceeded to win his fourth and fifth MLS Championships. Agoos was named MLS Defender of the Year
MLS Defender of the Year Award
In the United States, Major League Soccer has handed out a Defender of the Year award since its inception in 1996. Here is a list of the past winners:Past winners:...
in 2001 and earned a place in 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....
three times (1997, 1999, and 2001). In 2005, Agoos was named to the league's tenth anniversary All-Time Best XI
MLS All-Time Best XI
In 2005, as part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, Major League Soccer, the United States' top soccer league, named its All-Time Best XI, a selection of the best eleven players in the history of the league...
. He was traded to the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
after the 2004 season for a fourth round draft pick. In ten years in MLS, Agoos scored 11 regular season goals and added 25 assists in 244 matches. In 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI
MLS All-Time Best XI
In 2005, as part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, Major League Soccer, the United States' top soccer league, named its All-Time Best XI, a selection of the best eleven players in the history of the league...
, before retiring December 8, 2005.
Career statistics
|-|1994–95||Wehen Wiesbaden||Regionalliga||9||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1996||rowspan="5"|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...
||rowspan="10"|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...
||32||1||||||||||||||||
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|1999||30||2||||||||||||||||
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|2000||23||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2001||rowspan="4"|San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
||20||2||||||||||||||||
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|2003||28||2||||||||||||||||
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|2004||24||1||||||||||||||||
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|2005||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...
||25||0||||||||||||||||
9||0||||||||||||||||
244||11||||||||||||||||
253||11||||||||||||||||
National team
Agoos made his debut with the United States national team on January 13, 1988, against GuatemalaGuatemala 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....
. He was the last member to be cut from the US squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and he burned his uniform upon hearing the news. He made the squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
in France but did not play a single minute, in favor of David Regis
David Regis
David Regis is a former French-American soccer defender who played for the United States at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.- Career :Regis began his pro career in 1988 with Valenciennes and played there until 1993. He then transferred to Strasbourg in 1993, Lens in 1996, and Karlsruhe in 1997...
. In the World Cup in South Korea/Japan at the age of 34, Jeff started the first three games (he scored an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
to finish the scoring in the surprising win against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
) until he suffered a calf injury against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
. He later missed the rest of the tournament. He was capped a total of 134 times for the U.S. Agoos earned his last cap against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on May 26, 2003.
Agoos was also a member of the 1992 Team USA Futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team which won a silver medal at Hong Kong. He earned 10 caps and scored 2 goals with the futsal team.
Post-playing career
Agoos was named as New York Red BullsRed 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...
' Technical Director on September 28, 2006, serving under head coach Bruce Arena. He officially joined the Bulls organization on January 1, 2007. On January 7, 2008 he was promoted to Sporting Director.
In 2009 Agoos was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
On March 28, 2011, Agoos was hired by the MLS as their Technical Director of Competition. He will work on planning and competition strategies.
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players
D.C. United
- MLS CupMLS CupThe 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...
Winners (3): 1996, 1997, 1999 - MLS Supporters' ShieldMLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
Winners (2): 1997, 1999 - U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
Winners (1): 1996 - CONCACAF Champions' Cup Winners (1): 1998
- InterAmerican CupCopa InteramericanaCopa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
Winners (1): 1998