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MLS

Top ten center backs in the history of the MLS

1 / 10

Chad Marshall

He tops all defenders in league history in career appearances with 409 and 116 clean sheets. A three-times Defender of the Year, in 15 seasons he has four Best XI appearances, two MLS Cups, four Shields and an Open Cup.

Eddie Pope

An incredibly mobile tackling machine, Pope has four Best XIs, was named in 2005's All-Time team and has won a Defender of the Year prize in his 12 league seasons.

Robin Fraser

Fraser helped both the Galaxy and Columbus Crew SC claim their first-ever Supporters' Shields. He has two Defender of the Year awards and helped Galaxy become the second MLS club to win the CONCACAF crown when it was called the Champions Cup.

Omar Gonzalez

In just seven MLS campaigns, Gonzalez has piled up four Bext XI nods, both a Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year award, three MLS Cup rings and a pair of Supporters' Shield wins.

Carlos Bocanegra

Bocanegra is one of only two center backs to claim back to back Defender of the Year awards. He also won the 2000 Rookie of the Year award and has won two Open Cups in four seasons with Chicago Fire.

Marcelo Balboa

Balboa has never won any personal awards or team trophies, but he was named in the league's All-Time XI in 2005 is one of the most attacking center backs in MLS history; no defender had scored more league goals than him until Marshall surpassed him last s

Matt Besler

Now in his 11th season, Besler defends well on the deck and in the air and like Marshall, he has won just about every individual and team prize available, including three US Open Cups.

Michael Parkhurst

Parkhurst has helped three different clubs to the MLS Cup final, finally winning it last season with Atlanta United.

Jimmy Conrad

The former San Jose and Kansas City defender was quite the figure during his 12 seasons in MLS, despite never winning a Defender of the Year award, but he was named in the Best XI four times and played in two MLS Cups, winning one.

Bobby Boswell

Boswell went nine years between his two Best XI appearances. Only two center backs have played more minutes than the Floridian, who in 2006 claimed Defender of the Year award.

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