Marco Etcheverry, the last remaining foreign star brought in for MLS's launch in 1996, is leaving D.C. United.
The 33-year-old Bolivian playmaker will not return in 2004. He was the only player remaining from United's inaugural 1996 season and finished his eighth MLS campaign as United's top scorer with 19 points on six goals and seven assists in 2003.
El Diablo was the dominant player of MLS's early years, leading United to the MLS Cup final in its first four seasons and titles in 1996, 1997 and 1999. United also won the 1996 U.S. Open Cup and 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup and Inter-American Cup.
The Bolivian international was named to MLS's Best XI in the league's first four seasons and was the MLS MVP in 1998 and MLS Cup MVP in 1996.