Chris Klein

MLS Highlights

2009: Appeared in 28 games, the second most on the team and moved into third place in MLS history with 322 career games played. He saw his MLS record 118 consecutive games started streak end on 4/18 in a 1-1 draw at San Jose, playing the final 25 minutes of that game. Prior to that day, the last time that Klein did not start a game for his team was on 6/4/05 when he was a member of the Kansas City Wizards. Klein tallied his first assist of the season a week later, setting up Landon Donovan’s game-tying goal late in the 1-1 draw at Colorado on 4/25. He played the 300th game of his career on 5/2 vs. New York, becoming the seventh player in league history to accomplish that feat. He appeared in his 141st consecutive game on 9/19 vs. Toronto FC, playing the entire second half after replacing Eddie Lewis. However, he was an unused substitute in LA’s next game, ending his MLS record consecutive games played streak. The following week, he set up Landon Donovan’s game-winning goal in the first half of the 1-0 win vs. Chicago on 10/2. Klein appeared in all four of the Galaxy’s postseason games, coming off the bench twice while starting the 1-0 win vs. Chivas USA on 11/8 in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinal Series and the 2-0 win vs. Houston in the Western Conference Championship. He was a second half substitute in MLS Cup and converted his attempt in the game’s deciding penalty shootout.

2008: Scored once and added seven assists while again playing every game, starting all 30 games for the Galaxy. On 5/24 vs. Kansas City, Klein started his 94th consecutive game, setting a new MLS record. That streak had stretched to 115 games by the end of the season, while Klein had moved into the top 10 in MLS history in games played. He scored his only goal of the season on 5/18 when he opened the scoring in LA’s 5-1 road win over FC Dallas. He tied a career-high with two assists in LA’s 5-2 win over D.C. United.

2007: Was named the Galaxy’s MVP as he led the league in games played and minutes played, appearing in 32 games between Real Salt Lake and LA, even though all MLS teams only played 30 regular season games. Klein also appeared in and played every minute of the Galaxy’s five SuperLiga contests. He scored twice in SuperLiga, with the first coming in the 6-5 win over FC Dallas and the second coming in the Final defeat to Pachuca when he sent the match to extra time with a bicycle kick in the final seconds of regulation. Klein also scored the game-winning goal in the 2-1 win over FC Dallas on 9/23, beating Dario Sala from long range. Klein played every second of every Galaxy game after his arrival in June with the exception of the Open Cup defeat by Richmond, a game which he was ineligible for having already played for RSL in the tournament. He appeared in and started 11 games while with RSL, scoring once and adding an assist in 990 minutes of action.

2006: Acquired by Real Salt Lake prior to the season, Klein tied a career-high with seven goals and added eight assists while starting all 32 games during his first season in Salt Lake. He scored in three straight games in August and was named the MLS Player of the Week for Week 21.

2005: Was named an MLS All-Star for the fourth straight year and the ACE Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a severe knee injury. He set a career-high with nine assists and played in the 200th game of his MLS career on 10/15 at Dallas, a game which proved to be his final game as a member of the Wizards.

2004: Was on pace for a career-year statistically with four goals and eight assists before suffering a torn left ACL and being ruled out for the season.

2003: Finished the season with six goals, including back-to-back two-goal games late in the season, and four assists to finish third on the Wizards in scoring.

2002: Was named ACE Comeback Player of the Year for the first time by tallying seven goals and five assists in 25 games after recovering from knee surgery.

2001: One of the Wizards most consistent performers with three goals and six assists.

2000: Won his first MLS Cup with the Wizards, assisting on Miklos Molnar’s game-winning goal in the 1-0 win over Chicago in the MLS Cup. Klein set then career-highs with six goals and eight assists.

1999: Scored his first career goal in MLS on 5/8, scoring the game winner in the 2-1 win over LA. He followed that performance with a goal and an assist, his first ever in MLS, in a shootout loss to D.C. United.

1998: Appeared in 17 games as a rookie with the Wizards after being selected with the fourth pick in the MLS College Draft, starting eight times.

College Highlights

Klein played four years (1994-97) at Indiana University, playing 88 games in his time with the Hoosiers. He finished his college career with 19 goals and 18 assists and led his team to the NCAA Tournament four times, including a berth in the College Cup Final in 1994 where they lost to Bruce Arena’s University of Virginia.

National Team

Klein has earned 22 caps with the U.S. National Team since making his debut in a 2-0 win over Mexico on 10/25/2000. Klein scored his first goal for the U.S. in his eighth appearance, a 4-0 win over Canada in January 2003. He had notched his first assist in the previous game against El Salvador in November 2002. Has recorded a total of five goals and three assists all-time for the U.S., including a goal and two assists in a 4-0 win over Guatemala on 2/19/2006.