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MLS: Top 5 full-backs in league history

By Matt Coles

GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 29: Carlos Bocanegra of USA looks on prior to the international friendly match between Italy and USA at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on February 29, 2012 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 29: Carlos Bocanegra of USA looks on prior to the international friendly match between Italy and USA at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on February 29, 2012 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – OCTOBER 16: Todd Dunivant #2 of the Los Angeles Galaxy looks on during their MLS match against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on October 16, 2011, in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated Chivas USA 1-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – OCTOBER 16: Todd Dunivant #2 of the Los Angeles Galaxy looks on during their MLS match against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on October 16, 2011, in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated Chivas USA 1-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

4. Todd Dunivant

Coming in at No.4 is the full-back who is the most decorated on our list, with eight major titles to his name, including a whopping five MLS Cup triumphs, former San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC defender Todd Dunivant.

The left-back first played in MLS back in 2003, having spent the four years prior at Stanford University, where he played for the Cardinal. He was the only player in the country to be named to both the First Team All-American and First Team Academic All-American teams in 2002.

MLS Career & Honours:

  • San Jose Earthquakes (2003-2004)
  • LA Galaxy (2005-2006, 2009-2015)
  • NY Red Bulls (2006-2007)
  • Toronto FC (2007-2008)

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  • MLS Best XI – 2011

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  • MLS Cup – 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014
  • Supporters’ Shield – 2010, 2011
  • U.S. Open Cup – 2005

Dunivant was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, and there was an instant success for the rookie. He started in all thirty regular-season matches for the club, including scoring the game-winning goal on his debut against the Colorado Rapids. He then recorded an assist on Dwayne de Rosario’s record-breaking goal, which came just 11 seconds into the ‘Quakes clash with FC Dallas that September, breaking the record for the fastest ever goal scored in MLS, only beaten since by Tim Cahill and Mike Grella.

The American played the most minutes of any outfield player in his first campaign in Major League Soccer, and he was a key part of the Earthquakes team as they went on to win the MLS Cup after defeating Chicago Fire 4-2 in the final at the Home Depot Center in California.

After an injury-hit 2004 term, Dunivant was acquired by the LA Galaxy and went on to become the first player in club history to play every single minute of both their regular-season and post-season matches. He tallied over 4,200 minutes as the Galaxy won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup double in 2005.

The left-back was traded to New York Red Bulls midway through the 2006 campaign, the year that he earned his first international cap with the United States, and spent time in the Big Apple, and then Toronto, before returning to Los Angeles, and to the Galaxy, prior to the 2009 term.

Once again, his first season with the club would see the Galaxy reach the MLS Cup final that November and Dunivant would play all 120 minutes of the match, but Real Salt Lake eventually took the title on penalty kicks.

VANCOUVER, CANADA – AUGUST 24: Todd Dunivant #2 of the Los Angeles Galaxy in action during an MLS match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at B.C. Place on August 24, 2013, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA – AUGUST 24: Todd Dunivant #2 of the Los Angeles Galaxy in action during an MLS match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at B.C. Place on August 24, 2013, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

A year later, and the Galaxy stamped their dominance on the league, by winning the Supporters’ Shield, an achievement the club would also reach a year later, in 2011. Once again, Dunivant was an ever-present, as he started and finished all 32 regular-season matches, helping the Galaxy tie the MLS record for regular-season shutouts. The full-back was named to the MLS Best XI for the first time in his career, alongside team-mates Omar Gonzalez, David Beckham and Landon Donovan.

The American would also go on to play every minute of their post-season run as well, repeating the feat he had achieved six years previous. The club also won the MLS Cup, with Dunivant getting his hands on the trophy for the third time in his career, but there was still more to come for the left-back.

Dunivant and the LA Galaxy would retain the MLS Cup in 2012, and remain the most recent team to win the title in back-to-back years. The full-back was, once again, a key part of the side’s success, playing 35 times over the regular-season and post-season, as they beat Houston Dynamo in the final for the second year in succession.

The Galaxy would go on to win another MLS Cup title in 2014, with Dunivant present to claim his fifth winner’s medal, the joint-second most in Major League Soccer history, alongside Jeff Agoos and Brian Mullan, with team-mate Landon Donovan holding the record with six titles.

Dunivant retired from professional soccer after an injury-hit 2015 campaign, in which he could only manage seven appearances during the regular season. He retired with over 300 appearances to his name, including 25 post-season matches under his belt. Dunivant won the MLS Cup five times, along with two Supporters’ Shields and a U.S. Open Cup, he will always be known as one of the best left-backs in the history of the league.

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