Jaime Moreno left family and friends behind in Bolivia to pursue a soccer career that took him to England, then to MLS, where he has been the most consistently dominant forward since 1996.
The Facts
Born: Jan. 19, 1974 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Hometown: Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Pro clubs: D.C. United (MLS) 1996-present, Middlesbrough (England PL) 1994-96, Santa Fe (Colombia DI) 1993-94, Blooming (Bolivia DI) 1991-93.
Bolivia: 50 caps, 9 goals.
World Cup: 1994.
Copa America: 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999.
My First …
Soccer field: When I was young, I played with friends and cousins on a little dirt field that belonged to the church, about 20 miles from the center of Santa Cruz.
Car: A VW Beetle, when I was 17, in Bolivia.
Days in England: I was 20 and it was a little bit weird for me. I didn’t know anybody, I didn’t speak any English. I was a little bit afraid, actually.
National team goal: I think it was when we played the U.S. in Miami [a 1-1 tie] in 1994. I got a through ball, and [Tony] Meola came out. I cut it inside [Desmond] Armstrong with my right and I faked Meola. [Alexi] Lalas almost stopped it with his hand, but I think he didn’t want to get sent off.
My Career …
Best Goal: The one I scored in the ’97 [MLS] final here is probably my favorite because it was so important.
Biggest victory: The win against Ecuador in Ecuador to qualify for the World Cup. I didn’t play, but I was on the team, and it was just an unbelievable feeling. … It made so many millions of people in my country happy, especially for a country like us.
Biggest disappointment: To not be able to play at Middlesbrough, to not be able to prove myself in England.
World Cup ’94: The time just flew by, and now I’m 27 and I realize how important that was. I didn’t take advantage even though I was so excited to be there.
Current national team status: It’s not really disappointing because I know things have been happening there. I’m calm, I know what I can do, and if I get called, I will do my best.
My Favorite…
Musical Artist: Azul Azul, which sings “La Bomba.”
Actor: Robert DeNiro.
Actress: Sandra Bullock.
Film: “Ivan.”
Author: Carlos Cuauhtemoc Sanchez.
Food: Majao – yellow-orange rice with chicken or beef, fried eggs, fried plantains and yucca.
Drink: Tamarindo (fruit drink).
‘American’ thing: The roads – we have too many roundabouts in Bolivia.
‘Bolivian’ thing: My ranch; it would cost me a fortune here.
Soccer player: Marco Van Basten.
Vacation spot: Bolivia.
Hobbies: Golf, pool, tennis, ping-pong.
Pregame activity: Relax, watch movies and get focused.
Postgame activity: Depends. If I win, go for a couple drinks with friends. If I lose, I probably go straight home.
My View On …
D.C. United: After five years, it would be hard to move to another team. You’ve got to do your job wherever you go, but D.C. United would always be in my heart. I identify myself with the D.C. fans, and it just means so much to me now.
Bolivia: It’s a little bit hard. Our country is going through a tough situation. For my family and my kids, we would like to live here in America. This is my second home.
U.S. culture: Sometimes people don’t spend enough time with their family, and they just live their own lives. Sometimes the neighbors don’t even know each other.
More on Jaime Moreno including photos and a chart of his ‘Greatest Foes’ can be found in the July 23, 2001 issue of Soccer America Magazine.
by Soccer America associate editor Will Kuhns