No. 112 and counting.
Two-time MLS MVP and four-time Best XI selection Preki is two assists away from tying Carlos Valderrama's all-time league assist mark. The MLS original with the legendary left foot has announced he'll be retiring at the end of this season, meaning he has three more opportunities to best Valderrama's record.
His last assist came in the Wizards' 2-2 tie with the Los Angeles Galaxy at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 17. Over the course of a career full of breathtaking long balls into space or onto a foot, seemingly space- and time-defying splits and thousands of quickly played passes off his trademark cutback, it was a pretty simple play: a short-corner dish to Chris Klein, who then served the ball for a far-post Davy Arnaud header in the 81st minute.
"To be honest, I didn't even know [about the record]. If that would happen it would be nice. Those are the things you don't really think about," said the 42-year-old Preki. "You just play and try to get the team points and victories, and if in the meantime you achieve those things, that's great."
The Wizards were trailing the Galaxy 2-0 when the Yugoslavian-born midfielder entered the match, yet his entrance was greeted with the type of fan reaction reserved only for those are know to be capable of changing a match.
And the Wizards' play from then on seemed to agree.
"Surely we want to get him the ball because we know that he can generate a scoring opportunity much quicker than most of us. But I think it would be naïve to say he was the only reason why -- could we have scored two goals without him in there? Maybe not," said center midfielder Kerry Zavagnin.
"He certainly adds something to our attack and something that we've needed in previous games here. He's definitely a welcome addition when he comes on and he produces like he has."
In his 10th year in the league and his 26th as a pro, Preki has played in 13 of the Wizards' 29 games, starting three, after coming off an injury-plagued 2004 in which he twice had surgery to repair his left ankle that was dislocated in February.
Possessing a love for the game and a strong will, the naturalized U.S. citizen got himself ready to play for 2005. Clearly disappointed in the amount of time he has seen on the field during what he has announced as his last season, the ever-confident Preki laid a claim that few could doubt as true.
"If I was playing a little more on a regular basis, it wouldn't be a problem [achieving the record]. I would have done that quite a while ago, that's how confident I am in my ability. [But] that's not in my hands," said Preki.
"That's how he serves the team the best. When we need offensive impetus, he comes on," Wizards coach Bob Gansler said. "The other team knows what's coming, but here comes that cutback and it's up to them to stop it.
"We saw what he does for this team, at this time, the best. It's a late-game insertion and then he just gives us confidence going forward, and we have to get him the ball and we have to run off of him. He possesses immense attacking confidence and expertise."
The man that many fans still think of when the Wizards are mentioned has only three regular-season contests left to catch and eclipse Valderrama and to display what Gansler terms "a gift" for the fans and his teammates.
"It's his comfort level on the ball. (In training) we did a lot of 5-v-3 attacking. When you have a two-man advantage and you are going to a big goal on a huge chunk of field that sounds pretty easy. But not everybody is able to tactically convert that numerical advantage to goal possibilities -- it wasn't a surprise that Preki's team won," Gansler said. "Preki's comfort level, his ability to see the game -- not only to see the next pass, but a couple of plays beyond that -- is a gift ... when he has the ball at his feet it's a threat on goal."
Said Zavagnin: "You can count on one hand the number of players who have come into this league and been true playmakers. You look at guys like Carlos Valderrama, [Mauricio] Cienfeugos and Peter Nowak."
Of the final three regular season games for Preki, two are at Arrowhead Stadium -- Saturday against the Chicago Fire, then Oct. 8 against the New England Revolution, before the campaign ends with a trip to face FC Dallas on Oct. 15. But the postseason hopes for the Wizards are far from set -- and perhaps they will need some more magic from the club's ageless wonder.
"The numbers underscore that he has been an extremely valuable attacking tool for any team that he has been on -- a club team or national team or whatever else," said Gansler. "His legacy is secure. He's one of the players of this league's 10 years."
Robert Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
