During the past two seasons, Ante Razov spent time with three Major League Soccer clubs and struggled to find the form that had catapulted him to the top of the league scoring charts.
In 2004, Razov scored just four goals in 13 games in his final season with Chicago. In the offseason, he was dealt to Columbus where he had one goal in seven games before a midseason trade landed him in New York where he scored six times for the MetroStars.
Yet another trade led Razov to Chivas USA and the move has been a perfect fit for both player and club. Razov is back atop the league's scoring charts and is helping Chivas contend for a playoff spot. Entering Wednesday's game against Houston, Chivas is tied for third place with Colorado in the Western Conference table.
Razov credited the support Chivas showed in him as well as a move to his native Southern California as reasons behind his resurgence.
"Coming out here to California to the Chivas club is a big thing," Razov said. "The club wanted me and they went out and got me and brought me back home."
Through 13 games, Razov has a league-high 10 goals and is tied for the league lead with six assists. His last goal, a game-winning goal against Columbus on June 18, pushed him into double digits for the sixth time in his career. He is the only player in league history to have reached that plateau.
By reaching such lofty heights, teammates said that Razov should be recognized for his accomplishments.
"Right now, he's MVP. There is no doubt with the way he's playing," Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "He's leading candidate for MVP. There is no argument."
A year ago, Razov joined the MetroStars and scored six goals in 18 games. However, Razov was in the midst of two years' worth of injuries. Last year, Razov suffered through a groin injury that had robbed him of playing time in 2004.
Health concerns were not an issue at the start of the year. Coupled with a reunion with former head coach Bob Bradley, it helped set the tone for the rest of the season.
"The idea that he has a full preseason," Bradley said, "the idea that he understands what I expect from him every day, that he appreciates being challenged and pushed by somebody who knows him, I think those things work well for him and I think he's going to continue to help our team and score his goals."
Bradley and Razov first worked together in 1998. Razov was part of the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996 but was released in July of 1997. After a few unsuccessful trials in Europe, Razov was invited to the Fire's preseason camp by then-coach Bradley. He not only won a spot on the team but led the Fire in goals that year and helped the Fire win MLS Cup '98.
When Bradley needed some offense a year ago as coach of the MetroStars, he traded for Razov. Then, when Bradley joined Chivas USA late last year, he targeted Razov and acquired him in January.
Bradley said his relationship with Razov is simple.
"We trust each other," Bradley said. "He appreciates that I hold the bar high for him. I appreciate that when I challenge him, I always get the feeling that he's going to out on the field and give what he has. That's what trust is. It's not something that got built on me telling him how good he was or anything else."
Still, Razov has come a long way as a person since his early days with the Fire.
"He's matured a lot over the years. He's been a professional now for 11 years," said Marsch, who played with Razov for seven years. "He's learned a lot and put it all together in a way where he kind of figures out how to play the game and how to move up there and how to be dangerous."
Now, Razov is one of Chivas' experienced veterans who the team counts on for leadership and offense.
"It's important certainly the work that we put in every day," Razov said. "There is an understanding of the kind of team we want to build. Every day, it's straightforward: we go to work and just work on the things we can do to get better."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
