Chivas USA

Template:MLS team Club Deportivo Chivas USA (short form: Chivas USA) is a professional soccer club based in Los Angeles, California (home games are played in nearby Carson) that participates in Major League Soccer. The club, which was founded in 2004, is co-owned by Antonio Cué and Jorge Vergara, the owner of the Mexican Club Deportivo Guadalajara, more commonly known as Chivas, and Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica. The team plays its home games at The Home Depot Center, sharing it with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The team shares the same colors of red, white, and navy blue as its parent Guadalajara club.

The team's fanbase is primarily made up of Latino, or more specifically Mexican, supporters. Vergara has promised that, although the team may not be composed entirely of Latin players, the team's main language will be Spanish. This is evidenced in the team's marketing slogan for its inaugural campaign in 2005, "Adiós soccer. ¡El fútbol está aquí!", which translates to "Goodbye soccer, football is here!" Since 2006, Chivas USA's marketing slogan has been "Chivas USA: Está en Tu Sangre", or in its English version, "Chivas USA: It's in Your Blood".

The first coach of Chivas USA was Thomas Rongen. However, after Chivas' 1–8–1 start (their sole win coming against fellow expansion club Real Salt Lake), Rongen was fired and replaced with Hans Westerhof. Following the conclusion of the 2005 campaign, former MetroStars and Chicago Fire head coach Bob Bradley was announced as the replacement for Westerhof. Under Bradley, the 2006 season saw a major turnaround for Chivas, which finished in third place in the MLS Western Conference after finishing last with the worst record in league history the season prior. Coach Bradley left after one season to manage both the United States men's national soccer team and the United States U-23 men's national soccer team, and was replaced by Preki.

Television and radio

All matches are broadcast in Spanish on KTNQ Univision Radio.

Matches appear locally on FSN West television.

Current roster

As of April 8, 2007

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
2	DF	MEX	Claudio Suárez (Captain)
3	DF	USA	Carlos Llamosa
5	DF	USA	Desmond Brooks
6	MF	MEX	Francisco Mendoza
9	FW	USA	Ante Razov
10	FW	FRA	Laurent Merlin
11	FW	CUB	Maykel Galindo
12	FW	ENG	John Cunliffe
13	DF	USA	Jonathan Bornstein
14	FW	USA	David Arvizu
15	MF	USA	Jesse Marsch
16	MF	USA	Sacha Kljestan
17	MF	USA	Rodrigo López
18	GK	USA	Brad Guzan
19	FW	USA	Matt Taylor

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
20	MF	HON	Amado Guevara
21	DF	USA	Jason Hernandez
22	GK	USA	Preston Burpo
23	DF	ROU	Alex Zotinca
24	DF	USA	Bobby Burling
25	DF	USA	Lawson Vaughn
27	DF	USA	Eder Robles
28	MF	MEX	Erasmo Solorzano
30	MF	USA	Carlos Borja
32	FW	USA	Anthony Hamilton
33	MF	USA	Mohammed Sethi
77	DF	USA	Orlando Perez
—	FW	MEX	Jorge Barrera (loan)
—	FW	MEX	Edwin Borboa (loan)

Source: http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/players/roster.jsp?club=t120

† Unsigned player

Changes for the 2007 MLS Season

In

• David Arvizu Traded from Red Bull New York
• Jorge Barrera On loan from Club Deportivo Guadalajara
• Edwin Borboa On loan from Club Deportivo Guadalajara
• John Cunliffe Signed as draft pick
• Bobby Burling Signed as discovery
• Maykel Galindo Transfered from Seattle Sounders for undisclosed fee
• Amado Guevara Traded from Red Bull New York
• Mohammed Sethi Signed as discovery
• Erasmo Solorzano Signed as draft pick
• Alex Zotinca Traded from Kansas City Wizards

Out

• Esteban Arias Released by team
• Rene Corona Released by team
• Johnny Garcia Released by team, subsequently signed with Jaguares de Chiapas (Primera División de México)
• Juan Pablo Garcia Sold to UANL Tigres (Primera División de México)
• Drew Helm Signed with Marinhas (Portuguese Third Division)
• Jesus Morales Released by team
• Mike Munoz Released by team
• John O'Brien Released by team
• Juan Francisco Palencia Sold to UNAM Pumas (Primera División de México)
• Ramon Ramirez Retired
• Tim Regan Drafted by Toronto FC in expansion draft and subsequently traded to Red Bull New York
• Estuardo Sanchez Released by team
• Brent Whitfield Released by team

Notable players

• Martín Zúñiga (2005)
• Juan Pablo García (2005-2006)
• Juan Francisco Palencia (2005-2006)
• Ramón Ramírez (2005-2006)
• Ante Razov (2006–)
• Claudio Suárez (2006–)

Head coaches

• Thomas Rongen (2005)
• Javier Ledesma (2005; interim)
• Hans Westerhof (2005)
• Bob Bradley (2006)
• Preki (2007–)

Team records

• Games: Francisco Mendoza, 55
• Goals: Ante Razov, 14
• Assists: Ante Razov, 8
• Shutouts: Brad Guzan, 7

MLS regular season only, through 2006 season

Home stadiums

• The Home Depot Center (2005—)

Year-by-year

Year	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
2005	6th, West	Did not qualify	Round of 32
2006	3rd, West	Quarterfinals	Round of 16

Average attendance

regular season/playoffs

• 2005: 17,080/missed playoffs
• 2006: 19,840/15,110

Famous supporters

• Eva Longoria - Actress/Model
• Ozomatli - Band

External links

• www.cdchivasusa.com (English)
• www.cdchivasusa.com (Spanish)
• Chivas Soccer Store
• Official Chivas USA board, courtesy of BigSoccer

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