Welcome to Soccer America Xtra, original online content that expands on the expert weekly coverage in Soccer America Magazine. In 2001, Soccer America celebrates its 30th anniversary as the bible of American soccer.
This article supplements information found in the article The Year 5 Positional Depth Chart found on pages 8 and 9 of the October 23, 2000 issue of Soccer America Magazine.
MLS: SA Year-by-Year Positional Rankings
(For Soccer America's 2000 positional rankings, check out the Oct. 23, 2000 issue of Soccer America Magazine.)
1996
GOALKEEPERS
1. Brad Friedel (Columbus)
2. Tony Meola (MetroStars)
3. Mark Dodd (Dallas)
4. Mark Simpson (D.C. United)
5. Jorge Campos (Los Angeles)
RIGHT BACKS
1. Mark Semioli (Los Angeles)
2. Diego Sonora (Dallas)
3. Troy Dayak (San Jose)
4. Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay)
5. Clint Peay (D.C. United)
LEFT BACKS
1. Steve Pittman (Tampa Bay)
2. Gregg Vanney (Los Angeles)
3. Mario Gori (D.C. United)
4. Diego Gutierrez (Kansas City)
5. Oscar Draguicevich (San Jose)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Robin Fraser (Los Angeles)
2. John Doyle (San Jose)
3. Frank Yallop (Tampa Bay)
4. Dan Calichman (Los Angeles)
5. Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)
6. Marcelo Balboa (Colorado)
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
1. Leonel Alvarez (Dallas)
2. Martin Vasquez (Tampa Bay)
3. Richie Williams (D.C. United)
4. Chris Armas (Los Angeles)
5. Geoff Aunger (New England)
OUTSIDE MIDFIELDERS
1. Roberto Donadoni (MetroStars)
2. Jason Kreis (Dallas)
3. Tab Ramos (MetroStars)
4. John Harkes (D.C. United)
5. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)
6. Mark Chung (Kansas City)
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
2. Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay)
3. Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles)
4. Misael Espinoza (San Jose)
5. Brian Maisonneuve (Columbus)
FORWARDS
1. Preki (Kansas City)
2. Joe-Max Moore (New England)
3. Antony De Avila (MetroStars)
4. Eric Wynalda (San Jose)
5. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
STRIKERS
1. Eduardo Hurtado (Los Angeles)
2. Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay)
3. Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United)
4. Brain McBride (Columbus)
5. Giovanni Savarese (MetroStars)
1997
GOALKEEPERS
1. Walter Zenga (New England)
2. Brad Friedel (Columbus)
3. Mark Dodd (Dallas)
4. Mike Ammann (Kansas City)
5. Tony Meola (MetroStars)
RIGHT BACKS
1. David Vaudreuil (D.C. United)
2. Mark Santel (Dallas)
3. Mike Burns (New England)
4. Mark Semioli (Los Angeles)
5. Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay)
LEFT BACKS
1. Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)
2. Ted Chronopoulos (New England)
3. Mike Duhaney (Tampa Bay)
4. Steve Pittman (Tampa Bay)
5. Gregg Vanney (Los Angeles)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Eddie Pope (D.C. United)
2. Thomas Dooley (Columbus)
3. Carlos Llamosa (D.C. United)
4. Marcelo Balboa (Colorado)
5. Richard Gough (Kansas City)
6. Robin Fraser (Los Angeles)
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
1. Richie Williams (D.C. United)
2. Martin Vasquez (Tampa Bay)
3. Alejandro Farias (New England)
4. Danny Pena (Los Angeles)
5. Uche Okafor (Kansas City)
OUTSIDE MIDFIELDERS
1. Chris Henderson (Colorado)
2. Tony Sanneh (D.C. United)
3. Mark Chung (Kansas City)
4. Robert Warzycha (Columbus)
5. John Harkes (D.C. United)
6. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Preki (Kansas City)
2. Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
3. Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay)
4. Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles)
5. Alain Sutter (Dallas)
6. Roberto Donadoni (MetroStars)
FORWARDS
1. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
2. Ronald Cerritos (San Jose)
3. Gilmar (Tampa Bay)
4. Paul Bravo (Colorado)
5. Damian Alvarez (Dallas)
STRIKERS
1. Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United)
2. Giovanni Savarese (MetroStars)
3. Dante Washington (Dallas)
4. Antony De Avila (MetroStars)
5. Roy Lassiter (Tampa Bay)
1998
GOALKEEPERS
1. Zach Thornton (Chicago)
2. Tony Meola (MetroStars)
3. Mark Dodd (Dallas)
4. Jeff Cassar (Miami)
5. Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
6. Scott Garlick (D.C. United)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Eddie Pope (D.C. United)
2. Lubos Kubik (Chicago)
3. Robin Fraser (Los Angeles)
4. C.J. Brown (Chicago)
5. Thomas Dooley (Columbus)
6. Jorge Rodriguez (Dallas)
OUTSIDE BACKS
1. Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)
2. Diego Sonora (MetroStars)
3. Mike Burns (New England)
4. Diego Gutierrez (Chicago
5. David Vaudreuil (Colorado)
6. Mike Petke (MetroStars)
DEFENSIVE/CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
1. Chris Armas (Chicago)
2. Leonel Alvarez (Dallas)
3. Richie Williams (D.C. United)
4. Danny Pena (Los Angeles)
5. Mike Sorber (MetroStars)
6. Chad Deering (Dallas)
FLANK MIDFIELDERS
1. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)
2. Adrian Paz (Colorado)
3. Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay)
4. Eddie Lewis (San Jose)
5. John Harkes (D.C. United)
6. Steve Ralston (Tampa Bay)
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
2. Peter Nowak (Chicago)
3. Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles)
4. Joe-Max Moore (New England)
5. Mauricio Ramos (Tampa Bay)
6. Jerzy Podbrozny (Chicago)
FORWARDS
1. Stern John (Columbus)
2. Roy Lassiter (D.C. United)
3. Welton (Los Angeles)
4. Diego Serna (Miami)
5. Ronald Cerritos (San Jose)
6. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
1999
GOALKEEPERS
1. Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
2. Matt Jordan (Dallas)
3. Scott Garlick (Tampa Bay)
4. Mark Dougherty (Columbus)
5. Zach Thornton (Chicago)
OUTSIDE DEFENDERS
1. Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)
2. Greg Vanney (Los Angeles)
3. Ezra Hendrickson (Los Angeles)
4. Diego Sonora (D.C. United)
5. Jason Bent (Colorado)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Lubos Kubik (Chicago)
2. Mauricio Wright (San Jose)
3. Robin Fraser (Los Angeles)
4. Richard Farrer (Dallas)
5. Carlos Llamosa (D.C. United)
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
1. Chris Armas (Chicago)
2. Danny Pena (Los Angeles)
3. Chad Deering (Dallas)
4. Richie Williams (D.C. United)
5. Leonel Alvarez (New England)
FLANK MIDFIELDERS
1. Steve Ralston (Tampa Bay)
2. Eddie Lewis (San Jose)
3. Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
4. Diego Gutierrez (Chicago)
5. Mark Santel (Dallas)
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
2. Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles)
3. Henry Gutierrez (Miami)
4. Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay)
5. Robert Warzycha (Columbus)
FORWARDS
1. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
2. Joe-Max Moore (New England)
3. Jason Kreis (Dallas)
4. Ronald Cerritos (San Jose)
5. Jeff Cunningham (Columbus)
STRIKERS
1. Stern John (Columbus)
2. Roy Lassiter (D.C. United)
3. Ariel Graziani (Dallas)
4. Ante Razov (Chicago)
5. Diego Serna (Miami)