MLS Major League Soccer

Gameday Roster for AT&T MLS All-Star Game Unveiled

Published on July 18, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Monday, July 18, 2011) - LA Galaxy stars David Beckham and Landon Donovan join New York Red Bulls standout Thierry Henry among the 22 MLS All-Stars confirmed on the gameday roster that will compete against Manchester United in the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 27 at Red Bull Arena (8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Galavision, and TSN).

All-Star Head Coach Hans Backe of the Red Bulls selected the roster. Because of the competitive format -- MLS vs. the World -- of the All-Star Game, MLS asked Backe to select from among all available players, and he constructed a dynamic, balanced roster loaded with the League's top talent. Backe also has seen success against Manchester United, including two wins during the 2007-08 English Premier League season when he was assistant coach at Manchester City under then head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson.

Backe selected all eight of the original fan-voted All-Stars - including AT&T Text Voting winner Matt Besler of Sporting Kansas City - who are available to play on July 27. Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) and Brek Shea (FC Dallas) are unavailable due to CONCACAF Champions League matches during the week of the All-Star Game. Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy) and Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls) are unavailable due to injuries.

NOTE: Backe will discuss his selections on MLSsoccer.com's ExtraTime Radio podcast today which will be released at approximately 6 p.m. ET (also available on iTunes).

In addition to 11-time All-Star Donovan, ex-Manchester United midfielder Beckham and World Cup Champion Henry, the roster also features prominent All-Star veterans such as Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo) and Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake).

Other selections have loads of international experience but are MLS All-Stars for the first time: Mexican icon Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City), Colombian national team veteran Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union), U.S. national team left back Heath Pearce (Chivas USA) and speedy Jamaican striker Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids).

The roster is below, followed by bios of each player, listed in alphabetical order by last name. Players are listed by the position they are most likely to play in the All-Star Game, which is not necessarily the position they play for their respective clubs.

2011 MLS All-Star Gameday Roster

Goalkeeper: Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union)

Defenders: Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls).

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Nick LaBrocca (Chivas USA)

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Inactive All-Stars (Note that another six inactive All-Stars will be chosen via player voting):

Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Juan Agudelo Forward New York Red Bulls Nationality: USA Born: Nov. 23, 1992

The 18-year-old forward was the first player to join the Red Bulls first team as a homegrown player from their youth academy, and he has not disappointed in his first full season with the team. Agudelo is a dangerous threat for the league's top offense, and has scored four goals in 14 appearances this season. His rapid ascension from the Red Bulls Academy caught the eye of the U.S. National Team, and he has earned 10 caps in the last year for the U.S., scoring two goals. This is his first All-Star selection.

Corey Ashe Defender Houston Dynamo Nationality: USA Born: March 14, 1986

A speedy wide player, who is capable of playing both in midfield and defense, Ashe is earning more playing time this season than at any time during his five-year career with Houston. Ashe has already made 17 starts for the Dynamo, which is just two short of the career high (19) he set in 2010. The University of North Carolina product made an immediate impact as a rookie for the Dynamo in 2007, earning 22 appearances for the team, mostly as a substitute. This is his first All-Star selection.

Kyle Beckerman Midfielder Real Salt Lake Nationality: USA Born: April 23, 1982

The heart of Real Salt Lake's midfield, Beckerman is regarded as the engine behind one of the league's top teams. In 17 appearances this season, he has scored one goal and four assists, though his leadership as captain of RSL may be his most significant contribution. Beckerman, 29, joined the league in 2000, and has played for three teams during his 12-year MLS career, becoming the youngest player to play in 200 regular season matches in 2009. This is the fifth consecutive season he has received All-Star recognition.

