Hejduk, Rogers named to All-Star First XI

Major League Soccer Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis unveiled the MLS All-Star First XI today in Toronto and among the group are five first-time All-Stars and six players with previous MLS All-Star experience. The First XI received the most votes at their respective positions from four groups - fans, players, media and coaches/general managers. The Crew is represented by two selections to the 2008 All-Star First XI in veteran defender Frankie Hejduk and rising midfielder Robbie Rogers.

The MLS All-Stars will take on historic English Premier League club West Ham United in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game on Thursday, July 24 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. The game will be televised live on ESPN, Telefutura, and CBC Sports at 7 p.m. ET.

The New England Revolution currently hold the best record in MLS (10-4-3, 33 pts) and led all teams with three players voted to the First XI -- defender Michael Parkhurst, midfielder Shalrie Joseph and goalkeeper Matt Reis. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew each had two players make the First XI, while the Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, FC Dallas and Kansas City Wizards each had one player named.

The First XI is anchored in the net by Reis, who was selected for his fourth consecutive MLS All-Star Game. An experienced back line features Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad (five-time All-Star), the Crew's Hejduk (six) and Parkhurst (three).

The midfield will feature some of the League's most experienced players and two rising stars. Beckham (England), Blanco (Mexico) and Joseph (Grenada) are joined by Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan and Crew midfielder Rogers.

The First XI front line features two of the League's top goal scorers in Donovan (11 goals) and FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper (8 goals). Donovan's 11 goals rank first, while Cooper's eight goals rank fourth in the League's scoring race.

The First XI is reflective of Major League Soccer's diverse player pool. Ranging in age from 21 (Robbie Rogers) to 35 (Cuauhtémoc Blanco), this group brings an array of experience both domestically and abroad. Three players born outside of the United States and Canada are among the 11, each having captained their respective country's national team - Beckham (102 caps with England), Blanco (97 caps with Mexico), and Joseph (Grenada).

Online fan balloting comprising 25 percent of the combined First XI vote, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent), and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder. Players and coaches/general managers could not register votes for players on their own teams. A chart below shows 20 of the top vote-getters, with the percentage of ballots within each voting group for each player.

On July 15, Revolution head coach Steve Nicol and his staff will select five additional All-Stars, who will join two Commissioner selections to complete 18-man game-day MLS roster. Nicol earned the honor of coaching the MLS side by leading his team to the highest points per game average in the League through games on June 29.

The First XI is not necessarily the starting lineup. Nicol will select the starters based on player availability and tactical considerations. If First XI selections are unavailable due to injury, international duty or other commitments, Nicol will select alternates for the game day roster, but all First XI players are All-Stars. The First XI selections are below:

2008 MLS All-Star First XI
Goalkeeper: Matt Reis (New England Revolution)

Defenders:Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)

Midfielders:David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Forwards:Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

The chart below shows 20 of the top vote-getters, with the percentage of total votes within each group that the players received.

2008 MLS All-Star First XI:

(Listed alphabetically)


David Beckham: Midfielder; Los Angeles Galaxy; Born: May 2, 1975


In his second season with the Galaxy, David Beckham has made a huge impact in leading the team to the top of the Western Conference standings. He has registered five goals and six assists in 2008, but also leads the Galaxy midfield with his tireless work effort, his pinpoint passing and sublime free kicks. Beckham recently earned his 100th cap for England, and is hoping to help the Galaxy return to the MLS Cup Final. This is Beckham's first MLS All-Star selection.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco: Midfielder; Chicago Fire; Born: January 17, 1973
Blanco's arrival to Chicago last year sparked a run of form that propelled the Fire to the Eastern Conference Championship game after the club had struggled in the standings during the first half of 2007. Now in his second year with the club, Blanco has already matched his goals total (four) from last season and has seven assists so far. The Mexican international has scored 34 goals in 97 games for his national team. He won the 1999 Confederations Cup with Mexico, setting a tournament record with nine goals.

Jimmy Conrad: Defender; Kansas City Wizards; Born: February 12, 1977
This is Conrad's fifth consecutive and fifth overall selection to the MLS All-Star team. The 10-year MLS veteran was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2005. Conrad anchors a Kansas City defense that is very young, providing the leadership in the back line. Of the seven other Kansas City defenders, four are rookies and none have more than two years of experience entering the season. Despite this, Conrad has led the Wizards to a league-leading six shutouts this season. While known for his defensive abilities, Conrad is currently tied for the club lead with three goals. In college, Conrad won a national championship with UCLA in 1997.

