Jimmy Conrad is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in all of Major League Soccer. His honors include being named captain of the U.S. Men's National Team, playing in the 2006 World Cup, being named MLS Defender of the Year, and garnering five selections to the MLS All-Star team. He is also proud of recently bowling five strikes in a row. Jimmy just rounded out his sixth season with the Kansas City Wizards and his tenth season overall in MLS. In addition to Jimmy's talent for the game of soccer, he is known for his electric personality, making him a fan favorite on and off the field. He writes a column for ESPN.com and hosts a weekly radio show available by podcast on MLSnet.com.
Major League Soceer
2007 Season: Named to his fourth MLS All-Star team and selected team Defender of the Year. Played in 25 games, all starts, missing time to U.S. National Team duty and a second broken jaw.
2006 Season: Sports hernia surgery forced him to miss the first two games of the season but upon his return against NE (4/15) he scored the game-winning goal 3 minutes into 2006 debut...Returned to the Wizards after missing seven games with the U.S. World Cup team vs. DC (6/28)... Scored his second goal of the season vs. HOU (7/15)... Fractured his jaw after being elbowed by Clint Dempsey in NE (8/9)...Missed 7 games with broken jaw and lost 15 lbs... Started 14 of 15 games and logged 1252 minutes on the field. Named to MLS "Best XI" for third consecutive year.
2005: Anchored the Wizards defense that recorded seven shutouts on the season...Was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2005 and also earned MLS "Best XI" honors for the second consecutive year...
Scored first goal of the season in the 46th minute vs. CHV (6/25)...Missed six games while with the U.S. National for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Helped the U.S. capture the Gold Cup title...Played the full 90 minutes for the MLS Select Team in a friendly match vs. Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain (8/23)...Scored the Wizards second goal in the 39th minute vs. NE (10/8), his second goal of the year.
2004: Named to MLS "Best XI" and was one of three finalists for MLS Defender of the Year...Started and played in 29 of 30 games for the Wizards in 2004. Anchored the best defensive unit in MLS, as the Wizards allowed a League-low 30 goals and posted a League-high 12 shutouts...Scored his first goal of the season vs. CLB (6/12)...Selected as a reserve for the 2004 MLS All-Star Game, his first career All-Star selection, but started in place of the injured Pablo Mastroeni...Won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup vs. CHI (9/22). Played every minute of the Wizards postseason run to the MLS Cup Final.
2003: Acquired by the Wizards from San Jose in a draft day trade... Appeared in and started all 30 matches for the Wizards, playing all but 20 minutes during the season and scored a career high 4 goals...Made his debut for the Wizards vs. DC (4/12)...Played every minute of all 3 postseason matches for the Wizards.
2002: Appeared in 25 matches for the defending MLS Cup Champion San Jose Earthquakes, starting all 25 contests...Helped anchor a San Jose defense that allowed just 35 goals on the season, second fewest in MLS...Scored one goal and added three assists in his fourth MLS season.
2001: Suffered a broken bone in his foot during the preseason and was forced to sit out the first 6 games of the season, but came back from the injury to help guide the 'Quakes to the 2001 MLS Cup Championship... Appeared in 16 games, with 8 starts on the season. 2001 Playoffs: Played every minute of the Earthquakes postseason run to the MLS Cup title...Made MLS playoff debut @ CLB (9/22)...Started and played all 96 minutes in MLS Cup Final vs. LA (10/21) at Crew Stadium.
2000: Young defender took big step forward in second MLS season...Made 26 appearances (25 starts) and had two assists...The only San Jose defender to start in each of the team's club-record nine shutouts... Spent off-season on loan to Lech Poznan to help the club fight relegation in Poland.
1999: Tallied one goal and one assist in his first MLS season...Played in 17 matches, starting 12...Made MLS debut at KC (4/10)...Made first MLS start vs. Columbus (5/9), playing all 90 minutes... Scored first MLS goal vs. KC (9/4) on a header.
Other Pro Experience
Started 25 games while helping San Diego Flash to A-League Pacific Division championship in 1998.
International
Has worn captain's armband twice for National Team, including once already in 2007... Burst onto the National Team scene in 2005 after being called in to his first National Team camp in January 2005 in preparation for the United States' World Cup Qualifier vs. Trinidad & Tobago... Made first career appearance for the U.S. vs. Cuba (7/7) in the opening match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Went on to play in all six matches of that tournament...Finished the 2005 year with 8 caps... Opened 2006 appearing in each of the first four matches of the year. Was named to the 2006 U.S. World Cup roster... Came on as a substitute in 1-1 U.S. draw with eventual champion Italy, then started and played the full 90 against Ghana... Wore the captain's armband for the U.S. in Jan. 20, 2007 friendly against Denmark, a 3-1 victory... Named Man of the Match for stellar defensive performance and game-winning goal in 2-0 victory against arch-rival Mexico on Feb. 7, 2007... Has 24 caps for National Team (as of January 27th, 2008).
College
Was part of 1997 NCAA championship team at UCLA...Won two national championships in same year, helping the San Dieguito Surf to Under-20 club championship in 1997...Played two seasons (1996-97) at UCLA after spending two years (1994-95) at San Diego State...Had career totals of three goals and five assists.
Personal
Married to wife, Lyndsey, in June 2002, became a father to daughter, Julia, in April 2007...Majored in math at UCLA... Enjoys reading, writing, talking, and brainwashing America's youth...Writes a column during the season for ESPN.com... Hosts weekly radio shows available by podcast on MLSNet.com... Conrad has two younger sisters (Kristina 26, and Amanda 17) and four younger brothers (Dylan 21, Thomas 20, Robert 14, and Michael 12).
