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}}
class="wikitable"
| bgcolor="#FFFF99" width="5%"|^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the US Soccer Hall of Fame |
class="wikitable"
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1" width="5%"|* | 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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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
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width=7%| Pick # | width=22%| MLS team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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
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width=7%| Pick # | width=22%| MLS team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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 team | width=20%| Player | width=9%| Position | width=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}}