Marcelo Balboa
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2017}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Marcelo Balboa
| fullname =
| image = MarceloBalboa 20060410.jpg
| upright = 0.8
| caption = Balboa in 2006
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|8|8}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, United States
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| position = Defender
| collegeyears1 = 1986–1987
| college1 = Cerritos Falcons
| collegeyears2 = 1988–1989
| college2 = San Diego State Aztecs
| years1 = 1987–1989
| clubs1 = San Diego Nomads
| caps1 =
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 1990–1991
| clubs2 = San Francisco Bay
| caps2 = 15
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 1992
| clubs3 = Colorado Foxes
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 1994–1995
| clubs4 = León
| caps4 = 53
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 1996–2001
| clubs5 = Colorado Rapids
| caps5 = 151
| goals5 = 24
| years6 = 2002
| clubs6 = MetroStars
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 235
| totalgoals = 46
| nationalyears1 = 1988–2000
| nationalteam1 = United States
| nationalcaps1 = 127
| nationalgoals1 = 13
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{fb|United States}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's soccer}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|1992 Saudi Arabia|}}
{{Medal|3rd|1999 Mexico|}}
{{MedalCompetition|CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Medal|W|1991 United States|}}
{{Medal|3rd|1996 United States|}}
{{Medal|RU|1998 United States|}}
}}
Marcelo Balboa (born August 8, 1967) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender in the 1990s for the United States national team, becoming its captain. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Marcelo Balboa - 2005 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/marcelo-balboa.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Marcelo Balboa - 2005 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en}}
After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude, as well as FIFA World Cup games on Univision. He is the head boys' soccer coach for Monarch High School in Louisville, Colorado,{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/preps/ci_20617274/marcelo-balboa-hired-coach-monarch-high-boys-soccer |title=Marcelo Balboa hired to coach Treble soccer club |publisher=The Denver Post |date=2012-05-14 |access-date=2010-05-14}}
Club career
=Youth=
Balboa, who is of Argentine descent, was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Cerritos, California. Balboa played youth soccer for Fram-Culver, which won the 1986 McGuire Cup (U-19 National Championship).{{Cite web |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/facts/usa/youth_soccer.htm |title=USA Youth Soccer National Champions (1935–1998) |access-date=2011-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119033642/http://www.soccertimes.com/facts/usa/youth_soccer.htm |archive-date=2011-11-19 |url-status=dead }} Balboa's father, Luis Balboa who played professionally in Argentina and with the Chicago Mustangs of the North American Soccer League, coached him. In 1985, Balboa graduated from Cerritos High School.
Balboa attended Cerritos College, a local two-year community college from 1986 to 1987. At Cerritos, Balboa was both placekicker on the football team and a two-time 1st Team All-South Coast Conference soccer player. Cerritos College has retired Balboa's jersey number – #3.[http://www.cerritos.edu/hpea/athletics/sports/m_soccer/2011/media_guide/2011%20M_Soccer.pdf Cerritos College Soccer Media Guide]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 1988, Balboa transferred to San Diego State University where he was a 1988 First Team and a 1989 Second Team All American soccer player.{{Cite web |url=http://goaztecs.cstv.com/genrel/balboa_marcelo00.html |title=San Diego Aztecs: Marcelo Balboa |access-date=January 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523095703/http://goaztecs.cstv.com/genrel/balboa_marcelo00.html |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
=Professional=
From 1987 to 1989, Balboa played the collegiate off-seasons on an amateur contract with the professional San Diego Nomads of the Western Soccer League. He was the 1988 WSA MVP.{{Cite web |url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1988.html#WSA |title=The Year in American Soccer – 1988 |access-date=January 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713141625/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1988.html#WSA |archive-date=July 13, 2013 |url-status=dead }} In 1990, Balboa began his professional career with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks of the American Professional Soccer League.[http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1990/statswsa90.htm#SFB 1990 San Francisco Bay Blackhawks] In 1992, he moved to the Colorado Foxes.[http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1992/stats92.htm#Colorado 1992 Colorado Foxes] He played for León in the Mexican League in 1995 and 1996.
In 1996, Balboa signed with Major League Soccer and the Colorado Rapids. Balboa played six seasons for the Rapids, leading as the team's all-time leader in many statistical categories.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} Traded to the MetroStars in 2002, he played only five minutes all year, sitting out the rest with injuries, and retiring afterwards.
Balboa ended his MLS career with 24 goals and 23 assists in 152 games. In 2005, Balboa was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI and elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame on the first ballot along with Nick Folan. In 2012, he was inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame.[http://www.coloradosports.org/Balboa_Marcelo.cfm Colorado Hall of Fame: Marcelo Balboa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825025047/http://www.coloradosports.org/Balboa_Marcelo.cfm |date=2013-08-25 }}
A goal by Balboa for the Rapids in 2000 against the Columbus Crew was named the MLS Goal of the Year for that season.
