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MLS Players Represent 32 Countries

Dallas's Joselito Vaca is one of six Bolivians in MLS.

New York, NY (Friday, April 6, 2001) - As Major League Soccer prepares to kick off its sixth season on Saturday, the league will feature a diverse group of players from 32 different countries around the globe. The opening day rosters consist of 18 senior roster players, Nike Project-40 players and Youth Internationals.

Of the 254 roster players on the league's 12 teams, 81 were born outside of the United States. Leading the way is Colombia, as 11 MLS players hail from Carlos Valderrama's home country. Bolivia, Canada and Jamaica follow with six players per country in the league. In addition, seven of the league's 12 head coaches were born outside of the United States, representing six different nations.

Major League Soccer is quickly becoming the "Meeting Place for the New America" as its cultural blueprint mirrors that of recent U.S. Census reports. Nearly 15 million fans representing a true cross-section of America have attended MLS matches during the league's first five seasons, a testament to the popularity of the world's game in this country. From the league's diverse fan base to its unique mix of American and international stars on the field, MLS represents the many different cultures that now thrive in our ever-changing society.

Following is a complete list of MLS players and head coaches on 2001 opening day rosters that were born outside of the United States. This list consists of players and head coaches who are current citizens, previously naturalized citizens or a current/former permanent resident of another country.

ARGENTINA (1)

Pablo Mastroeni, Miami Fusion

ARMENIA (1)

Harut Karapetyan, San Jose Earthquakes

BOLIVIA (6)

Roland Aguilera, Columbus Crew

Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United

Jaime Moreno, D.C. United

Fernando Ortiz, New England Revolution

Sergio Salas, D.C. United

Joselito Vaca, Dallas Burn

BRAZIL (1)

Rodrigo Faria, MetroStars

BULGARIA (1)

Hristo Stoitchkov, Chicago Fire

CANADA (6)

Geoff Aunger, Colorado Rapids

Mark Chung, MetroStars

Dwayne DeRosario, San Jose Earthquakes

Josue Mayard, Dallas Burn

Ali Ngon, Miami Fusion*

Mark Watson, D.C. United

The MetroStars' Adolfo Valencia is one of 11 Colombians in MLS.

CAPE VERDE ISLANDS (1)

John DeBrito, Columbus Crew

COLOMBIA (11)

Leonel Alvarez, New England Revolution

Pedro Alvarez, MetroStars

Alex Comas, MetroStars

Oscar Pareja, Dallas Burn

John Wilmar Perez, Columbus Crew

Johnny Torres, New England Revolution

Diego Serna, Miami Fusion

Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay Mutiny

Adolfo Valencia, MetroStars

Diego Gutierrez, Chicago Fire

Carlos Llamosa, Miami Fusion

COSTA RICA (2)

William Sunsing, New England Revolution

Mauricio Wright, New England Revolution

CZECH REPUBLIC (1)

Lubos Kubik, Dallas Burn

ECUADOR (4)

Ariel Graziani, Dallas Burn**

Martin Klinger, MetroStars

Peter Villegas, MetroStars

Octavio Zambrano, MetroStars, Coach

EL SALVADOR (5)

Raul Diaz Arce, D.C. United

Ronald Cerritos, San Jose Earthquakes

Mauricio Cienfuegos, Los Angeles Galaxy

Marvin Quijano, Los Angeles Galaxy

Jorge Rodriguez, Dallas Burn

ENGLAND (3)

Ian Bishop, Miami Fusion

Ray Hudson, Miami Fusion, Coach

Frank Yallop, San Jose Earthquakes, Coach

GERMANY (1)

Sigi Schmid, Los Angeles Galaxy, Coach

GHANA (2)

Joseph Addo, Tampa Bay Mutiny

Junior Agogo, Colorado Rapids

HONDURAS (1)

Alex Pineda Chacon, Miami Fusion

JAMAICA (6)

Jeff Cunningham, Columbus Crew

Robin Fraser, Colorado Rapids

Wolde Harris, New England Revolution

Tyrone Marshall, Miami Fusion

Greg Simmonds, Miami Fusion

Andrew Williams, New England Revolution***

MEXICO (2)

Luis Hernandez, Los Angeles Galaxy

Antonio Martinez, Dallas Burn

NEW ZEALAND (3)

Simon Elliott, Los Angeles Galaxy

Ryan Nelsen, D.C. United

Duncan Oughton, Columbus Crew

NETHERLANDS (1)

Thomas Rongen, D.C. United, Coach

PERU (1)

Jose Alegria, D.C. United

POLAND (3)

Wojtek Krakowiak, San Jose Earthquakes

Peter Nowak, Chicago Fire

Robert Warzycha, Columbus Crew

SCOTLAND (2)

Mo Johnston, Kansas City Wizards

John Spencer, Colorado Rapids

SENAGAL (1)

Mamadou Diallo, Tampa Bay Mutiny

SIERRA LEONE (1)

Abdul Thompson Conteh, D.C. United

SOUTH AFRICA (3)

Richard Farrer, Dallas Burn

Neathan Gibson, Colorado Rapids

Ivan McKinley, Miami Fusion

SPAIN (1)

Alfonso Mondelo, Tampa Bay Mutiny, Coach

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES (1)

Ezra Hendrickson, Los Angeles Galaxy

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (5)

Kevin Adams, Columbus Crew

Craig Demmin, Tampa Bay Mutiny

Ansil Elcock, Columbus Crew

Gary Glasgow, Kansas City Wizards

Keyeno Thomas, Columbus Crew

UGANDA (2)

Tenywa Bonseu, Columbus Crew

Peter Byaruhanga, Kansas City Wizards

UKRAINE (3)

Serge Daniv, Chicago Fire

Aleksey Korol, Dallas Burn

Dema Kovalenko, Chicago Fire

URUGUAY (2)

Fernando Clavijo, New England Revs, Coach

Tab Ramos, MetroStars

VENEZUELA (1)

Alberto Munoz, Tampa Bay Mutiny

YUGOSLAVIA (1)

Preki, Miami Fusion

Players: 81

Head Coaches: 7

Total: 88

Countries Represented (including U.S.): 36

Countries Represented by Players Only: 32

Notes

* Cameroon is birthplace of Ngon

** Argentina is birthplace of Graziani

*** Canada is birthplace of Williams

SOURCE: .MLSNET