MLS: Top 5 centre-backs in league history
By Matt Coles
3. Eddie Pope
Taking the bronze medal position on our list is one of two D.C. United defenders who starred in the early days of the league’s history, and won almost every trophy possible, Eddie Pope.
The now-46-year-old graduated from college at the perfect time ahead of the MLS College Draft. Before that, Pope had spent four years at the University of North Carolina, where he was named a first-team All-American, along with earning All-South Region and all-ACC honours.
MLS Career & Honours:
- D.C. United (1996-2002)
- MetroStars (2003-2004)
- Real Salt Lake (2005-2007)
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- MLS Defender of the Year – 1997
- MLS Best XI – 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004
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- MLS Cup – 1996, 1997, 1999
- Supporters’ Shield – 1997, 1999
- U.S. Open Cup – 1996
- CONCACAF Champions League – 1998
- Copa Interamericana – 1998
- CONCACAF Gold Cup – 2005
Pope was drafted by D.C. United in that MLS College Draft, with the side from the capital selecting the centre-back with the second overall pick in the draft. His first season with United was split between the club and the United States side at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, in which the USA failed to make it out of their group. However, back at D.C., Pope secured instant success as the club took the inaugural MLS Cup, with the defender scoring the golden goal to defeat LA Galaxy in the final.
D.C. also won the domestic cup competition in the same season, securing the double in 1996. They lifted the U.S. Open Cup title thanks to a dominant display in the final, where they defeated the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
Pope’s second season was even better, especially on an individual note, as his performances across the campaign saw him named MLS Defender of the Year, along with receiving his first nod to the MLS Best XI. Along with the individual accolades, the centre-back was part of a United side that defended their MLS Cup title, as they beat Colorado Rapids in the final. That followed a first-ever Supporters’ Shield, which was taken by D.C. following the conclusion of the regular season.
The club’s third season in existence saw domination continue onto the continental stage, as they won both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Copa Interamericana. They became the first side from the United States to win the former after defeating Deportivo Toluca, before becoming the only ever Copa Interamericana winners from the country, as they beat Brazilian side, Vasco da Gama, with Pope scoring the winning goal.
Before the Interamericana victory, Pope had also been named to the MLS Best XI for a second successive year, alongside team-mate Marco Etcheverry, who was the league’s MVP in 1998. There would then be more domestic success in 1999, as D.C. took home the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup double for the second time in three seasons. It was also their third MLS Cup title in four years, as they continued their dominance in the early part of the league’s history.
The American, who made his international debut a month after D.C. won their first MLS Cup in 1996, played for United into the 21st Century, all the way through to the end of the 2002 season. He finished his D.C. United career with over 150 regular-season appearances, before signing for the MetroStars before the 2004 campaign.
The next two seasons would see Pope named to the MLS Best XI for a third and fourth time, as he showed some of his best form. He was the only member of the MetroStars squad to be named to the Best XI in 2003, before being joined by Eddie Gaven and Amado Guevara in 2004, with the latter being named as MVP.
After two seasons in New York, Pope joined Real Salt Lake ahead of the 2005 term, and it would be another good one for the American, this time on the international stage. The United States Men’s National Team won the CONCACAF Gold Cup that year, beating Panama in the final. The centre-back was then also named to the MLS All-Time Best XI, along with several D.C. team-mates at the end of the 2005 term.
Pope spent the final three seasons of his professional career with RSL, before retiring following the conclusion of the 2007 campaign, a year after he retired from international football with 82 caps and 8 goals to his name for the USMNT. His MLS career spanned 12 seasons, with over 250 regular-season matches under his belt, along with 27 playoff matches. Pope was part of three MLS Cup-winning sides, and named to the Best XI four times in his career, along with being named Defender of the Year in 1997, a truly remarkable career from a wonderful centre-back.