David Beckham Midfielder LA Galaxy Nationality: England Born: May 2, 1975

Beckham joined the LA Galaxy in 2007 after completing his season with Real Madrid. Beckham is currently second in the league in assists (8), first in game-winning assists (4) and has been a key leader in the Galaxy's scoring attack (27 team goals), which has helped the Galaxy to the best record in MLS. In 2008, his first full season in MLS, Beckham had a team-best 10 assists to go along with five goals in 25 games. Beckham spent 12 years with Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the 1999 UEFA Champions League. He was named the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in both 1999 and 2001, when he helped Manchester United win another Premiership title. In 2003, Beckham joined Real Madrid C.F., helping lead the club to the 2006-07 La Liga title in his final year with the club. Beckham played in nearly 150 games in his four years with Real, scoring 11 goals in all competitions. Beckham has appeared in 115 career games for England, scoring 17 times. On Mar 28, 2009, he claimed his 109th cap, surpassing Bobby Moore for the most England appearances all-time by a field player and the second most in national team history. More than 50 of Beckham's caps have come as the England captain. This is his second MLS All-Star selection.

Matt Besler Defender Sporting Kansas City Nationality: USA Born: Feb. 11, 1987

Receiving an astounding 30 percent of all text votes submitted, Besler helped resurgent Sporting Kansas City follow a taxing 10-game road trip to start the season with an 11-game unbeaten streak. Deployed as a central defender or left back, Besler scored his first career goal on Mar 26, 2011 against the Chicago Fire. A native of the Kansas City area, Besler played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame, and was named an All-American his senior season. Sporting Kansas City gave him the opportunity to return to his hometown when they drafted him eighth overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. This is his first MLS All-Star recognition.

Omar Bravo Forward Sporting Kansas City Nationality: Mexico Born: March 4, 1980

The veteran Mexican forward is having a strong debut season in MLS with Sporting Kansas City, scoring four goals and adding two assists. Bravo has been a key figure in the club's stunning recent turnaround, from the bottom of the standings in May, to its current 11-game unbeaten streak. He joined Sporting as the club's second ever Designated Player after years in Mexican soccer and a stint in Spain. Bravo is second all-time in goals scored for Club Deportivo Guadalajara, and has 65 caps for the Mexican National Team, scoring 16 goals. This is Bravo's first MLS All-Star selection.

Geoff Cameron Defender Houston Dynamo Nationality: USA Born: July 11, 1985

The versatile Dynamo star is a commanding presence in the Houston lineup, using his 6-foot-3 frame to help anchor both the defense and midfield. In addition to his defensive prowess, Cameron has notched three goals this season, tying his career-high, and added three assists for the Dynamo. The Attleboro, Mass. native joined the Dynamo in 2008 as an unheralded third-round selection, but made 23 appearances in his rookie season. He has been a regular starter in every year since, scoring nine goals and contributing 11 assists in his four-year MLS career. This is Cameron's second MLS All-Star selection.

Bobby Convey Midfielder San Jose Earthquakes Nationality: USA Born: May 27, 1983

Convey has been a consistent performer on the left side for the Earthquakes, both in the midfield and at fullback, notching one goal and two assists in 14 games thus far. Convey joined the league with D.C. United in 2000, and was the youngest player in league history at the time. He has 13 goals and 31 assists in his MLS career, and spent four seasons in England with Reading FC. Convey also has extensive international experience, having represented the United States on 46 occasions, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup. This is Convey's fourth MLS All-Star selection.

Omar Cummings Forward Colorado Rapids Nationality: Jamaica Born: July 13, 1982

One of the most dangerous strikers in MLS, Cummings has netted two goals and two assists this season. In 2010, he was the Rapids Golden Boot winner with 14 goals (tied for 4th in MLS) as he led his team to the MLS Cup title. In 2009, he tied for first in MLS in assists with 12. Cummings' speed has been a factor in earning regular call-ups to the Jamaican National Team, where he's earned 21 caps and has scored six goals in international competition. This is Cummings' first MLS All-Star selection.

Brad Davis Midfielder Houston Dynamo Nationality: USA Born: Nov. 8, 1981

One of Houston's most consistent performers, Davis currently leads the league in assists with nine. He has recorded 12 assists each of the past two seasons, while also being among the club's leaders in games and minutes played. Davis was the third overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft after starring at Saint Louis University, and has played for four different teams in MLS. Since joining the Dynamo in 2006, he has scored 21 goals, and contributed 58 assists in the regular season and playoffs combined. This is the fourth time he has been selected as an MLS All-Star.

