There’s a changing of the guard at D.C. United, and we’re not talking about the new coach. Bolivian star Marco Etcheverry has played his last game for the club after eight seasons.
Etcheverry is the last player on the team from United’s 1996 founding roster. With his leaving, all the players from United’s glory days will have gone. Etcheverry played alongside more than 70 players and under three coaches.
He met with United officials Thursday, and an announcement will be made early next week. Etcheverry did not return calls.
According to reports, Etcheverry, 33, will play next month for Bolivian team Bolivar, which is competing in South America’s biggest club event, the Copa Libertadores, against Argentina’s Boca Juniors, Colo Colo (Chile) and Deportivo Cali (Columbia). Etcheverry has been considering offers to play in Qatar’s oil money rich league. In Bolivia, he will be paid about $2,000 a month after earning more than $270,000 a year in Major League Soccer.
No player in United’s eight-year history had more influence than Etcheverry, especially during the first four years when the club dominated MLS and won six titles. Etcheverry had one of the sweetest passes in the league and early on was deadly on free kicks. He was ultimately a one-dimensional player because of an over-reliance on his left foot, but what a delicate left foot it was.
Known as “El Diablo” (the Devil), Etcheverry could self-destruct when his emotions got the better of him. He constantly demanded the ball and ignited most of United’s attacking plays.
“I don’t know if it will be a testimonial, but certainly if Marco leaves this team, at some point we will want to do something public,” said club president Kevin Payne. “He’s had more impact in this market than most athletes who ever played here.”
Etcheverry’s greatest triumph came when he led Bolivia past Brazil 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in La Paz in 1993, Brazil’s first-ever loss in qualifying. Sadly, Etcheverry got to play only a few minutes in the 1994 World Cup, after being red-carded for a retaliation kick on German star Lothar Matthaeus.
It could be argued that Etcheverry had more influence on MLS than any other player, and for that he will be remembered.
Americans overseas — American World Cup star Clint Mathis is back training with German club Hanover. In recent weeks, Mathis has had tryouts with Leicester City, the Glasgow Rangers and Sunderland. Hanover is eager to sign the 27-year-old after Sunderland could not meet Mathis’ financial demands.
Meanwhile, the Blackburn Rovers look set to buy Columbus Crew striker Brian McBride for $1million.
MLS notes — Veteran defender Alexi Lalas, 33, has been released by the Los Angeles Galaxy. The 1994 World Cup star, who left the game for a year in 2000, still wants to play. … Former (1997-2000) D.C. United goalie Tom Presthus, 28, has retired after sustaining a serious elbow injury with the Columbus Crew last year.
U.S. team — The Americans, 11th in the FIFA rankings, one spot ahead of Germany, will play 13th-ranked Denmark tomorrow (ESPN 3:30 p.m.) in the team’s first game at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The U.S. team lines up in the world rankings behind Brazil, France, Spain, Holland, Argentina, Czech Republic, Mexico, England and Turkey (tied for eighth) and Italy.
International notes — For the first time since 1964, 18-time English champion Liverpool will tour the United States this summer. The team likely will play on the East Coast. … Manchester City goalie David Seaman, 40, has announced his retirement. The former England keeper, who recently suffered a shoulder injury, will be replaced at City by West Ham’s David James.
On TV — More than 50 Spanish Premier League 2003-’04 season matches can now be seen in the United States on WorldSport HD, the new high-definition TV channel available on the VOOM satellite service.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.