Sorry if this has already been discussed, I couldn't find a thread by searching. From what I can tell there are 7 MLS originals still active this year: Chris Armas Jesse Marsch Ante Razov Jaime Moreno Cobi Jones Steve Ralston Eddie Pope Am I right that Pope, Jones, Marsch and Armas have announced that this is their last seasons, meaning only 3 MLS originals will be left next season, Razov, Moreno and Ralston?
Good point, I was only looking at those players who have been in the league continuously since 96. Are there any others in the same category as McBride?
You forgot Tony Sanneh who will probably play in the Rapids game in about 1 hour. You also forgot Diego Gutierrez, Greg Vanney and Frankie Hejduk. I think all three played in '96 Shaun Bartlett is still active in South African club Kaizer Chiefs at the age of 34. Theoretically he still could sign in MLS. There's probably some other fringe youngsters from that era who might still be active in USL or some obscure foreign league ... Oh yeah, Brad Friedel was a '96er, now plays @ Blackburn.
I'm not sure if you can count Moreno as an "original" since he was not added to the DC United roster until part way through the 96 season.
It's not that impressive if you're going to include everyone who's still active regardless of whether or not they're still in MLS. Why not throw in Tony Meola (MISL) or Eric Wynalda (six year layoff but active this season in 2007)?
Zach Thornton has been eating his way around MLS since '96. He took a year off to warm the bench at Benfica and learn the fine art of making port, but came back to MLS for the glory.
Eddie Lewis was also an original I believe. He's definitely still going strong with a start and an assist yesterday for Derby. It would be cool to see him return to San Jose when his contract ends in two years.
And so if you're going to eliminate guys like McBride and Lewis. And Moreno since he wasn't technically an original. And Hejduk, Razov, and Vanney all had stints where they left MLS for a bit. And if Pope, Cobi, Marsch, and Armas all retire after this year. All you have left are Ralston and Guttierez assuming they don't retire
1996 players currently playing in MLS Armas, Chris Gutierrez, Diego Hejduk, Frankie Jones, Cobi Marsch, Jesse Moreno, Jaime Pope, Eddie Ralston, Steve Razov, Ante Sanneh, Tony Thornton, Zach Vanney, Greg 1996 players who have never left MLS Armas, Chris Gutierrez, Diego Jones, Cobi Marsch, Jesse Moreno, Jaime Pope, Eddie Ralston, Steve
Thanks for that list. It makes clear what I'm getting at by talking about "originals" I meant more specifically those who started in MLS at the beginning and have continued in MLS ever since. I got the list by going to the MLS site and sorting the players by years in MLS. Gutierez was not listed as 11, perhaps because of the year injured. Razov was listed as 11 years, did I miss something about him or should the list be 8 players? And the question I was looking to have answered about those 7 or 8 (realizing that there are 4 or 5 more that have left and returned) is who among them has made their plans for next year known? Someone made the comment in the Eddie Pope retirement thread that these retirements are marking the end on an era. What I was looking at was how soon that end may be. It will be interesting to see who is the last active player from among this group (expanded to include McBride, Lewis, Freidal, et al.)
Razov went to Spain after the 2000 season to play for Racing de Ferrol. He came back for the end of the 2001 season. The MLS "Survivors." That was the title of a thread here that went on for a couple years regarding this subject. This info is from a post there:
More dear to a U.S. die hard is who will be the last from that gritty USA'94 squad that came home to the U.S. to jump start Div-1 pro men's soccer will be the last to retire from MLS. Cobi. Jesse Marsh has been hackin' guys since day one. He's not lost a step in that department. Ask Spiceboy.
Ralston or Moreno are the clear favorites to outlast the rest. My gut says Ralston, but Moreno could hang on for a while as he still looks pretty sharp.
Razov and Marsch I can see coming back next year to CUSA. Don't know the length of their contracts with CUSA. But they've been key players for us.
Razov hasn't been in the league continuously. His sojourn in Spain (Racing Ferrol or something like that) kept him out. I don't remember well, so it's possible that he didn't miss an entire season.
96 allocation, preseason Jones 96 college draft Pope (1st round) Gutierrrez (2nd round) Ralston (2nd round) Marsch (3rd round) 96 supplemental draft Armas (1st round) 96 midseason Moreno (allocation replacing Suarez in July) Based on what I understood the question to be, everyone on the list above except Moreno should be considered an "Original". Therefore with Jones, Pope and Armas retiring that leaves only, Gutierrrez Ralston Marsch as Originals still playing assuming they make they clubs next spring.
Besides missing most of 01 while in Spain, Razov also missed a big chunk of the 97 season. Few remember this because he blossomed afterwards, but he was cut by the Galaxy early in the 97 season. When he joined the Fire, it wasn't because he was taken in the expansion draft or traded or what not, he was out of work and went to camp in 98 just to win a roster spot. He only played a few games for LA before being cut and he missed most of the 97 season. So, while he is an MLS original and has, in fact, played in every MLS season, he's had two different stints where he was out of the league.
I think these are the last two standing, but both took a break from MLS to sign in Europe. Thornton signed with Benfica in 2004. He never played for their first team and re-joined the Fire late in the MLS season but didn't play for them that year, which was the season Henry Ring was the starter (and actually an all-star). Thornton became the starter again in 2005. And Corrales spent three seasons in Norway between 05-07. It will be interesting to see which of these lasts the longest. Corralles didn't play college soccer and signed with MLS at age 19 and is four years younger than Thornton. Big Zach, of course, has the advantage of being a GK, which have a much longer shelf life.