Kenny Cooper: Forward; FC Dallas; Born: October 21, 1984
After suffering through an injury-riddled 2007 campaign, the Dallas, Texas native has regained his form in his third MLS season to receive his first All-Star Game invitation. The largest field player in MLS has used his 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame and deft touch to evade defenders all season, scoring eight goals to place himself fourth among League leaders. Cooper signed with Manchester United after his senior year in high school and won the Manchester Senior Cup in his first season with the Manchester United reserves. His father, Kenny Cooper, Sr., was a standout goalkeeper in the North American Soccer League (NASL).

Landon Donovan: Forward; Los Angeles Galaxy; Born: March 4, 1982
At just 26 years of age, Donovan has already earned 101 caps with the U.S. Men's National Team and is the all-time leading scorer with 36 goals. The youngest player in League history to record 50 goals and 50 assists, Donovan's terrific play this season has pushed the Galaxy into first place in the Western Conference. He leads the League scoring race for the Budweiser Golden Boot with 11 goals. The only four-time winner of the U.S. Player of the Year award and a member of the MLS All-Time Best XI, Donovan will be making his seventh all-star game appearance. He has won three MLS Cups (two with the San Jose Earthquakes and one with the Galaxy) and the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the United States national team.

Frankie Hejduk: Defender; Columbus Crew; Born: August 5, 1974
Best known for his endurance and gritty defending, Hejduk is in his eighth MLS season. The Crew's captain is a six-time All-Star selection. The Crew struggled last year, finishing next to last in the Eastern Conference, but Hejduk has a resurgence as Columbus has posted second-best record in the league to date. With the U.S. Men's National Team, Hejduk has earned 78 caps and played in three FIFA World Cups. Off the field, Hejduk is an avid surfer and was a member of San Dieguito High School's state and national championship surfing team.

Shalrie Joseph: Midfielder; New England Revolution; Born: April 24, 1978
Joseph controls the game from his defensive midfield position, using tenacious tackles and vocal leadership. His presence has played a large part in Revolution's run to the best record in MLS during the first half of the season. Currently in his sixth season with New England, Joseph is an All-Star for the fifth consecutive year. Born in Grenada, Joseph moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. as a teenager and has represented his national team on numerous occasions. He was named Caribbean Footballer of the Year in 2007.

Sacha Kljestan: Midfielder: Chivas USA; Born: September 9, 1985
This third-year player from Huntington Beach, Calif. will be making his first MLS All-Star game appearance. Just 22, Kljestan has made seven appearances with the U.S. Men's National Team and helped the U.S. U-23 squad during CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. He currently leads Chivas USA in scoring with five goals, a career high for the Seton Hall graduate. He also leads the team with three assists. His brother Gordon is a member of the New York Red Bulls.

Michael Parkhurst: Defender; New England Revolution; Born: January 24, 1984
Parkhurst has helped lead the Revolution to the past three MLS Cup finals. This is his third selection to the MLS All-Star team. Parkhurst, 24, is one of the best defenders in the League and a major reason the Revolution have logged five shutouts this season. After a standout career for Wake Forest University, he was named MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year Award in 2005 and MLS Defender of the Year in 2007. Off the field, Parkhurst spends much of his free time volunteering, and in 2006 he received the League's U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award.

Matt Reis: Goalkeeper; New England Revolution; Born: March 28, 1975
This is Reis's fourth consecutive selection to the MLS All-Star team. Reis ranks highly among MLS goalkeepers in all categories - first in wins (10), second in saves (65), and second in shutouts (five). Reis led the League in shutouts and saves in 2005 and 2006. He holds nearly every Revolution goalkeeping record and was voted both the Soccer America MLS 'Keeper of the Year and Revolution MVP in 2006. Reis earned the Revolution's Humanitarian of the Year award in 2005 for his work in the community. The durable Reis has played every minute of every League match for the Revs since August of 2005.

Robbie Rogers: Midfielder; Columbus Crew; Born: May 12, 1987
Enjoying his second season in MLS, the youngest member of the First XI will be making his first All-Star Game appearance. At 21, the Huntington Beach, Calif., native is second on his team with five goals, but just as importantly has caused opponents fits with his marauding runs down the left flank. After an impressive performance for the United States at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Rogers has started all 15 of the Crew's games this season. Rogers won the 2005 NCAA Championship with the University of Maryland during his freshman year before becoming a professional.