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MLS: Top 5 Asian players in league history

By Matt Coles

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 13: Steven Beitashour #3 of Los Angeles FC controls the ball during the first half against New York City FC at Banc of California Stadium on May 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The game ended 2-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 13: Steven Beitashour #3 of Los Angeles FC controls the ball during the first half against New York City FC at Banc of California Stadium on May 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The game ended 2-2. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: Steven Beitashour #3 of Los Angeles FC reacts to a call during the second half of a game against the Seattle Sounders at Banc of California Stadium on April 21, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: Steven Beitashour #3 of Los Angeles FC reacts to a call during the second half of a game against the Seattle Sounders at Banc of California Stadium on April 21, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /

1. Steven Beitashour

Taking the top spot on our list of the best Asian players to have ever featured in MLS is Iran’s Steven Beitashour. He is the only member to have been nominated to an MLS All-Star game

Born in California to Iranian parents, the defender started his professional footballing career in 2010 when he was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in the second round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He went on to be a key part of several defences over the next decade.

After four seasons in San Jose, where he was part of the Earthquakes’ squad that won the 2012 Supporters’ Shield and was nominated to the MLS All-Star team that same year, Beitashour moved north of the border, joining Vancouver Whitecaps.

During his time with the club, they lifted the Canadian Championship, a trophy the Irani full-back would win three years running, as he then moved to Toronto FC, where the club won the domestic cup competition in both 2016 and 2017. The latter came as part of the club’s unprecedented treble-winning season in which they also won the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.

Following the success, Beitashour moved to expansion side Los Angeles FC and became the club’s starting right-back during his two seasons there, the latter of which saw the club break the single-season record for points gained. He was also named to Bobby Warshaw’s MLS Best XI of the 2010s, the only Asian player to be part of a prestigious line-up that also included the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Robbie Keane and Osvaldo Alonso.

Next. MLS: Top 5 African players in league history. dark

By the end of the 2019 MLS campaign, he had racked up over 250 appearances across the regular season and playoffs, including winning the MLS Cup, three Supporters’ Shields and three Canadian Championships as well.

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