Carlos Bocanegra

Carlos Manuel Bocanegra (born May 25, 1979, in ) is an American Association football player who plays for Stade Rennais F.C of France's Ligue 1 and is the captain (association football) of the United States men's national soccer team. Although Carlos Bocanegra is primarily a Defender (football) Centre back, Carlos Bocanegra has also seen time at Defender (football) Full back and Midfielder.

Club career

Chicago Fire

After playing college soccer at University of California, Los Angeles, Bocanegra signed a Project-40 contract with Major League Soccer and was drafted by the Chicago Fire S.C. with the fourth overall pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. Carlos Bocanegra spent most of the year with the Fire, playing only two games on loan with Project 40. Carlos Bocanegra proceeded to win the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for a team that made it to the MLS Championship match and won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Carlos Bocanegra became one of the top defenders in MLS, becoming the first player to win the MLS Defender of the Year Award twice, in 2002 and 2003. Bocanegra scored five goals and had eight assists in Carlos Bocanegra four years in MLS.

Fulham

Bocanegra was signed by Fulham F.C. in January 2004. With Fulham, Bocanegra played primarily as a center back, but also as a left back and briefly as a Midfielder Defensive midfielder. During the FA Premier League 2006-07, Carlos Bocanegra was Fulham's second leading scorer with five goals, behind fellow American Brian McBride. On September 1, 2007, Bocanegra Captain (football) Fulham for the first time in a Premier League match, a come from behind 3–3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. On September 15, 2007, Carlos Bocanegra made Carlos Bocanegra 100th appearance in the Premier League, all for Fulham, against Wigan Athletic F.C.. Carlos Bocanegra was released by Fulham on May 23, 2008.

Rennes

Bocanegra was signed by Stade Rennais F.C. in June 2008. Carlos Bocanegra received the number 3 shirt, which is Carlos Bocanegra number for the United States. Bocanegra performed well in Carlos Bocanegra first season in France, appearing in all 38 league matches. Carlos Bocanegra scored Carlos Bocanegra first league goal on March 8, 2009, in Rennes's 2-0 victory over AJ Auxerre.Carlos Bocanegra also scored a goal in a UEFA Cup match and started all the club's Coupe de France matches. These include the final at the Stade de France on May 9, 2009, where Carlos Bocanegra scored Rennes' first goal against Guingamp, in the 69th minute.

International career

Bocanegra played for the United States at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and earned Carlos Bocanegra first senior cap for the U.S. on December 9, 2001, against Korea Republic national football team. Carlos Bocanegra became a stalwart for the team in 2003, solidifying Carlos Bocanegra position during the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup and leading all defenders with thirteen appearances during that year. During 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification in 2005, Carlos Bocanegra role with the national team became less clear, as Carlos Bocanegra bounced between roles at center back and left back. On May 2, 2006, Bocanegra was named to the United States World Cup roster for the tournament in Germany. Carlos Bocanegra started two of three games at left back during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Bocanegra captained the national team for the first time in a 4–1 U.S. victory in a June 2, 2007, Exhibition game against China national football team and reprised the role throughout the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2008, Bocanegra was first-choice captain for the national team.

Bocanegra captained the United States men's national soccer team that defeated No. 1 ranked Spain national football team to win one of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final games on June 24, 2009.