The 2006 season marks Major League Soccer's 11th year of play. Just 10 players remain active who have played at least one game in of the first 10 seasons. It is thus no surprise that these 10 are among the most talented and most decorated players in League history. As MLS begins its second decade on April 1, the following players can say they have been through it all:
Chris Armas (Chicago Fire)
Chris Henderson (New York Red Bulls)
Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
Jesse Marsch (Chivas USA)
Tony Meola (New York Red Bulls)
Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)
Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Ante Razov (Chivas USA)
In addition to these 10, two more players, Diego Gutierrez and Zach Thornton of the Chicago Fire, have been on an MLS roster every year since 1996, but failed to play an official MLS match during one season. Gutierrez missed the entire 1997 season due to a preseason injury, and Thornton spent most of 2004 in Portugal before returning to MLS late in the year. He played in the Hall of Fame match for the Chicago Fire that season, but never suited up for an official MLS match.
This elite group has helped lift the league from its nascent stages through its current stability and success. These 10 stars are legends on their own teams, providing valuable windows to the League's history. They are the first generation of players to spend the majority of their career in MLS.
"When I started out in MLS I didn't know I was going to be here 10 years down the road," said Tony Meola of Red Bull New York, who last fall was named the goalie on MLS' all-time Best XI team. Heading into the league's second decade, Meola noted the stark contrast between MLS now and in its early years. "There's no question that the league is much better now. We see it every day, both on and off the field."
The one constant over that time has been the stellar play of the core group of stars who have grown along with the league over the last decade. The ten 11-year players have appeared 20 times in MLS Best XI lists and have been named All-Stars 53 times in total.
Still, despite the honors and years of success, their hunger for the game they have helped to build remains undiminished and none of them is ready to hang up his cleats.
"There hasn't ever been a time that I've said that it is time to stop, even when I was injured and I wondered if my career might be over," said Meola. "When I feel I can't contribute to the team anymore I'll be the first to step aside and say enough is enough."
Cobi Jones, of the Galaxy, is the only player on the list to have played for only just one team for his entire career.
11 YEAR VETERANS
Chris Armas: A five-time Best XI selection and a seven-time All-Star, Armas was a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy for his first two seasons before moving on to Chicago, where he has played ever since.
Chris Henderson: A three time All-Star and 1990 World Cup veteran, Henderson will join his fifth MLS team over his long career when he suits up for Red Bull New York this spring.
Cobi Jones: Jones was an All-Star every year from 1996 to 2003, and was named to the 1998 MLS Best XI. A fixture with the Galaxy and the US National team over those years, he has played his entire career with Los Angeles.
Jason Kreis: MLS's all-time leading goalscorer, with 100 goals through the 2005 season, Kreis has been an All-Star 7 times and an MLS Best XI member once.
Jesse Marsch: Gritty midfielder Jesse Marsch was a key member of the 1998 Fire team that won an MLS Cup in their first year, his third MLS Cup in three years after two seasons at D.C. United. Reunited with former Fire coach Bob Bradley at Chivas USA, Marsch is looking for ring number 4.
Tony Meola: Meola is the only goalkeeper in MLS history to win a season MVP award. He accomplished the feat in 2000, when he led the Kansas City Wizards to their lone MLS Cup championship.
Jaime Moreno: A four-time Best XI selection and a four-time MLS Cup winner - all with D.C. United, Moreno was named to the All-Time MLS Best XI team last fall.
Eddie Pope: Pope, a four-time Best XI selection, has been named an MLS All-Star every year except his first one, in 1996, when he scored the game-winning overtime goal in the first ever MLS Cup.
Steve Ralston: Ralston was the MLS Rookie of the Year in 1996, and over the years he has been a member of three MLS Best XI teams and five All-Star teams.
Ante Razov: Despite being a late-round selection in the inaugural MLS Draft in 1996, Razov has proved his doubters wrong. Fourth all-time on the MLS scoring chart, he has been named to the MLS Best XI team once and the All-Star roster twice.
