Kerry Zavagnin (/zəˈvæɡnɪn/; born July 2, 1974) is an American former professional soccer player who is an assistant coach with Sporting Kansas City. A defensive midfielder, he spent most of his career with Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. He made 21 appearances for the United States national team.

Kerry Zavagnin
Zavagnin training with the United States national team
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-07-02) July 2, 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Plymouth, Michigan, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1995 North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993 Raleigh Flyers[1]
1996 Raleigh Flyers
1997–1998 MetroStars 39 (0)
1997Long Island Rough Riders (loan) 2 (0)
1999 Lehigh Valley Steam 24 (2)
2000–2008 Kansas City Wizards 205 (5)
International career
2000–2006 United States 21 (0)
Managerial career
2009– Sporting Kansas City (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Early career

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Zavagnin went to and played soccer for Detroit Catholic Central High School.

He played his college soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1992 to 1995, where he registered 22 goals and 24 assists in 76 games. Upon graduating, Zavagnin joined the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL, one of the two major outdoor second divisions in US soccer, for their 1996 season.

Professional career

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Zavagnin was born in Plymouth, Michigan. After one year with the Flyers, he was drafted 21st overall with the first pick of the third round in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Colorado Rapids. Before playing a single game for the Rapids, however, Kerry was traded to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, in exchange for Peter Vermes. Zavagnin played 1743 minutes for the Metros in 1997 and 1998, and did not acquit himself well, playing himself out of MLS. In 1997, the MetroStars sent him on loan to the Long Island Rough Riders of the USISL.[2]

Zavagnin joined the Lehigh Valley Steam of the A-League for the 1999 season. After one season in the A-League, Zavagnin returned to MLS after being drafted 30th overall in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. Zavagnin quickly established himself with the Wizards, playing 2743 minutes at midfield for a team that would both go on to win the MLS Cup, and was one of the best defensive teams in the league's history. Zavagnin remained an important contributor to the Wizards for the next six years, playing a quiet defensive role, and establishing himself as one of the better, though also one of the least recognized, midfielders in the league.

In 2004, Zavagnin began to be recognized among the league's elite. He won a lot of praise for running the Wizards midfield, and was named to the MLS Best XI. In eight years in the league, Zavagnin scored five goals and added 20 assists in regular season play.

Zavagnin received 21 caps for the U.S. national team, making his debut October 25, 2000, against US arch-rival Mexico.

In August, 2008, Zavagnin announced that he would retire at the end of the season.[3]

Career statistics

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As of July 25

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Domestic Playoffs US Open Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kansas City Wizards 2006* 19 0 0 0
2005 28 0 28 0
2004 24 0 4 0 28 0
2003 29 1 3 0 32 1
2002 27 1 3 0 31 1
2001 27 1 3 0 31 1
2000 31 2 7 0 39 2
Total 185 5 20 0 189 5
MetroStars 1998 18 0 18 0
1997 21 0 21 0
Total 39 0 39 0
Career total 228 5 20 0 228 5

Honors

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Kansas City Wizards

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Harris, Tom (1993-06-04). "Flyers face stern test against Greensboro tonight". The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  2. ^ Long Island Rough Riders All Time Stats Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Kerry Zavagnin to retire from MLS - CBC News". Archived from the original on 2012-11-04.
  4. ^ "Kerry Zavagnin to be inducted into Sporting Legends Hall of Fame on Saturday". Sporting KC. MLS Digital. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
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