Sacha Kljestan
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Sacha Bryan Kljestan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | September 9, 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Huntington Beach, California, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Des Moines Menace | ||||||||||||||||||||||
College career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2003–2005 | Seton Hall Pirates | 61 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | Orange County Blue Star | 2 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2006–2010 | Chivas USA | 114 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2015 | Anderlecht | 132 | (18) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2015–2017 | New York Red Bulls | 97 | (16) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2018–2019 | Orlando City | 53 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2020–2022 | LA Galaxy | 67 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024– | Des Moines Menace | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 466 | (63) | |||||||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2004–2005 | United States U20 | 16 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2007–2008 | United States U23 | 16 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2007–2017 | United States | 52 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 18, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 29, 2017 |
Sacha Bryan Kljestan (/ˈsɑːʃə ˈklɛʃtən/;[2] born September 9, 1985) is an American professional soccer player as a midfielder. He currently is a studio host on MLS Season Pass. As of 2024 he signed with the Des Moines Menace soccer team after his hiatus in 2023. [3]
Youth and college
Kljestan was raised in
Club career
Kljestan signed a
Chivas USA
Kljestan was a finalist for 2006
Anderlecht
In June 2010, Kljestan signed a four-year contract with
In March 2013, Kljestan signed a new three-year contract with Anderlecht.[8] In a Champions League group stage match against Paris Saint-Germain, Kljestan and Zlatan Ibrahimović traded insults, when Ibrahimović made fun of Kljestan's mustache. In response, Kljestan made fun of Ibrahaimović's large nose. Kljestan was ultimately sent off in the later stages of the match.[9] In the final game of the group against Olympiacos; Kljestan became only the fifth American to score in a Champions League match.[10]
During the 2013–14 campaign Kljestan scored a career-high 9 goals as he appeared in 30 matches. Although he had one of his best statistical seasons, he slowly lost his regular spot in the lineup and became a bench player during the final weeks of the season.[11] Kljestan was honored with a pre-match ceremony in his final match with the club on February 1, 2015, against Zulte Waregem. The supporters held up United States flags and banners thanking him for his years with the club.[12] He made a total of 180 appearances for the club, scoring 25 goals, before leaving the club in the winter of 2015.
New York Red Bulls
In January 2015, it was announced that Anderlecht had agreed to transfer Kljestan to
On March 19, 2016, Kljestan scored his first goal of the season in helping New York to a 4–3 victory over
On February 15, 2017, he was named as the new captain of the Red Bulls replacing Dax McCarty. On July 19, 2017, Kljestan scored his first league goal of the season and recorded two assists for New York in a 5–1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes.[27]
Orlando City
On January 3, 2018, New York Red Bulls traded Kljestan to Orlando City SC, along with $150,000 of Targeted Allocation Money, in exchange for Carlos Rivas and Tommy Redding.[28] He was suspended for the first two games of the season owing to the confrontation with Jozy Altidore and resultant red card he picked up playing for Red Bulls in the 2017 Eastern Conference Playoff Semi-finals second-leg. He made his Orlando debut in a 2–0 away defeat to New York City FC on March 17. On April 8, Kljestan scored his first goal for the club, a game-tying penalty in a 3–2 win over Portland Timbers. He acted as captain for the majority of his debut season in the absence of Jonathan Spector. Kljestan's contract expired at the end of the 2019 season.[29]
LA Galaxy
On December 11, 2019, Kljestan signed as a free agent for LA Galaxy ahead of their 2020 season.[30] Kljestan formally announced his retirement on January 5, 2023.[31]
Des Moines Menace
On March 17, 2024, Kljestan signed with USL League Two club Des Moines Menace ahead of the team's first 2024 U.S. Open Cup match. Menace general manager Charlie Bales and Kljestan had met in January 2024 at a cycling class in Southern California.[32]
International career
U20
Kljestan was part of the United States Under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. He had entered the U-20 program in 2004, earning a total of 16 caps, scoring 1 goal with the team up to 2005.[33] In early 2007, he was called into training camp with the senior U.S. national team, but did not earn a cap in the following games.
U23
He also played for the US Under-23s at the
Men's team
Kljestan made his debut for the senior national team under his former club coach
After the hiring of Jürgen Klinsmann as national team manager in 2011, Kljestan was selected less often for the national team despite his consistent play with Anderlecht and the Red Bulls. He was not selected in the US squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In August 2016, Kljestan received his first call-up in over two years for the United States' 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.[34] On September 2, Kljestan appeared as a second-half substitute and provided one goal and two assists in a 6–0 victory over St. Vincent and the Grenadines.[35] In the following match on September 6, Kljestan scored his second goal of the qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago helping the United States win their group and qualify for the Hex.[36]
Personal life
His brother
Kljestan, along with Frank Lampard and Cuauhtémoc Blanco, was featured on the North American cover of FIFA 10.
