1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft

The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players to the league's ten inaugural teams. The Inaugural Player Draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996 after each team was allocated four marquee players.

^ Denotes player who has been inducted to the US Soccer Hall of Fame
* Denotes player who has been selected for an MLS Best XI team

Round 1

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
1 Columbus Crew Brian McBride F VfL Wolfsburg
2 Colorado Rapids Jean Harbor F Seattle SeaDogs
3 Dallas Burn Ted Eck M Wichita Wings
4 Los Angeles Galaxy Robin Fraser D Colorado Foxes
5 New England Revolution Iain Fraser D Sacramento Knights
6 Kansas City Wiz Mark Chung M San Diego Sockers
7 Tampa Bay Mutiny Mark Dougherty GK Hawaii Tsunami
8 San Jose Clash Paul Bravo M Monterey Bay Jaguars
9 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Matt Knowles D Milwaukee Wave
10 D.C. United Raúl Díaz Arce F Firpo

Round 2

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
11 Columbus Crew Mark Watson D Vancouver 86ers
12 Colorado Rapids Denis Hamlett D Anaheim Splash
13 Dallas Burn Tom Soehn D Las Vegas Dustdevils
14 Los Angeles Galaxy David Kramer GK Monterey Bay Jaguars
15 New England Revolution Peter Woodring D Hawaii Tsunami
16 Kansas City Wiz Peter Isaacs F Tampa Bay Cyclones
17 Tampa Bay Mutiny Peter Hattrup M Seattle Sounders
18 San Jose Clash Altimont Butler M North Jersey Imperials
19 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Troy Dayak D San Jose Grizzlies
20 D.C. United Shawn Medved M Cincinnati Silverbacks

Round 3

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
21 Columbus Crew Billy Thompson F Tampa Bay Terror
22 Colorado Rapids Steve Trittschuh D Tampa Bay Terror
23 Dallas Burn Lawrence Lozzano D Tampico
24 Los Angeles Galaxy Jorge Salcedo M Monarcas Morelia
25 New England Revolution Bojan Vučković F Tampa Bay Terror
26 Kansas City Wiz Sean Bowers D Anaheim Splash
27 Tampa Bay Mutiny John Diffley D Long Island Rough Riders
28 San Jose Clash Tim Martin D Atlanta Ruckus
29 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Peter Vermes F New York Fever
30 D.C. United Erik Imler D Raleigh Flyers

Round 4

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
31 Columbus Crew Mike Clark D Richmond Kickers
32 Colorado Rapids Brian Bates D Richmond Kickers
33 Dallas Burn Brian Haynes M Seattle Sounders
34 Los Angeles Galaxy John Garvey F Baltimore Spirit
35 New England Revolution Marquis White F Club Destroyers
36 Kansas City Wiz Eric Eichmann F St. Louis Ambush
37 Tampa Bay Mutiny Ivan McKinley M Wits University FC
38 San Jose Clash Rhett Harty D Monterey Bay Jaguars
39 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Jeff Zaun D North Jersey Imperials
40 D.C. United Richie Williams M Richmond Kickers

Round 5

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
41 Columbus Crew Bo Oshoniyi GK New York Centaurs
42 Colorado Rapids Troy Edwards D Myrtle Beach Boyz
43 Dallas Burn Jason Kreis F Raleigh Flyers
44 Los Angeles Galaxy Mark Semioli D Monterey Bay Jaguars
45 New England Revolution Ted Chronopoulos D Panionios
46 Kansas City Wiz Jeff Causey GK Richmond Kickers
47 Tampa Bay Mutiny Diego Viera F C.A. Cerro
48 San Jose Clash Paul Holocher M Monterey Bay Jaguars
49 New York/New Jersey MetroStars A.J. Wood F University of Virginia
50 D.C. United Thor Lee D Wichita Wings