Landon Donovan Forward LA Galaxy Nationality: USA Born: March 4, 1982

The 2008 Golden Boot Winner and 2009 Volkswagen MLS MVP, Donovan has earned his 11th consecutive All-Star selection dating back to 2001, his first season in the League. Donovan has excelled this season in Los Angeles, as he is currently tied for the league's Budweiser Golden Boot Award (top goal scorer) with nine goals, while leading the Galaxy to the league's best overall record. In 2010, Donovan set a new career-high with 16 assists while captaining the Galaxy to the Supporters' Shield for the first time in his career. Donovan also tallied seven goals on the season, second most on the team. Last summer, Donovan also electrified the World Cup audience with one of the greatest goals in U.S. history to secure a victory over Algeria in the 91st minute. Donovan's three World Cup goals helped lead the USA to the quarterfinals. With five goals scored, Donovan is tied with Brian McBride for the most goals scored in MLS All-Star Game history. He was named the MVP of the 2001 All-Star Game and helped lead the San Jose Earthquakes to their first MLS Cup title that same year. He again played a starring role in the Earthquakes' second MLS Cup championship in 2003, and with the Galaxy's Cup championship in 2005.

Sean Franklin Defender LA Galaxy Nationality: USA Born: March 21, 1985

The No. 4 overall selection in the 2008 SuperDraft has spent his entire four-year career with the LA Galaxy. He was named the 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year. This season, Franklin has appeared in all 21 of the Galaxy's games, starting in 19, as the Galaxy have the second-best defense in MLS. A four-year star at Cal-State Northridge, Franklin started all 67 games in which he appeared during his college career, tallying two goals and 10 assists. Franklin made his full international debut in the 1-1 draw with Chile, Jan 22, 2011. This is Franklin's first MLS All-Star Team selection.

Tally Hall Goalkeeper Houston Dynamo Nationality: USA Born: May 12, 1985

Hall has stepped in as the No. 1 goalkeeper for the Dynamo and has impressed in early outings, posting a 1.15 GAA in 20 starts. Due to his stellar play in goal, Hall has been named to MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week three times, a league high among goalkeepers. After playing the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Danish club Esbjerg, Hall signed with Houston in the 2009 season. The Washington native also trained with the United States U-23 national team prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics. This is Hall's first MLS All-Star selection.

Thierry Henry Forward New York Red Bulls Nationality: France Born: August 17, 1977

The French soccer legend has shined in his first full season with the New York Red Bulls, scoring nine goals; tied for the lead for the Budweiser Golden Boot award (top goal scorer). As of June 2011, Henry is ranked No. 1 on the Castrol Index. Henry made his full MLS debut on July 31, 2010 in a 2-2 draw against Houston, assisting on both goals. In 2010, he had two goals and three assists in 11 regular season appearances. Henry began his career in 1990 with AS Monaco FC, moving to Juventus F.C in Italy's Serie A (1999), then Arsenal FC of the English Premier League (1999-2007) and FC Barcelona in Spain's La Liga (2007-2010). Henry has a total of 123 caps for the France National Team, and is the country's all-time leading scorer with 51 goals. Henry was the European Golden Boot winner in 2004 and 2005, and was the top goal-scorer in the Premier League for four seasons (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006). This is Henry's first MLS All-Star Team selection.

Jack Jewsbury Midfielder Portland Timbers Nationality: USA Born: April 13, 1981

After eight years in Kansas City, the veteran midfielder moved to the expansion Portland Timbers in the offseason, and is now enjoying a career season as captain of his new team. He has been the Timbers' most consistent performer this season, tallying five goals and six assists (tied for fifth in the league) from his central midfield position. A Joplin, Mo. native, he played at Saint Louis University for four seasons. He was drafted in 2003 by Kansas City, and spent eight seasons with the club, playing in 195 MLS games, and contributing 14 goals and 20 assists. This is Jewsbury's first MLS All-Star Team selection.

