Wednesday, August 30, 2006

MLS: Youngest & Oldest Lineups

The youngest starting lineup was a result of international callups. It wasn't too long ago, and they mentioned it on ESPN2 (so a lot of you should know the answer to this). The date was 6/19/2004, and the game was Metrostars vs Los Angeles Galaxy (match report). As MLSnet says, the Metros were missing nine players total, but still managed to win 2-1. This was the start of World Cup qualifying, where the USA played Grenada and all the remaining CONCACAF teams were in action. The Galaxy were only missing Jovan Kirovski and Carlos Ruiz, but still suffered the indignity of allowing Kenny Arena's only MLS goal.

Youngest Lineup

June 19, 2004 (Metrostars 2:1 Los Angeles)

27.40-John Wolyniec
25.22-Chris Leitch
23.36-Kenny Arena
23.31-Zach Wells
22.98-Tim Regan
22.24-Jeff Parke
21.88-Pablo Brenes
21.36-Ricardo Clark
20.96-Gilberto Flores
19.79-Mike Magee
17.65-Eddie Gaven

Average age: 22.38 years


For the oldest starting lineup, we have to go back to the early days of the Chicago Fire. Not the MLS Cup winning 1998 team, but the 1999 squad that came between two great years. After 1999, many of their aging players left or were let go, and were replaced by younger players like DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, and Evan Whitfield.

On 8/28/1999, the Chicago Fire played (and beat) New England at home 2-1, the same result as above (match report). Several younger players were missing: Chris Armas out with an injury (what's new?), and I believe Diego Gutierrez was too although I can't find any proof. C.J. Brown came out early in the previous game and sat this one out, possibly with a slight injury as well. In addition, Frank Klopas made a rare start over Josh Wolff, possibly because he "kicked out the first ball prior to the game in a ceremony honoring the 1984 Chicago Sting."

Not 100% sure on this, but I haven't found anything older.

Oldest Lineup

August 28, 1999 (Chicago 2:1 New England)

36.01-Francis Okaroh
35.60-Lubos Kubik
35.15-Peter Nowak
33.60-Frank Klopas
33.53-Roman Kosecki
33.37-Tom Soehn
32.70-Jerzy Podbrozny
29.16-Sam George
25.88-Zach Thornton
25.80-Jesse Marsch
25.49-Ante Razov

Average age: 31.48 years

Comments on "MLS: Youngest & Oldest Lineups"

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2:28 PM, November 24, 2006) : 

I'd be curious to know what the average age for MLS starting lineups was in 2006 compared to 1996.

 

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