Jeff Agoos

A defender who played for the U.S. national team for 15 years, but gained his greatest fame by playing for title-winning teams in five of Major League Soccer’s first eight seasons.

Agoos played 134 games for the United States, a total that at the time of his national-team retirement in 2003 stood second on the U.S. team’s all-time appearances list. Included among those games were three at the 2002 World Cup and 26 in World Cup qualifying between 1996 and 2001. Agoos also was a member of the United States teams at the 1998 World Cup and three 2000 Olympic Games, and the United States team that won the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

At the start of Major League Soccer in 1996, Agoos joined D.C. United, which was coached by his college coach, Bruce Arena. He started in D.C. United’s winning efforts in the MLS championship games of 1996, 1997 and 1999, as well as the U.S. Open Cup final in 1996. He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes before the 2001 MLS season, and continued his winning ways there, capturing MLS titles with San Jose in 2001 and 2003.

He was chosen to MLS’ postseason Best XI three times, in 1997, 1999 and 2001, and played a total of 263 MLS games.

Agoos, the son of an American diplomat, was born in Switzerland and grew up in Texas. He was a four-time NCSAA all-American during his years at the University of Virginia.

Inducted in 2009.