Shalrie Joseph Midfielder New England Revolution Nationality: Grenada Born: May 24 ,1978

Joseph, the Revolution's captain, has netted five goals and one assist in 18 appearances this season. Joseph is an eight-time selection to the All-Star team, four-time MLS All-Star First XI vote-getter (2006-09), and a four-time MLS Best XI performer ('05, '06, '08, '09). As a senior at St. John's University, he earned All-America honors and led the Red Storm to the 2011 NCAA College Cup semifinals. Joseph has appeared more than 20 times for the Grenada National Team, and was voted the 2007 Caribbean Player of the Year and 2008 Grenada Footballer of the Year. This is the eighth time he has been selected as an MLS All-Star.

Nick LaBrocca Midfielder Chivas USA Nationality: USA Born: Dec. 4, 1984

LaBrocca has had a breakout first season with Chivas USA, scoring a career-high six goals and adding three assists while starting all 20 games from his attacking midfield position. LaBrocca started his career with the Colorado Rapids in 2007, moving to Toronto FC for the 2010 season. LaBrocca played his college soccer at Rutgers University, where he earned All-Big East honors three times. He also has extensive U.S. youth national team experience. This is LaBrocca's first MLS All-Star selection.

Faryd Mondragón Goalkeeper Philadelphia Union Nationality: Colombia Born: June 21, 1971

The veteran Colombian goalkeeper has been tremendous for Philadelphia after transferring from FC Köln of the German Bundesliga, posting a 0.84 GAA, third in MLS. Capped 50 times by Colombia, Mondragón played in the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Mondragón was last in net for the national squad when Colombia met the U.S. at PPL Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 12, 2010. His professional career has also seen him play in Argentina, Spain, France and Turkey. This is Mondragón's first MLS All-Star selection.

Jamison Olave Defender Real Salt Lake Nationality: Colombia Born: April 21, 1981

The 2010 MLS Defender of the Year, Olave has been an anchor for a Real Salt Lake defense that has only allowed 12 goals in 17 games, ranking first in MLS. Olave was also a key reason the 2010 Real Salt Lake squad set the MLS record for fewest goals allowed in a season, allowing just 20 goals in its 30 contests. In 2008, Olave joined Real Salt Lake after playing in Colombia's first and second divisions. This is Olave's second consecutive MLS All-Star selection.

Heath Pearce Defender Chivas USA Nationality: USA Born: Aug. 13, 1984

Pearce, one of the top defenders in MLS, is having a strong debut season with Chivas USA,both in central defense and at fullback. Pearce originally came to MLS in late 2009, signing with FC Dallas, and played the bulk of the 2010 season at right back, finishing the season second on the team in assists (6). After playing three seasons at the University of Portland, he joined FC Nordsjælland of Denmark, then moving to German side Hansa Rostock. Pearce also has represented the United States on 32 occasions. This is Pearce's second consecutive MLS All-Star selection.

Tim Ream Defender New York Red Bulls Nationality: USA Born: Oct. 5, 1987

Ream, a finalist for the 2010 Rookie of the Year award, has been a consistent presence on the New York Red Bulls back line. Last season, Ream was voted Red Bulls Defender of the Year. He led the league and club in games played (30) and minutes played (2700), leading the Red Bulls to a single-season club record 13 shutouts. He made his international debut for the United States national team on Nov 17, 2010, starting against South Africa. This is Ream's first MLS All-Star Team selection.

Chris Wondolowski Forward San Jose Earthquakes Nationality: USA Born: Jan. 28, 1983

The seven-year MLS veteran is establishing himself as one of the league's top goal-scorers. He struggled to find playing time early in his MLS career, but won the MLS Golden Boot in 2010 with 18 goals, and has started 2011 strong with six goals in 15 games. The California native had a successful college career at Division II Chico State, and later earned a place on the Earthquakes roster, where he led the reserve team in goals in the 2005 season. At his goal-scoring best in late 2010, he recorded two hat tricks in less than a month, and eventually earned his first call-up to the U.S. national team. This summer, he was named to the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. This is Wondolowski's first MLS All-Star Team selection.

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