name: Eddie Pope position: D height: 6-1 weight:180 Birthdate: December 24, 1973 Hometown: High Point, NC

Regular Season Stats

full bio l year-by-year stats l video highlights

year	team	gp	gs	min	g	a	sht	sog	fc	fs	c	ej
2008	Real Salt Lake	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		254	251	21,810	10	10	110	40	271	203	22	2

Most Recent Video Highlights

date	teams	video description
10/15/07	Dynamo @ Real Salt Lake	Eddie Pope Last Match Walkin
10/15/07	Dynamo @ Real Salt Lake	Eddie Pope Pregame Interview
10/15/07	Dynamo @ Real Salt Lake	Eddie Pope and Jason Kreis Ceremony

Acquired

RSL: Via allocation with MetroStars in exchange for an allocation and future considerations on 2/01/05
MET: Via three player trade with D.C. United in exchange for Mike Petke, a first round (5th overall) 2003 MLS SuperDraft pick and a player allocation on 12/23/02
DC: Selected in first round (2nd overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft

It seems almost preposterous to think of Eddie Pope as anything other than arguably the best defender in MLS and U.S. National Team history, but the potential football place-kicker and law student certainly had his options. With that athletic and academic prowess, it's easy to see how Pope's physical and cerebral approach to the game made him a clear-cut choice for one of three defenders slots on the All-Time MLS Best XI when it was announced following the League's tenth season in 2005.

For a position that is rarely celebrated, the central defender has garnered a laundry list of accolades for both his play and poise - named 10 times to an MLS All-Star team (1997-2006), a four-time finalist of the MLS Defender of the Year Award and the recipient of the honor in 1997, a four-time member of the MLS Best XI squad, a five-time winner of his club's Defender of the Year honor, the 2004 MLS Fair Play Award winner, and twice the recipient of his team's Humanitarian of the Year award. Having retired from the U.S. Men's National Team following the 2006 World Cup after a distinguished 11-year run, a rejuvenated Pope returns for his 12th MLS season in 2007, and the Real Salt Lake faithful are hoping the High Point, N.C., native can lead RSL to its highest point yet with his continued steady play and professional demeanor.

MLS Experience

2006: Started in all 22 games played for RSL, but missed considerable time while with the U.S. Men's National Team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany … Named an MLS All-Star for a 10th time but did not play after returning injured from the World Cup.

2005: Scored his first RSL goal on 5/14 vs. LA … Received a rare red card on 4/23 at DAL, only the second ejection of his career and the first since 1998 … Earned ninth nod as an MLS All-Star (DNP).

2004: Garnered the 2004 MLS Fair Play hardware after committing just 17 fouls and one cautionable offense in 22 games for the MetroStars … Voted to the MLS Best XI for second consecutive season … Named an MLS All-Star for the eighth straight season.

2003: Named the captain of the MetroStars for the 2003 season … Earned seventh consecutive All-Star nod … Voted MetroStars/ADT Defender of the Year.

2002: Made sixth appearance in an MLS All-Star Game as a member of the U.S. MNT … Lone goal of season on 8/31 vs. SJ was the GWG … Traded to the MetroStars in December 2002 after seven seasons in D.C.

2001: Named DC's Defender of the Year for the third time in six years ... An MLS All-Star for the fifth straight season.

2000: Earned a fourth consecutive MLS All-Star berth in 2000 … Played in 22 matches without seeing a yellow card … Honored for his work in the community by receiving United's New York Life Humanitarian of the Year award for his work with the foundation in the D.C. area that bears his name.

1999: Missed the better part of three months due to a series of leg injuries … Appeared in 19 games, scoring once.

1998: Scored goals that won both of United's historic continental honors … Scored DC's only goal in a CONCACAF Champions Cup triumph against CD Toluca of Mexico … His header in the Interamerican Cup second leg gave United a 2-0 victory over CR Vasco de Gama and the title of "Champion of the Americas."

1997: Garnered the BIC MLS Tough Defender of the Year award … Played and started in a career-high 29 games, registered career-bests in goals (3) and assists (2), and helped United to a second-straight MLS Cup title.

1996: Split rookie season between the U.S. Olympic Team and D.C. United … Goal in the 96th minute of the inaugural MLS Cup final gave United a 3-2 golden goal victory vs. LA … Scored three goals - all headers off Etcheverry corner kicks … Was 2nd overall pick in 2006 MLS College Draft.

International

Retired from international soccer on 8/16/06 after scoring eight goals in 82 caps (all starts) for the U.S. Men's National Team … Started in nine of possible 11 matches across the 1998, 2002 & 2006 FIFA World Cups … Made 31 appearances in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying contests from 1996-2005 … Started all five matches in central defense in Korea/Japan 2002 in helping the U.S. to a historic run to the quarterfinals … Played full 90 minutes in landmark 1-0 defeat of Brazil on 2/10/98 in the Gold Cup Semifinals … Started two of U.S.'s three contests at 1998 World Cup in France … Scored first goal in international play on 3/16/97 vs. Canada … Debuted for U.S. MNT on 11/10/96 vs. Trinidad & Tobago in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier … Started all three games at the 1996 Olympics and was a regular for the U-23s from 1994-1996.

College

Started every game of collegiate career after walking on at the University of North Carolina … Named to NCAA All-American, All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-South Region First-Teams in 1994 … Named Second-Team All-ACC in 1993 … As a freshman, practiced with the Tar Heel football team as a place kicker.

Personal

Successfully attended classes at UNC while playing with D.C. United and the U.S. National Team, commuting to and from Chapel Hill and Washington, D.C. in the fall of 1996 … Nearly left out of the National Team pool after turning down first invite in Fall 1996 to pursue his education … Started the Eddie Pope Soccer Leagues in Washington, D.C. and Wilmington, N.C., in order to assist disadvantaged youth … Nickname: Eddie … Hobbies: Spending time with his family and playing with his little boy … Major in College: Political Science … Most Memorable moments: The 2002 World Cup … Favorite Music: Hip-Hop and R&B … Favorite Movie: The Shawshank Redemption … Favorite Food: Mexican, (especially empanadas) … Favorite Book: Tell No One by Harlan Coben … Favorite TV Show: Chappelle's Show … Marital Status/Wife's Name: Corina … Kid's Names/Ages: Emilio, 3 ½ … Favorite athlete outside of soccer: Roy Jones Jr … Greatest Accomplishment: His little boy … Charities/Causes: The Eddie Pope Foundation, which assists underprivileged kids and helps them achieve academic success.