SAN JOSE - In celebration of the 10th season of the team, the San Jose Earthquakes announced today the club's all-time Best XI team. The players were all chosen by Earthquakes fans, who were able to select their favorites from the 53 eligible players at www.sjearthquakes.com.
Four current players highlight the Quakes all-time Best XI team, as the club's all-time goal scoring and assist leader Ronald Cerritos was one of the leading vote getters at forward. The Earthquakes all-time best XI 4-4-2 formation is filled out by Landon Donovan at forward and Brian Mullan, Ronnie Ekelund, Richard Mulrooney and Eddie Lewis in the midfield. Wade Barrett, Troy Dayak, Jeff Agoos and current assistant coach and inaugural Earthquakes Hall of Fame member John Doyle have been voted as the Quakes all-time top four defenders, while Joe Cannon narrowly beat out Pat Onstad for the goalkeeping spot in the closest voting of any position.
Players who had appeared in 25 MLS games by July 15, 2005 were eligible for the fans selection, which included four goalkeepers, 15 defenders, 23 midfielders and 11 forwards.
The goalkeeping category proved to be the closest vote with Cannon receiving 48.2% of the vote to 47.6% for Pat Onstad. Cannon, 2002 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with the Quakes, played in San Jose from 1999-2002, helping the Quakes to the 2001 MLS Cup and being selected to the 2002 MLS All-Star team. Cannon is the club's all-time leader in games started (101) and minutes played in goal (9,261) and finished his Quakes career with a 46-39-16 record (team leader in wins) and 26 shutouts.
Mulrooney (82% of votes) was the runaway leading vote getter amongst all players, with his midfield partner from 2001-2004 Ronnie Ekelund garnering the second highest amount of votes. Mulrooney was the rock of the Quakes midfield from 1999-2004, winning MLS Cup Championships in San Jose in 2001 and 2003 while appearing in a club record 163 games and tallying 44 assists, second only to Cerritos. Ekelund, who combined in the midfield with Mulrooney from 2001-2004 was a member of the 2002 MLS Best XI squad and finished his San Jose career with 11 goals and 16 assists in 91 games. Mullan, who joined the Quakes in 2003 and continues to be a force for the team, earned the fourth highest vote total of all players. Mullan was a key member of the Quakes 2003 MLS Cup title team and has 23 assists and 12 goals in 83 games in three seasons with San Jose. Lewis starred for the Quakes from 1996-1999 and ranks third on the Quakes all-time list with 35 assists in 115 games. Lewis also has nine goals. He was a member of the MLS Best XI team in 1999, when he set the club record with 14 assists.
The Earthquakes all-time Best XI defense is led by Jeff Agoos, who earned the most votes of all defenders and the third most votes of all eligible players. The two-time Quakes Defensive Player of the Year was named on 78% of the ballots. Agoos stabilized the Quakes backline and captained San Jose to the 2001 and 2003 MLS title while earning the 2001 MLS Defender of the Year award and being selected to the 2001 MLS Best XI team. An all-star with San Jose in 2001, 2002 and 2003, Agoos scored five goals and registered eight assists in 84 games with San Jose. "The Beast" Troy Dayak was the second-highest defensive vote-getter, with Doyle and 2002 MLS Best XI member Wade Barrett closing out the unit. Dayak, who ended his successful MLS career this season, is an Earthquakes legend, having played in 129 games with San Jose since the inaugural 1996 season. Dayak overcame numerous injuries to be named an MLS All-Star in 2001 and earn the 2001 Comeback Player of the Year Award. Dayak finished his MLS career with nine goals and seven assists. Barrett is one of the most successful and popular Quakes defenders of all-time, being selected to the 2002 MLS Best IX team and having scored six goals and registered 24 assists in 142 games with San Jose in six seasons. Doyle was the team's first player back in 1995 and played five seasons for the club, scoring 11 goals and recording 15 assists. In 1996, the Fremont, Calif. native was named the MLS Defender of the Year and captained the West All-Star Team, while also being named to the MLS Best XI Team. He was a two-time MLS All-Star and this year became the first inductee in the Earthquakes Hall of Fame.
Donovan, who helped the Quakes to two MLS Cup Championships in 2001 and 2003 and is one of the club's all-time scoring leaders garnered the most votes at the forward position (55%), with Cerritos finishing behind him (47%), and Brian Ching just missing out and finishing in third. Donovan is one of the all-time best playoff performers in league history and ranks second in team history with 32 goals in 87 regular season games and 29 assists. Donovan was an all-star with San Jose from 2001-2004 and was selected to the MLS Best XI team in 2003. The Quakes all-time goal scoring and assist leader, Cerritos is a San Jose legend that made his mark on the club from 1997-2001, and after a three-year absence, again in 2005. Cerritos has played in 148 games for the Quakes, scoring 61 goals and registering 47 assists. Cerritos was a member of the 1997 MLS Best XI team and the 1997, 1999 and 2001 MLS All-Star teams.
San Jose Earthquakes All-Time Best XI
Click on the player's name for career highlights and stats.
Goalkeeper - Joe Cannon
Defenders - Jeff Agoos, Troy Dayak, John Doyle, Wade Barrett
Midfielders - Richard Mulrooney, Ronnie Ekelund, Brian Mullan, Eddie Lewis
Forwards - Landon Donovan, Ronald Cerritos
