1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft

{{one source|date=June 2025}}

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.

The Columbus Crew selected Brian McBride with the first overall pick.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun/173729672/|title=Crew makes pick|work=Springfield News-Sun|date=February 7, 1996|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

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| Denotes player who has been inducted to the US Soccer Hall of Fame

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| Denotes player who has been selected for an MLS Best XI team

Round 1

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| Previous Team
1

| Columbus Crew || bgcolor="#FFFF99"| 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 || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Robin Fraser || D || Colorado Foxes

5

| New England Revolution || Iain Fraser || D || Sacramento Knights

6

| Kansas City Wiz || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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 || bgcolor="#FFFF99"| Peter Vermes || F || New York Fever

30

| D.C. United || Erik Imler || D || Raleigh Flyers

Round 4

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| Previous Team
41

| Columbus Crew || Bo Oshoniyi || GK || New York Centaurs

42

| Colorado Rapids || Troy Edwards || D || Myrtle Beach Boyz

43

| Dallas Burn || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| Previous Team
51

| Columbus Crew || Brandon Ward || M || Hampton Roads Mariners

52

| Colorado Rapids || Scott Cannon || D || Cincinnati Silverbacks

53

| Dallas Burn || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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 || bgcolor="#FBCEB1" | Zach Thornton || GK || Loyola-Maryland

70

| D.C. United || Mile Milovac || GK || United Serbs

Round 8

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
width=7%| Pick #width=22%| MLS teamwidth=20%| Playerwidth=9%| Positionwidth=22%| 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

{{reflist}}

Sources

  • [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-06-sp-32850-story.html 1996 season: salaries, drafts - latimes.com]

{{Major League Soccer}}

{{MLS drafts}}

{{1996 MLS season by team}}

Category:Major League Soccer drafts