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Alexi LalasFootball player, defender of the US national team
Date of Birth: 01.06.1970
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- College and Professional Career
- International Career
- Post-Playing Career
- Personal Life
Early Life and Career
Alexi Lalas was born in Connecticut to parents of Greek and American descent. His father was a professor and director, while his mother was a writer and poet. Lalas' brother also became a soccer player, playing for the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
College and Professional Career
Lalas attended Rutgers University, where he played for the Scarlet Knights soccer team from 1988 to 1991. He was named to the Third Team All-American twice and the First Team All-League in 1991. After graduating, Lalas signed with the Italian Serie A club Padova in 1994. He scored three goals for Padova, but the team struggled to stay in the league. Lalas was drafted into Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996 and played for the New England Revolution. He was traded to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 1998 and the Kansas City Wizards in 1999. He retired from playing in 1999, but returned to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2001.
International Career
Lalas made his debut for the United States national team in 1991 and played in two World Cups (1994 and 1998) and two Olympic Games (1992 and 1996). He was named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year and U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1995.
Post-Playing Career
After retiring from playing, Lalas worked as a president and general manager for several MLS clubs, including the San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, and Los Angeles Galaxy. He was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006 and currently works as an analyst and commentator for ESPN and ABC Sports.
Personal Life
Lalas is married with two children. He was also the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band The Gypsies, which released two albums. In 1998, he released a solo album titled "Ginger."