Round 6

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
51 Columbus Crew Brandon Ward M Hampton Roads Mariners
52 Colorado Rapids Scott Cannon D Cincinnati Silverbacks
53 Dallas Burn Mark Dodd GK Colorado Foxes
54 Los Angeles Galaxy Joey Kirk F St. Louis Ambush
55 New England Revolution Yari Allnutt F Irapuato
56 Kansas City Wiz Tommy Reasoner M San Diego Top Guns
57 Tampa Bay Mutiny Frank Yallop D Ipswich Town
58 San Jose Clash Jeff Baicher F San Jose Grizzlies
59 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Ted Gillen M Richmond Kickers
60 D.C. United Brian Kamler M Richmond Kickers

Round 7

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
61 Columbus Crew Janusz Michallik M New York Centaurs
62 Colorado Rapids Matt Kmosko D Cincinnati Silverbacks
63 Dallas Burn Rene Ortiz M San Diego Sockers
64 Los Angeles Galaxy Harut Karapetyan F Los Angeles Salsa
65 New England Revolution Robert Ukrop F Richmond Kickers
66 Kansas City Wiz Scott Uderitz F Las Vegas Dustdevils
67 Tampa Bay Mutiny Frankie Hejduk D UCLA
68 San Jose Clash Jeff Betts F Portland Pride
69 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Zach Thornton GK Loyola-Maryland
70 D.C. United Mile Milovac GK United Serbs

Round 8

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
71 Columbus Crew Todd Yeagley M Richmond Kickers
72 Colorado Rapids Scott Benedetti F Colorado Foxes
73 Dallas Burn Gerell Elliott M Sacramento Knights
74 Los Angeles Galaxy Curt Onalfo D Tampico
75 New England Revolution Darren Sawatzky F Oregon Surge
76 Kansas City Wiz Nyanforth Peters F FC Locarno
77 Tampa Bay Mutiny Tayt Ianni D Raj Pracha FC
78 San Jose Clash Dave Salzwedel GK Los Angeles Soccer Club
79 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Eddie Soto F Los Angeles Salsa U-23
80 D.C. United Kris Kelderman D St. Louis Ambush

Round 9

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
81 Columbus Crew Ramiro Corrales D California Jaguars
82 Colorado Rapids Ian Butterworth D Norwich City
83 Dallas Burn John Kerr, Jr. M Walsall
84 Los Angeles Galaxy Manny Motajo D Washington Warthogs
85 New England Revolution Tom Lips D New York Fever
86 Kansas City Wiz Uche Okafor D Ironi Ashdod
87 Tampa Bay Mutiny Mike Duhaney M University of Nevada, Las Vegas
88 San Jose Clash Victor Mella F Colo-Colo
89 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Giovanni Savarese F Long Island Rough Riders
90 D.C. United Clint Peay D University of Virginia

Round 10

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
91 Columbus Crew Marcelo Carrera F Canton Invaders
92 Colorado Rapids Felipe Rodriguez M Pumas
93 Dallas Burn Jimmy McGeough, Jr. D Wichita Wings
94 Los Angeles Galaxy Joey Leonetti M Portland Pride
95 New England Revolution Richard Weiszmann D North Bay Breakers
96 Kansas City Wiz Alan Prampin F Raleigh Flyers
97 Tampa Bay Mutiny Flávio Ferri F San Antonio Pumas
98 San Jose Clash Henry Gutierrez M Myrtle Beach Boyz
99 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Pat O'Kelly D North Jersey Imperials
100 D.C. United Ben Crawley F Richmond Kickers

Round 11

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
101 Columbus Crew Shane Battelle D St. Louis Knights
102 Colorado Rapids Lance Hill F New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers
103 Dallas Burn Jorge Flores M Paramount High School
104 Los Angeles Galaxy John O'Brien M Anaheim Splash
105 New England Revolution John DeBrito M New York Fever
106 Kansas City Wiz Phil Wellington GK Cocoa Expos
107 Tampa Bay Mutiny Derek Backman M Tampa Bay Cyclones
108 San Jose Clash Oscar Draguicevich D Cleveland Crunch
109 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Mickey Kydes M New York Fever
110 D.C. United Said Fazlagić D NK Rovinj

