KANSAS CITY - Kansas City Wizards and U.S. National Team defender Jimmy Conrad signed a new four-year contract with Major League Soccer in a deal that locks up one of the premier defenseman in the United States.
"Signing Jimmy to a new four-year deal solidifies our commitment to establishing the premier organization in MLS," Technical Director Peter Vermes said. "Jimmy is not only a quality soccer player, but also an extremely valuable person within the Kansas City community, and we are pleased to say that he will be with us for the long term."
Conrad, a member of the Wizards since 2003, had been rumored to possibly move overseas but said he is glad to stay in Kansas City blue.
"I am happy to be with the Wizards for the next four years, and I look forward to bringing the club a lot of success on and off the field," Conrad said. "The level of commitment and the new vision from the new ownership group and coaching staff made it enticing to stay in Kansas City.
First-year head coach Curt Onalfo is confident Conrad will play an integral part of the Kansas City Wizards for years to come.
"Jimmy has an unbelievably great work ethic and is an excellent person in the community," Onalfo said. "Over the last four or five years, he has proven himself as one of the best defenders in the league."
Already twice a captain for the U.S. National Team, Onalfo indicated he will serve in that role for the Wizards.
"Over the next four years, he is going to help the Kansas City Wizards to become a rock solid team defensively. We look forward to Jimmy leading our team, as the captain, to championship ways," Onalfo said.
The 30-year-old Conrad is known for his toughness, skill and leadership and for his recent ascension to prominence at the international level. U.S. National Team Coach Bob Bradley praised Conrad after he shut down star forward Jared Borgetti and scored the first goal in a 2-0 victory over archrival Mexico February 7.
"Jimmy is a leader on our team. He was very, very motivated to play against a player like Borgetti," Bradley said. "When you are in those match-ups you understand that the tone is set early. It's important for him and it's important for the whole team to see that that is the way we need to play the game."
The goal was Conrad's first career international goal and came in his 19th appearance for the Red White and Blue. Conrad has worn the captain's armband twice for the USA.
As distinguished as Conrad is on the international level, he is even more decorated for his MLS play. A three-time All-Star and three-time MLS Best XI member, Conrad was the MLS Defender of the Year in 2005 and a finalist for the award in 2004 and 2006.
He has played in 183 career MLS matches with 168 starts. He has recorded 11 goals and nine assists during his eight years in the league.
Acquired in a 2003 draft-day trade with San Jose, Conrad has played in 99 matches for the Wizards over the last four seasons. Rarely injured, several of Conrad's missed matches have been due to National Team duty.
