After a pair of subpar seasons, Ante Razov has found new life at Chivas USA. Through 16 games, Razov has matched his goals output from the 2004 and 2005 campaigns combined. His 11 goals are tops in the league and only two players have more than his six assists.
Razov was named to the MLS All-Star team's First XI on Wednesday, which was voted on by fans, media members, players as well as coaches and general managers around the league. This is the third time Razov has been named to an All-Star team. His 95 career MLS goals rank him third on the all-time MLS goal scoring list.
Nevertheless, after suffering through the last two years with Chicago, Columbus and the MetroStars, Razov said he knew he had plenty of soccer left in him.
"I don't know if it's vindication or anything like that. I never really felt that I lost it," Razov said. "Guys lose form, guys go through injuries and I think you see that with all good players. They go through times where they're not at their best. Certainly this is just me in form, healthy and playing with a good team."
Chivas USA enter Saturday's game with the Los Angeles Galaxy with a 6-6-5 record, good for fourth place in the Western Conference table. On 23 points, a win would help distance the club from the Galaxy (5-10-3, 18 points).
A year ago, Chivas was never really in contention but this season the club has been in the midst of the playoff chase all season long. Razov has contributed immensely to the turnaround.
"I think we have a real healthy environment here where everybody pushes each other in the right way," Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "I think we're getting a lot of good games out of a lot of good guys but certainly Ante has been his best."
Razov has taken on a leadership role with Chivas. With his past accolades and international experience, such was expected from the start, Razov said. The Southern California native has helped transform a group of talented veterans and inexperienced youngsters into a playoff-contending side in a matter of months.
"That's what is expected of a veteran guy who has been around this league," Razov said. "I've been here 10 years now and have played in a lot of important games. I think (coach) Bob (Bradley) expects that of me."
During games and training sessions, Razov can be heard constantly commanding his teammates, trying to organize the attack and help dictate the offense. It's the only way he knows how to play.
"I try to do it on the field and pushing guys and I'm hard on guys because I want the best," Razov said. "I learned from others the (Lubos) Kubiks and (Peter) Nowaks of the world, played with (Youri) Djorkaeff, and these are guys who have played around the world in big games. You learn from them and gain information from them and I try to pass that along in my own way to the guys here."
Razov is likely not done yet. He is well on pace to break his career-high of 18 goals set with Chicago in 2000. Already he is the only player in league history to score double-digit goals in five seasons and he could become the seventh player to score more than 20 goals in a season, a feat last accomplished by Taylor Twellman and Carlos Ruiz in 2002.
"As long as he can maintain a good mentality and do a lot of little things that help the team, not just scoring but a lot of the other little things that help the team, you'll see him just flourish in this environment," Marsch said.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