Round 12

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
111 Columbus Crew Pete Marino F Bayer Leverkusen (Regionalliga)
112 Colorado Rapids Eric Puls F St. Louis Knights
113 Dallas Burn Richard Farrer F New Mexico Chiles
114 Los Angeles Galaxy Adan Villalvazo F Cerritos Inter-America
115 New England Revolution Jim Adams GK Cleveland Crunch
116 Kansas City Wiz Kevin Koetters M Kansas City Attack
117 Tampa Bay Mutiny Nelson Vargas M Florida Eagles
118 San Jose Clash Gabe Garcia F Myrtle Beach Boyz
119 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Khary Stockton F Richmond Kickers
120 D.C. United Daniel de Oliveira M Firpo

Round 13

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
121 Columbus Crew Paul Young M Charleston Battery
122 Colorado Rapids Josh McKay D Hawaii Tsunami
123 Dallas Burn Jimmy Glenn F Cincinnati Silverbacks
124 Los Angeles Galaxy Brad Wilson M 1. FC Saarbrücken
125 New England Revolution Geoff Aunger M Vancouver 86ers
126 Kansas City Wiz Billy Baumhoff D St. Louis Knights
127 Tampa Bay Mutiny Zen Luzniak M Fort Lauderdale Strikers
128 San Jose Clash Rafael Amaya D Colorado Foxes
129 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Andrew Restrepo D Tampa Bay Cyclones
130 D.C. United Matthew Olson GK Everett BigFoot

Round 14

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
131 Columbus Crew Laurence Piturro D Long Island Rough Riders
132 Colorado Rapids Khalil Azmi GK New Hampshire Ramblers
133 Dallas Burn Steve Keller M Rockford Raptors
134 Los Angeles Galaxy David Beall M San Diego Sockers
135 New England Revolution Antonio Superbia M Jersey Dragons
136 Kansas City Wiz Terry Woodberry D Dallas Sidekicks
137 Tampa Bay Mutiny Scott Budnick GK de:SSV Vorsfelde
138 San Jose Clash Tom Liner GK P.S.V. Schwartz-Weiss
139 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Nidal Baba M Clemson University
140 D.C. United Sterling Wescott F Wichita Wings

Round 15

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
141 Columbus Crew Todd Haskins M Washington Warthogs
142 Colorado Rapids Brian Hurley M Tampico
143 Dallas Burn Ed Puskarich D Milwaukee Wave
144 Los Angeles Galaxy Garfield Shaw F Washington Warthogs
145 New England Revolution Derk Droze F Arica
146 Kansas City Wiz Samuel Ekeme D Monterrey La Raza
147 Tampa Bay Mutiny Goran Hunjak F Kansas City Attack
148 San Jose Clash Carlos Farias F Unattached
149 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Jorge Acosta F New York Fever
150 D.C. United Garth Lagerwey GK Hampton Roads Mariners

Round 16

Pick # MLS team Player Position Previous Team
151 Columbus Crew Manny Catano M Des Moines Menace
152 Colorado Rapids Joel Shanker M St. Louis Ambush
153 Dallas Burn Gabe Gentile M Dallas Texans
154 Los Angeles Galaxy Carlos Jaguande M Jersey Dragons
155 New England Revolution Jorge Olamendi M Los Angeles Salsa
156 Kansas City Wiz Ken Snow F Tampa Bay Terror
157 Tampa Bay Mutiny Greg Lalas M Avenir Beggen
158 San Jose Clash Kevin Grimes M Raleigh Flyers
159 New York/New Jersey MetroStars Walter Bustamante M Jersey Dragons
160 D.C. United Carlos Garcia M Myrtle Beach Boyz

References

Sources