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MLS: Top 5 central midfielders in league history

By Matt Coles

PASADENA, CA - AUGUST 21: Preki #11 of the Kansas City Wizards rushes upfield against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the second half on August 21, 2002 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Galaxy beat the Wizards 2-1. (Photo By Christopher Ruppel/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - AUGUST 21: Preki #11 of the Kansas City Wizards rushes upfield against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the second half on August 21, 2002 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Galaxy beat the Wizards 2-1. (Photo By Christopher Ruppel/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – JULY 4: Cobi Jones #13 of the Los Angeles Galaxy looks on prior to their MLS match against the Chicago Fire on July 4, 2007, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated the Fire 2-0. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – JULY 4: Cobi Jones #13 of the Los Angeles Galaxy looks on prior to their MLS match against the Chicago Fire on July 4, 2007, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated the Fire 2-0. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

4. Cobi Jones

Taking the No.4 spot on our list of the best-ever central midfielders to have plied their trade in Major League Soccer is a man who spent his entire 12-year MLS career with a single club, former LA Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones.

The midfielder spent his college days with the UCLA Bruins, and after impressing for the United States at the 1994 World Cup, Jones spent a season with Premier League side Coventry City. He then had a brief spell with Vasco da Gama in Brazil before joining LA Galaxy.

MLS Career & Honours:

  • LA Galaxy (1996-2007)

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  • MLS Best XI – 1998

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  • MLS Cup – 2002, 2005
  • Supporters’ Shield – 1998, 2002
  • U.S. Open Cup – 2001, 2005
  • CONCACAF Champions League – 2000
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup – 2002

Jones signed for LA Galaxy prior to Major League Soccer’s inaugural campaign in 1996 and immediately became a key member in the middle of the park, starting 27 regular-season matches in his rookie season in the league. He would go on to play at least 20 matches per year throughout his long MLS career.

The Galaxy reached the MLS Cup final in the inaugural term, losing out to D.C. United in the final in 1996. Jones played the entire match, which ended 3-2 to the side from the capital after golden goal extra time, where Eddie Pope scored just four minutes into the extra period of play.

Fast forward a couple of years, and Jones had his best season individually. The American scored 19 goals and assisted on 13 other strikes in just 24 regular-season matches, only narrowly missing out on the MVP award which went to D.C.’s Marco Etcheverry. Jones helped the Galaxy to their first major trophy, as they took home the Supporters’ Shield for winning the league. The midfielder was also named to the MLS Best XI for the only time in his career, alongside team-mates Mauricio Cienfuegos and Robin Fraser.

Jones would never score as many goals in a single season as he did in 1998, but for a midfielder to tally 19 strikes in a year is rather impressive. He scored a further eight goals in 1999, along with recording eight assists, and a year later, he helped the Galaxy to win on the international stage.

CARSON, CA – AUGUST 9: Midfielder Cobi Jones #13 of the Los Angeles Galaxy celebrates his team’s second goal against the Columbus Crew at the Home Depot Center on August 9, 2003, in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated the Crew 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – AUGUST 9: Midfielder Cobi Jones #13 of the Los Angeles Galaxy celebrates his team’s second goal against the Columbus Crew at the Home Depot Center on August 9, 2003, in Carson, California. The Galaxy defeated the Crew 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

The side from Los Angeles lifted the CONCACAF Champions Cup trophy, as they beat Honduran side Olimpia 3-2 in the final. During the competition, the Galaxy got the better of D.C. United, the only other American team taking part, and there was a sense of revenge for the Galaxy, with the capital’s team having gotten the better of them in two MLS Cup finals, 1996 and 1999.

The midfielder struggled for form and injuries in 2001 and 2002 and was only able to play 41 regular-season matches across the two campaigns, but he did help the side to their first MLS Cup triumph in the latter. The club had already won the U.S. Open Cup for the first time in 2001 and went on to win the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup double a year later. Jones captained the side in the final, playing all 113 minutes, as Carlos Ruiz scored the vital golden goal in the second period of extra time.

2002 also saw Jones taste success on the international stage with the United States, as the American national side won the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The midfielder played 83 minutes of the final against Costa Rica, with the USMNT winning 2-0 to claim their second Gold Cup triumph and their first since 1991.

After a couple more solid years, 2005 saw the Galaxy return to the winners’ circle, as they took another double. They won the U.S. Open Cup, beating FC Dallas in the final at Home Depot Center, before going on to win the MLS Cup six weeks later, defeating New England Revolution in extra time to take the crown for a second time. Jones played 109 minutes, substituted in the second half of extra time after some tireless work in the middle of the park.

Jones would play for the club for another two seasons, before retiring after the conclusion of the 2007 campaign, as the Galaxy failed to reach the post-season for only the second time in their history. The midfielder finished his MLS career with over 300 regular-season appearances, along with a further 45 post-season games notched up as well. Add that to over 160 caps for the USMNT, a record he holds by some distance, and you have a truly magnificent career.

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