MLS San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose Earthquakes Re-Sign Defender and Team Captain Jeff Agoos to New Contract

Published on February 4, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


San Jose (Wednesday, February 4, 2004) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that defender and team captain Jeff Agoos has signed a new contract with Major League Soccer and the Earthquakes. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Agoos will report to San Jose for training camp next week.

"It is great news to have our team captain Jeff Agoos back with us," Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "Jeff means so much to this team and I know he will be important for us as we attempt to defend our championship. The bottom line is that Jeff Agoos is a winner, and we now have nearly every player back from last season's championship team."

One of the most decorated United States soccer players of all-time, Agoos, 35, added to his already overflowing trophy case in 2003 when he captained the Earthquakes to the MLS Cup Championship. The title was Agoos' second in three seasons with San Jose and league-high fifth in eight years. Agoos also won titles with D.C. United in 1996, 1997 and 1999.

"Jeff is a unique talent and his importance to this club on and off the field cannot be overstated," said Earthquakes General Manager Alexi Lalas. "His experience and leadership has been vital to the success of the Earthquakes and the fact that he has agreed to continue playing in San Jose is yet another reason to be excited about the team in 2004."

Agoos helped to limit San Jose opponents to a league-low 35 goals in 2003 while playing with a constantly changing cast of defenders due to injuries. He rebounded from an injury plagued 2002 campaign to once again emerge as one of the best defenders in the league in 2003. The former University of Virginia standout started and played in 28 regular season games, the most he has played since the 1999 season, and equaled his career high in goals (2), while being the rock in the center of San Jose's defense.

"I couldn't be happier to return to San Jose and a championship team," Agoos said. "This is a great situation here. It is a new era with a new general manager and head coach and I believe that we have the talent to once again be one of the top teams in the league. I am really looking forward to the start of the season."

In his illustrious MLS career, Agoos has played in 195 games over eight seasons, while being named to the MLS Best XI team on three occasions. He has scored 10 goals and notched 21 assists, while compiling over 16,000 minutes played. In 2001, Agoos was the Earthquakes Budweiser MVP and the MLS Defender of the Year when he led the Quakes to their first MLS Cup. At the national team level, he has appeared in 134 games for the United States, including being a part of the 1998 and 2002 World Cup teams. He also played in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, helping the U.S. to the semifinals, its best finish in Olympic history.

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