Carlos Bocanegra

Two-time MLS Defender of the Year and former U.S. captain.

Carlos Manuel Bocanegra (born May 25, 1979) is an American sports executive and former professional soccer player. A two-time MLS Defender of the Year, Bocanegra also played professionally in England, Scotland, France, and Spain. He earned over 100 caps with the United States, serving as captain for six years. He most recently served as technical director and vice president for Atlanta United.

Lore & Background

Bocanegra was born in Upland, CA on May 25, 1979, to Manuel and Kelly Bocanegra. He was raised in Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he attended Alta Loma High School. He has one brother, Diego, who played soccer at Grand Canyon University, UCLA and Fresno State. Diego is currently the head coach of the University of Houston women's soccer team. His father is of Mexican descent. While attending UCLA, Bocanegra studied history and geography. Prior to attending UCLA, Bocanegra was offered scholarships for American football but opted for soccer, which he thought of choosing as his career. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

Reader's Guide

Bocanegra played college soccer at UCLA, then signed a Project-40 contract with Major League Soccer and was drafted by the Chicago Fire with the fourth overall pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. He won 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. He became one of the top defenders in MLS, winning the MLS Defender of the Year Award twice, in 2002 and 2003. Bocanegra scored five goals and had eight assists in his four years in MLS. He was signed by Fulham in January 2004, playing primarily as a center back, but also as a left back and briefly as a holding midfielder. During the 2006–07 Premier League season, he was Fulham's second leading scorer with five goals, behind fellow American Brian McBride. He was released by Fulham on May 23, 2008. Bocanegra was signed by Rennes in June 2008, appearing in all 38 league matches in his first season. He scored his first league goal on March 8, 2009, in Stade Rennais's 2–0 victory over Auxerre. On July 16, 2010, Bocanegra was purchased by fellow Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne for a reported fee of £400,000. On August 17, 2011, Bocanegra joined Scottish Premier League side Rangers, signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for Rangers in the second leg of a UEFA Europa League qualifier against NK Maribor. On August 31, 2012, Bocanegra joined Spanish Segunda División side Racing Santander on a season-long loan. In the summer of 2013, Bocanegra left Rangers and signed with Chivas USA. Bocanegra retired at the end of the 2014 MLS season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Carlos Bocanegra?

He was a veteran central defender who served as captain during his tenure with the club. Beyond MLS, he was also a prominent leader on the United States Men's National Team.

When was Carlos Bocanegra active with the Galaxy?

He played for the franchise from the late 2000s until the early 2010s. This era marked a successful period where he partnered closely with star forward Landon Donovan.

What championships did Carlos Bocanegra win at LA Galaxy?

As part of the squad, he contributed to winning an MLS Cup Championship title during his career. His experience helped secure crucial victories in high-pressure playoff matches.