Kerry Zavagnin

Kerry Zavagnin

Zavagnin training with the United States national team
Personal information
Date of birth	(1974-07-02) July 2, 1974
Place of birth	Plymouth, Michigan, United States
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1995	North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993	Raleigh Flyers
1996	Raleigh Flyers
1997–1998	MetroStars	39	(0)
1997	→ Long Island Rough Riders (loan)	2	(0)
1999	Lehigh Valley Steam	24	(2)
2000–2008	Kansas City Wizards	205	(5)
International career
2000–2006	United States	21	(0)
Managerial career
2009–	Sporting Kansas City (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kerry Zavagnin (/zəˈvæɡnɪn/; born July 2, 1974) is an American former professional soccer player who is an assistant coach with Sporting Kansas City. A defensive midfielder, he spent most of his career with Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. He made 21 appearances for the United States national team.

Career

Early career

Zavagnin went to and played soccer for Detroit Catholic Central High School.

He played his college soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1992 to 1995, where he registered 22 goals and 24 assists in 76 games. Upon graduating, Zavagnin joined the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL, one of the two major outdoor second divisions in US soccer, for their 1996 season.

Professional career

Zavagnin was born in Plymouth, Michigan. After one year with the Flyers, he was drafted 21st overall with the first pick of the third round in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Colorado Rapids. Before playing a single game for the Rapids, however, Kerry was traded to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, in exchange for Peter Vermes. Zavagnin played 1743 minutes for the Metros in 1997 and 1998, and did not acquit himself well, playing himself out of MLS. In 1997, the MetroStars sent him on loan to the Long Island Rough Riders of the USISL.

Zavagnin joined the Lehigh Valley Steam of the A-League for the 1999 season. After one season in the A-League, Zavagnin returned to MLS after being drafted 30th overall in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. Zavagnin quickly established himself with the Wizards, playing 2743 minutes at midfield for a team that would both go on to win the MLS Cup, and was one of the best defensive teams in the league's history. Zavagnin remained an important contributor to the Wizards for the next six years, playing a quiet defensive role, and establishing himself as one of the better, though also one of the least recognized, midfielders in the league.

In 2004, Zavagnin began to be recognized among the league's elite. He won a lot of praise for running the Wizards midfield, and was named to the MLS Best XI. In eight years in the league, Zavagnin scored five goals and added 20 assists in regular season play.

Zavagnin received 21 caps for the U.S. national team, making his debut October 25, 2000, against US arch-rival Mexico.

In August, 2008, Zavagnin announced that he would retire at the end of the season.

Career statistics

As of July 25

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Domestic		Playoffs		US Open Cup		Continental		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kansas City Wizards	2006*	19	0			0	0
	2005	28	0							28	0
	2004	24	0	4	0					28	0
	2003	29	1	3	0					32	1
	2002	27	1	3	0					31	1
	2001	27	1	3	0					31	1
	2000	31	2	7	0					39	2
	Total	185	5	20	0					189	5
MetroStars	1998	18	0							18	0
	1997	21	0							21	0
	Total	39	0							39	0
Career total		228	5	20	0					228	5

Honors

Kansas City Wizards

• MLS Cup: 2000
• Supporters' Shield: 2000
• U.S. Open Cup: 2004

Individual

• MLS Best XI: 2004
• Major League Soccer All-Star Game: 2004
• Sporting Legend: Class of 2016

External links

• Kerry Zavagnin profile on US National Soccer Players Association
• Kerry Zavagnin at Major League Soccer
• Zavagnin calls it a career in the MLS