 Lalas in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Panayotis Alexander Lalas | ||
| Date of birth | June 1, 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, Michigan, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1991 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1995 | Padova | 33 | (2) |
| 1995–1996 | → Padova (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | New England Revolution[1] | 55 | (3) |
| 1997 | → Emelec (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 1998 | MetroStars | 25 | (2) |
| 1999 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | (4) |
| 2001–2003 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 69 | (7) |
| Total | 235 | (19) | |
| International career | |||
| 1992 | United States U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 1996 | United States Olympic (O.P.) | 3 | (0) |
| 1991–1998 | United States | 96 | (10) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Panayotis Alexander Lalas (Greek: Αλέξης Λάλας; born June 1, 1970) is an American former soccer player who played mostly as a defender. Lalas is best known for his participation with the United States men's national soccer team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where his appearance made him a standout player on the team with his distinctive long beard and hair. After the World Cup, Lalas went on to become the first American in Italy's Serie A as a member of Calcio Padova.[2][3]
Lalas would later return to the United States in 1996 to take part in the newly formed Major League Soccer, as a member of New England Revolution. Lalas also played with Club Sport Emelec of Ecuador, and the MLS squads MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards, but his most successful period was with Los Angeles Galaxy, with whom he won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup before retiring in 2003.[4] Lalas' playing style was characterized by physicality and endurance.[5]
Following his playing career, Lalas served as general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, and Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006.[6] He currently works as an analyst for Fox Sports.[7] He also was a reporter at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdfwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lalas, a rock n' roll star
- ^ This essay on U.S. soccer history Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, however, indicates that other two American-born players, Alfonso Negro and Armando Frigo, appeared for Serie A teams in the late 1930s, making Lalas the third American-born player in the Italian top league.
- ^ Alexi Lalas – USMNT
- ^ "The Most Influential XI as U.S. Soccer turns 100". espnfc.com. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "Alexi Lalas - 2006 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Alexi Lalas - 2006 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Soccer analyst Alexi Lalas opens up about decision to leave ESPN for Fox". si.com. December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.