Carlos Bocanegra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Carlos Bocanegra

Bocanegra in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Carlos Manuel Bocanegra
Date of birth	(1979-05-25) May 25, 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth	Alta Loma, California, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2003	Chicago Fire	87	(5)
2000	→ MLS Pro 40 (loan)	2	(0)
2004–2008	Fulham	116	(8)
2008–2010	Rennes	64	(2)
2010–2011	Saint-Étienne	35	(2)
2011–2013	Rangers	32	(2)
2012–2013	→ Racing Santander (loan)	23	(0)
2013–2014	Chivas USA	30	(0)
Total		389	(19)
National team
1999	United States U20	4	(0)
1999–2000	United States U23	7	(1)
2001–2012	United States	110	(14)
Honours Representing  United States FIFA Confederations Cup Runner-up 2009 South Africa Team CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2002 Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 Runner-up CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011 Third CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003 Men's Soccer
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Carlos Manuel Bocanegra (born May 25, 1979) is an American sports leader and former professional soccer player. He was a strong defender and played for teams in England, Scotland, France, and Spain. Carlos was named the MLS Defender of the Year twice. He also played over 100 games for the U.S. National Team and was their captain for six years. Most recently, he worked as a technical director and vice president for Atlanta United.

Early Life and Soccer Dreams

Carlos Bocanegra was born in Upland, California, on May 25, 1979. He grew up in Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, California. His parents are Manuel and Kelly Bocanegra. Carlos has a brother named Diego, who also played college soccer. Diego is now a women's soccer coach.

When Carlos was younger, he was offered scholarships to play American football. But he chose soccer instead, because he wanted to make it his career. He went to UCLA for college, where he studied history and geography. In 2013, he was honored by being added to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

Playing for Clubs Around the World

Carlos Bocanegra played for several soccer clubs in different countries. He was known for being a tough and reliable defender.

Starting Strong with Chicago Fire

After playing college soccer at UCLA, Carlos joined Major League Soccer (MLS). The Chicago Fire picked him in the 2000 draft. In his first year, he won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award. His team also reached the MLS Championship game and won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Carlos quickly became one of the best defenders in MLS. He was the first player ever to win the MLS Defender of the Year Award twice, in 2002 and 2003. He scored five goals and made eight assists during his four years with the Fire.

Adventures in England with Fulham

Bocanegra playing for Fulham in 2007

In January 2004, Carlos moved to England to play for Fulham. Fans loved him and gave him cool nicknames like the Jackal and the Black Snake. At Fulham, he mostly played as a central defender. But he also played as a left defender and even a midfielder sometimes.

During the 2006–07 season, he was Fulham's second-highest scorer with five goals. On September 1, 2007, he was the captain for Fulham for the first time in a Premier League game. A few weeks later, he played his 100th game for Fulham in the Premier League. He left Fulham in May 2008.

Playing in France for Rennes and Saint-Étienne

In June 2008, Carlos joined Rennes in France. He wore the number 3 jersey, which was also his number for the U.S. National Team. He played very well in his first season, appearing in all 38 league games. He scored his first goal for Rennes in March 2009. He also scored in a UEFA Cup game and played in the 2009 Coupe de France Final, where he scored a goal.

On July 16, 2010, Carlos moved to another French club, Saint-Étienne. He continued to wear the number three shirt, just like when he was captain for the U.S. team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first goal for Saint-Étienne in December 2010. He played regularly for the team, but an injury kept him out for three weeks in October 2010.

Time in Scotland with Rangers

On August 17, 2011, Carlos joined Rangers, a big team in Scotland. He signed a three-year contract. He made his debut for Rangers the very next day in a UEFA Europa League game. He scored his first goal for Rangers in the second game against NK Maribor.

Carlos quickly became a favorite among Rangers fans. They even called him Captain America! He often played alongside his defensive partner, Dorin Goian, and they were a strong team. He was captain for Rangers for the first time in January 2012.

Later that season, Rangers faced financial problems. Carlos talked about how tough it was for the team and the fans. He said he wanted to stay with the club. Even after the club went through big changes, Carlos decided to stay and play for Rangers.

Loan to Racing Santander and Return to the U.S.

On August 31, 2012, Carlos went on loan to Racing de Santander in Spain for a season. He hoped this would help him keep his spot on the U.S. National Team. He played his first game for them in September 2012. However, his time there was not very successful, and the club was relegated to a lower division.

In April 2013, Carlos announced he would return to Rangers. But the U.S. National Team coach, Jürgen Klinsmann, advised him not to play for Rangers.

In the summer of 2013, Carlos left Rangers and joined Chivas USA back in the MLS. He retired from playing soccer at the end of the 2014 MLS season.

Playing for the United States National Team

Bocanegra with the United States national team in 2010

Carlos Bocanegra played for the United States at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played his first game for the senior U.S. team on December 9, 2001. By 2003, he was a key player for the team, especially during the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

He was chosen for the U.S. World Cup team in 2006 for the tournament in Germany. He played two games as a left defender in the 2006 World Cup.

Carlos became the main captain for the U.S. team under coach Bob Bradley. He first captained the team in a friendly game against China on June 2, 2007. He led the U.S. team to a famous victory over Spain, who were ranked number one in the world, in the semi-finals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He continued to be a leader during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

On November 15, 2011, Carlos played his 100th game for the national team, joining an exclusive group of players. Later, he was not chosen for the World Cup qualification games, partly because of his club situation. This led to Clint Dempsey becoming the new captain. Carlos was not part of the team for the 2013 Gold Cup or the 2014 World Cup.

Life After Playing Soccer

After retiring from playing, Carlos Bocanegra continued his career in soccer management.

In March 2015, he became the technical director for Atlanta United. This means he helped manage the team's soccer operations. In October 2017, he signed a new four-year contract and also became a vice president for the club. He left Atlanta United on September 4, 2024.

In April 2018, he was also chosen to help lead the Technical Development Committee at U.S. Soccer. In September 2020, Carlos Bocanegra was elected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, a great honor for his career.

Honors and Awards

Carlos Bocanegra won many awards and championships during his career:

Chicago Fire

• U.S. Open Cup: 2000, 2003

United States National Team

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2002, 2007

Individual Awards

• MLS Rookie of the Year: 2000
• MLS Defender of the Year: 2002, 2003
• MLS Best XI: 2002, 2003

Images for kids

• 

  Bocanegra in 2010

• 

  Bocanegra playing for Fulham in 2007

• 

  Bocanegra with the United States national team in 2010

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Bocanegra para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps