Cobi Jones: A Southern California Soccer Legend and UCLA Bruin
Cobi Jones is a true Southern California sports legend. He is known for scoring the first goal in Los Angeles Galaxy club history and maintaining the title of the longest-standing member of the MLS dynasty. He spent 15 seasons with the Galaxy as both a player and coach from 1996 to 2010. His #13 is the only number in club history to be retired.
Early Life and Collegiate Career
A native of Westlake Village, California, Jones played college soccer at UCLA, leading the Bruins to the 1990 NCAA Championship. Enshrined into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 2002, Jones finished his college career with 23 goals and 37 assists in 90 games.
Professional Playing Career with the LA Galaxy
Jones joined the Galaxy in March 1996. In March 2007, Jones announced that his 12th season of MLS would be the final campaign of his long and distinguished playing career. He is the club’s all-time leader in nearly every statistical category, scoring 70 goals and adding 91 assists in 306 career regular-season games. Jones is the only player in MLS history to have played each of the first 12 seasons with the same team.
Coaching Career
Jones stayed on with the Galaxy as an assistant coach beginning with the 2008 season. He was the assistant coach for the club for three seasons, helping guide the Galaxy to the 2009 MLS Cup Final.
International Career
A 2011 US Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and the CONCACAF representative for the 2010 World Cup Draw in Germany, Jones is a two-time MLS Cup winner (2002 and 2005) with a storied international career with the US Men’s National Soccer Team. A permanent fixture from 1992-2004, Jones played in three World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002).
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He amassed 164 caps for the US, representing the country more than any other male player in history, scoring 15 goals and 22 assists, which are the second most in the National Team record books. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Jones went on to play overseas in both Europe and South America, spending time with Coventry City of the English Premier League and Brazilian side Vasco de Gama.
Broadcasting Career
In 2012, Cobi transitioned from the field to the broadcast booth, where he continues to be the lead analyst for the LA Galaxy with Spectrum SportsNet. One of the foremost knowledgeable soccer minds in the country, Cobi is also an analyst with the Pac-12 Network, covering men’s D1 college soccer. You can also catch Cobi on Fox Sports covering US Men’s National Team games, the Guinness Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, the Gold Cup, MLS, among other tournaments. In 2014, Cobi was a leading voice for BeIn Sports FIFA World Cup coverage. In 2012, Cobi joined NBC the network’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.
Community Involvement and Recognition
Jones, considered to be one of the best soccer players the United States has ever produced, works closely with youth soccer organizations around the country, including AYSO, and he was inducted into the Cal South Hall of Fame in 2009. Department of State as part of the Sports Envoy and has done several ambassador trips to various countries including Myanmar and Brazil. He was named by President Barack Obama to be part of the Presidential Delegation to attend the 2014 and 2015 Men and Women’s FIFA World Cup Finals. Today, he continues to work with the LA84 Foundation and was named to the athlete advisory committee to the LA2024 Olympic Bid Committee.
Jones was given the distinguished honor of being named to the “Who’s Who in Black LA” list. University California Merced also recognized him with their “Cobi Jones Male Student Athlete of the Year Award” going to the top standout collegiate player. An entrepreneur, Jones is a partner in a fashion line called Asaf Ganot, a luxury men’s brand inspired by athletics.
Honors and Achievements
- “Soccer Athlete of the Year” and “MLS Best XI” (1998)
- First Galaxy player to have jersey retired
- 2011 US Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
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