Kljestan married model Jamie Lee Darley in June 2012.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played October 1, 2022
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental[c] | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Chivas USA | 2006 | MLS | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 35 | 0 | |
2007 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 28 | 4 | |||
2008 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 6 | ||
2009 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 27 | 5 | |||
2010 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 1 | ||||
Total | 114 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 127 | 16 | ||
Anderlecht | 2010–11 | Belgian Pro League
|
25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 3 |
2011–12 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 46 | 5 | ||
2012–13 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 49 | 4 | ||
2013–14 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 9 | ||
2014–15 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 4 | ||
Total | 132 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 4 | 180 | 25 | ||
New York Red Bulls | 2015 | MLS | 33 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | 40 | 9 | |
2016 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 39 | 9 | ||
2017 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 4 | ||
Total | 97 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 121 | 22 | ||
Orlando City | 2018 | MLS | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 6 | ||
2019 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 | 3 | |||
Total | 53 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 9 | ||
LA Galaxy | 2020 | MLS | 15[d] | 0 | – | – | – | 15 | 0 | |||
2021 | 31 | 5 | – | – | – | 31 | 5 | |||||
2022 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 | 1 | |||
Total | 67 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 6 | ||
Career total | 452 | 62 | 33 | 8 | 20 | 2 | 41 | 6 | 557 | 78 |
- ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Belgian Cup
- ^ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs and Belgian Super Cup
- CONCACAF Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Champions League
- ^ Includes two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
International
- As of match played January 29, 2017
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 2007 | 4 | 0 |
2008 | 8 | 0 | |
2009 | 9 | 3 | |
2010 | 4 | 1 | |
2011 | 9 | 0 | |
2012 | 4 | 0 | |
2013 | 7 | 0 | |
2014 | 1 | 0 | |
2015 | 0 | 0 | |
2016 | 5 | 2 | |
2017 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 52 | 6 |
- Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kljestan goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | January 24, 2009 | Home Depot Center, Carson , United States |
Sweden | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly
|
2 | 2–0 | |||||
3 | 3–1 | |||||
4 | February 24, 2010 | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States | El Salvador | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
5 | September 2, 2016 | Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6 | September 6, 2016 | EverBank Field, Jacksonville , United States |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honors
Anderlecht
- Belgian Super Cup: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
- Belgian Cup runner-up: 2014–15
- Jules Pappaert Cup: 2011
New York Red Bulls
- 2015
United States
- FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2009
Individual
- MLS Best XI: 2008, 2016
- MLS All-Star: 2016
- MLS top assist provider: 2016,[38] 2017[39]
Notes
References
- ^ "Sacha Kljestan". LA Galaxy. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Sacha Kljestan". Archived from the original on March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Signing Sacha".
- ^ Jones, Grahame L (January 15, 2009). "Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan to train with Celtic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
- ^ "US international Kljestan transfers to RSCA". rsca.be. R.S.C. Anderlecht. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ "The New Saints 1–3 Anderlecht". BBC Sport. July 27, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ "Breakout Season For Sacha Klejstan". The New York Times. May 12, 2012.
- ^ RSC Anderlecht (March 5, 2013). "Interview Kljestan (FR)". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Zlatan told me I have a terrible moustache, says Anderlecht player". TheGuardian.com. November 7, 2013.
- ^ "Sacha Kljestan becomes latest American to score in UEFA Champions League". SI.com. December 10, 2013.
- ^ "Sacha Kljestan's Anderlecht finishes off three-peat, captures Belgian league title". SI.com. May 18, 2014.
- ^ "Sacha Klejstan gets a legend's farewell from Anderlecht". Fusion.net.
- ^ "Red Bulls sign US international Kljestan". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ "RBNY earn hard-fought point on the road vs. Sporting Kansas City". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
- ^ "MATCH RECAP: New York Red Bulls 2, San Jose Earthquakes 0". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls 4, New York Cosmos 1". New York Red Bulls. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ "Philadelphia Union 1, New York Red Bulls 3". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
- ^ "Red Bulls beat Montreal Impact to close on MLS East title". nj.com. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls Claim Supporters' Shield With 2–1 Win at Chicago". newyorkredbulls.com. October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- ^ "Sacha Kljestan ties New York Red Bulls' record for single-season league assists". OnceAMetro.com. October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- ^ "MATCH RECAP: New York Red Bulls 4, Houston Dynamo 3". newyorkredbulls.com. March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls 4, FC Dallas 0: 2016 MLS Match Recap". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls 4, New York City FC 1: 2016 MLS Match Recap". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
- ^ "NY Red Bulls 3, Antigua 0". CONCACAF.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016.
- ^ "Sacha Kljestan (maybe) breaks New York Red Bulls' all-time, single-season league assists record (probably)". OnceAMetro.com. August 22, 2016.
- ^ "Reversal: Kljestan awarded extra assist, reaches 20 on season". EmpireofSoccer.com.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls 5, San Jose Earthquakes 1 – 2017 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com.
- ^ "Orlando City SC Acquires U.S. MNT Midfielder Sacha Kljestan". January 3, 2018.
- ^ "Orlando City SC Announces 2019 End-of-Season Roster Decisions". Orlando City SC. November 21, 2019.
- ^ "LA Galaxy sign midfielder Sacha Kljestan | LA Galaxy".
- ^ Kljestan, Sacha. "Thank you soccer". Twitter.com. @SachaKljestan. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ Bales, Charlie. "Signing Sacha". MenaceSoccer.com. Des Moines Menace. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "The Official Site of U.S. Soccer – U-20 MNT". ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Klinsmann calls Red Bulls' Sacha Kljestan into US national team camp". MLSSoccer.com.
- ^ "St Vincent & the Grenadines 0, US 6, 2018 World Cup Qualifying Match Recap". MLSSoccer.com.
- ^ "Jozy Altidore brace as United States beats Trinidad and Tobago". ESPNFC.com.
- ^ Jones, Grahame L. (August 6, 2008). "Chivas USA's Sacha Kljestan looks beyond Olympics". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ "Major League Soccer – Statistics – Assists".
- ^ "Major League Soccer - Statistics - Assists".
External links
- Sacha Kljestan at WorldFootball.net
- Sacha Kljestan – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Sacha Kljestan at Major League Soccer
- Sacha Kljestan at Soccerway
- Sacha Kljestan at USsoccer.com
- Sacha Kljestan at FollowUSsoccer.com