Here's the press release.
For Immediate Release -
April 24, 2006
Contact: Doug Hicks (202) 587-5448, Boris Flores (202) 587-5452 or Kyle Sheldon (202) 587-5450
D.C. United unveils ‘Decade’s Best XI’Team determined by fans online voting at dcunited.comWashington, D.C. (April 24, 2006) - D.C. United unveiled today the club’s ‘Decade’s Best XI,’ as voted on by fans via dcunited.com. Led by top vote-getter Marco Etcheverry, the team is made up of eight former players - Jeff Agoos, Raul Diaz Arce, Etcheverry, John Harkes, Carlos Llamosa, Ryan Nelsen and Eddie Pope - and four current players - Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno, Ben Olsen and
Nick Rimando. Bruce Arena, the current head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, was named as the Decade’s Best coach. With Etcheverry, Agoos, Diaz Arce, Gomez, Harkes, Moreno, Olsen, Rimando and Arena scheduled to attend, the Decade’s Best XI will be honored prior to United’s match versus FC Dallas on Saturday, April 29. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium.
“Looking at the names on the Decade’s Best XI brings back some wonderful memories to me, and I'm sure to all fans of D.C. United,” said D.C. United President and CEO Kevin Payne. “This is a truly impressive group of people, who embody all that our club stands for - pride, passion, skill, and an indomitable will to win. I can't wait to see this group together again at RFK Stadium and can't wait to hear the best fans in D.C. once again welcome their champions home!”
Agoos earned numerous accolades during his time with the club, including Defender of the Year (‘01), MLS All-Star (1996-‘00) and MLS Best XI (1997 & ‘99). Playing mostly on the left side of defense, he notched six goals and 17 assists in 135 games (131 starts) and helped D.C. to three MLS Cups, two Supporter’s Shields, a CONCACAF Champions Cup, an InterAmerican Cup and a U.S. Open Cup. Agoos retired from MLS in December.
In 1996, Diaz Arce put together one of the most impressive offensive seasons in MLS history, collecting 23 goals in 28 games. He was instrumental in the club’s 1996 and 1997 MLS Cup championships, 1996 U.S. Open Cup victory and 1997 Supporter’s Shield. He scored a total of eight goals in ten playoff games and, in 1997, was named as an All-Star. Diaz Arce currently serves as an assistant coach for the U-17 U.S. Men’s National Team.
Etcheverry led United to three MLS Cups (1996, ’97 & ’99), two Supporter’s Sheilds (’97 & 99), the 1996 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship, the 1998 CONCACAF Championship, and the 1998 InterAmerican Cup. He amassed seven League All-Star honors, the 1996 MLS Cup MVP, the 1998 MLS MVP and was a four-time MLS Best XI member. In 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI. He also scored the League’s 1997 and 1999 Goals of the Year.
Gomez joined United in August of 2004 and served as the spark that led D.C. to its fourth MLS Cup Championship, as he scored four goals in nine games down the regular season stretch. In 2005, he collected 11 goals and nine assists as he was named an MLS All-Star and to the League’s Best XI.
Harkes made 83 appearances (80 starts) for United, collecting 14 goals and 23 assists, while helping lead D.C. to their first six major titles. He was three times named an MLS All-Star (1996-‘98). He was United’s first-ever captain and logged nearly 9,000 total minutes for the Black-and-Red. Harkes currently serves as United’s Director of Youth Development.
Llamosa played in 83 games (75 starts) for United during his four seasons with the team. Despite primarily playing defense, he managed to notch three goals and two assists during his time with the club. Llamosa anchored United’s defense in winning six major titles and was named to the 1999 MLS All-Star team. Currently, he plies his trade with Chivas USA.
A part of each of United’s nine major titles, Moreno owns numerous team records and has earned a staggering number of individual awards - five League All-Star appearances (1997-00, ’04), one MLS Cup MVP (1997), three MLS Best XI teams (1997, ’99, ‘05) and the MLS All-time Best XI team. He has 12 goals and nine assists in 27 career playoff games. His 94 career goals place him second all-time in MLS history.
United’s first pick in the 2001 SuperDraft, Nelsen played four seasons with the Black-and-Red. As the team’s captain, he helped United’s ‘Return to Glory,’ by leading the team to the 2004 MLS Cup. He was named to the MLS Best XI in 2004 and was named as an All-Star in 2003. He made 81 total appearances (78 starts) behind the D.C. badge. Following the 2004 season, Nelsen moved to the Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League, where he continues to anchor their defense.
Named as the Rookie of the Year in 1998, Olsen’s 40 assists are the third most in team history. He has appeared in 157 games (144 starts) and was named an MLS All-Star (1998 & ‘99), the MLS Cup MVP (1999) and, for his community work, the USSF Humanitarian of the Year (2004). He was instrumental in five major titles with D.C. United - two MLS Cups (1999 & ’04), a Supporter’s Shield (1999), a CONCACAF Champions Cup (1998) and an InterAmerican Cup (1998).
Pope made 143 regular season appearances (140 starts) over seven seasons for United. He was a five-time League All-Star (1997-‘00 & ’02), was twice named to the MLS Best XI (’97 & ’98) and was the 1997 Defender of the Year. He scored the sudden-death overtime winner in the inaugural MLS Cup championship in 1996 and the game-winner in the 1998 InterAmerican Cup final. Pope is now a member of Real Salt Lake.
Rimando is United’s all-time leader in wins (41), saves (349), shutouts (29), games played in goal (96) and minutes played in goal (8,776). In 2004, he led United to its fourth MLS Cup championship. His best season came in 2005, when he won 15 games, collected 11 shutouts and allowed just 35 goals in 30 games.
Arena led United to the MLS Cup Final in each of his three seasons with the club, winning the title in 1996 and 1997. The 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup and the 1998 InterAmerican Cup were also captured under Arena's guidance, as were the 1996 U.S. Open Cup and the 1997 Supporter’s Shield. Arena compiled a career 61-35 record during the regular season and 14-3 in the playoffs.
