The 400 players in Metro history
September 3, 2024
Of the 400 players in Metro history:
386 played in a league match, the others only appearing in Open Cup, international play, or, in Digao's case, playoffs.
270 earned at least one yellow card, including goalkeeper Russell Payne, who managed to do in his eight total minutes. Mike Petke is tops with 38, but Kyle Duncan is just two away!
238 debuted since the Red Bull takeover... it's been a while.
230 recorded at least one assist. Sacha Kljestan is tops with 54.
192 scored at least one goal. Bradley Wright-Phillips is tops with 126.
182 debuted since the opening Red Bull Arena... we're not counting those who debuted earlier and eventually played in Red Bull Arena, like Carlos Mendes and Seth Stammler.
93 earned at least one red card... with special shout-outs to Branco and Carlos Johnson, who each got ejected three times in one season. In Branco's case, in just 13 games.
63 were capped for the USA at one time of their career. This includes Miles Joseph, John Wolyniec, Dax McCarty, and Sal Zizzo.
53 were part of a World Cup team. This includes Tyler Adams, Roberto Donadoni, Emil Forsberg, and Tim Howard. Note: we didn't say "played" at the World Cup, so we're also counting the likes of Andrew Boyens and Aaron Long.
51 scored exactly one goal. This includes Peter Vermes, Michael Bradley, Rafa Marquez, and goalkeeper Danny Cepero.
49 scored 10 or more goals. Hey, even Sergio Galvan Rey!
47 wore multiple jersey numbers. Petter Villegas once wore two numbers in one game! He and Jeff Parke lead the way with four numbers each.
37 were born in New Jersey... one more than those born in New York.
36 played in the inaugural season, an MLS record that stood for a long time.
31 were born in the 2000s. We're old.
25 were #9, the most popular number in team history. But of those, only Juan Pablo Angel, Luke Rodgers, and Lewis Morgan actually produced.
22 have been goalkeepers. Do we count Eddie Gaven? Fine, 23 have been goalkeepers.
19 were born in Colombia, the most of a non-US country. Brazil is just behind with 18.
18 goalkeepers had at least one shutout. Luis Robles is tops with 89.
10 had siblings who also played for Metro: Fausto and Martin Klinger, Gordon and Sacha Kljestan, Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sean and Dylan Nealis, Jared and Peter Stroud.
7 played at the World Cup while a member of Metro: Tab Ramos, Marcelo Vega, Clint Mathis, Tim Cahill, Roy Miller, Michael Murillo, and Fidel Escobar. Two of them scored! No, not Miller. Mathis and Cahill, duh.
6 played one official minute. It's usually a bit more, since injury time is ignored when stats are counted. There is still hope for you to pass that, Omar Valencia!
5 are no longer with us. RIP, Damian Silvera, Winston Griffiths, Alfredo Pacheco, John DeBrito, and Louis Ken-Kwofie.
4 scored 50 or more goals. Do we need to name them? Daniel Royer, Thierry Henry, Angel, and BWP.
3 won three Supporters Shields: Connor Lade, Robles, and, hey, there is BWP again!
2 were born in Uruguay: Tab Ramos, the first player ever signed by MLS, and Felipe Carballo, the 400th player in team history.
1 wore long, black pants. We end with Paul Grafer, player #94. Here's to 400 more!
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