International career
Balboa earned his first cap with United States national team on January 10, 1988, against Guatemala. He anchored the American defense in the 1990 and the 1994 FIFA World Cups, in the latter receiving international attention for his near miss with a bicycle kick{{cite journal|last1=Simpson|first1=Paul|last2=Hesse|first2=Uli|title=Who Invented the Bicycle Kick?|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/06/19/who_invented_the_bicycle_kick_the_history_of_soccer_s_most_impressive_maneuver.html|journal=Slate|date=June 19, 2014 |access-date=27 May 2018}} in the United States' win over Colombia. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1994. In 1995, he became the first United States player to break the 100-cap barrier. In 1998, he joined Tab Ramos and Eric Wynalda as the first United States players to play in three World Cups. Balboa ended his United States career with 128 caps and 13 goals, and his final appearance came in a friendly against Iran on January 16, 2000.
Post-retirement
=Team executive=
After the 2004 MLS season, Balboa assumed a front office position with the Rapids.
=Broadcaster=
Balboa debuted as a sideline reporter during ABC's coverage of the 2003 MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup. In 2004, he became a regular announcer for ABC and ESPN's television coverage of the United States national team. Most recently, Balboa has paired up with baseball announcer Dave O'Brien as networks' #1 U.S. announcing team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006/May_06/WorldCup06_talent.htm |title=ESPN MediaZone – a resource for media professionals |publisher=Media.espn.com |access-date=2010-06-24}}
In 2007, Balboa started a soccer radio show, From The Pitch, which airs on Denver station Mile High Sports Radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/fromthepitch |title=From The Pitch – Soccer Radio – 42 – Man – Denver, Colorado – myspace.com/fromthepitch |publisher=MySpace |access-date=2010-06-24}} Balboa served as an analyst for NBC Sports coverage of Soccer at the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mediumwell/blog/2008/07/your_nbc_olympics_lineup.html |title=Medium Well: Your NBC Olympics lineup - A blog on sports media, news and networks - baltimoresun.com |publisher=Weblogs.baltimoresun.com |date=2010-06-17 |access-date=2010-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803182204/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mediumwell/blog/2008/07/your_nbc_olympics_lineup.html |archive-date=2008-08-03 }} He has been a guest soccer analyst on Telefutura's Contacto Deportivo.
In 2014, he was commentator of the United States team matches for Univision at the World Cup in Brazil.
=Coaching=
In 2012, Monarch High School hired Balboa to coach the boys' soccer team.[http://www.denverpost.com/preps/ci_20617274/marcelo-balboa-hired-coach-monarch-high-boys-soccer Marcelo Balboa hired to coach Monarch High boys' soccer]
Personal life
Balboa, who is the son of Argentine immigrants, resides in the town of Superior, Colorado.
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web |url=https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/s6zjk14my2i4bzx0os5j |title=Marcelo Balboa – U.S. Soccer Media Guide |work=2013 USMNT Media Guide |access-date=December 22, 2013}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="13"|United States
|1988 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1990 | 15 | 1 | |
| 1991 | 15 | 2 | |
| 1992 | 21 | 3 | |
| 1993 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 24 | 4 | |
| 1995 | 6 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 8 | 1 | |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 127 | 13 |
:Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Balboa goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Marcelo Balboa | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | May 30, 1990 | Eschen, Liechtenstein | {{fb|LIE}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|4–1 | Friendly |
| align="center"|2 | June 29, 1991 | Pasadena, California, United States | {{fb|TRI}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|2–1 | 1991 Gold Cup |
| align="center"|3 | August 28, 1991 | Brasov, Romania | {{fb|ROM}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|2–0 | Friendly |
| align="center"|4 | February 2, 1992 | Pontiac, Michigan, United States | {{fb|CIS}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|2–0 | Friendly |
| align="center"|5 | May 30, 1992 | Washington, D.C., United States | {{fb|IRL}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|3–1 | 1992 U.S. Cup |
| align="center"|6 | October 19, 1992 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | {{fb|CIV}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|5–2 | 1992 King Fahd Cup |
| align="center"|7 | January 15, 1994 | Tempe, Arizona, United States | {{fb|NOR}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|2–1 | Friendly |
| align="center"|8 | February 13, 1994 | Hong Kong | {{fb|ROM}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|1–2 | 1994 Carlsberg Cup |
| align="center"|9 | March 12, 1994 | Fullerton, California, United States | {{fb|KOR}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|1–1 | Friendly |
| align="center"|10 | May 7, 1994 | Fullerton, California, United States | {{fb|EST}} | align="center"|3–0 | align="center"|4–0 | Friendly |
| align="center"|11 | June 11, 1995 | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States | {{fb|NGA}} | align="center"|2–2 | align="center"|3–2 | 1995 U.S. Cup |
| align="center"|12 | January 16, 1996 | Anaheim, California, United States | {{fb|TRI}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"|2–0 | 1996 Gold Cup |
| align="center"|13 | March 14, 1997 | San Diego, California, United States | {{fb|PAR}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|2–2 | Friendly |
Honors
United States
Individual
- U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 1992, 1994{{cite web|title=Athlete of the Year Award |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/about/history/awards/athlete-of-the-year.aspx |publisher=US Soccer |access-date=November 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110234628/http://www.ussoccer.com/about/history/awards/athlete-of-the-year.aspx |archive-date=November 10, 2014 }}
- MLS All-Star: 1997,[https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/all-star-game-flashback-1997-valderrama-named-mvp-again All-Star Game flashback, 1997] at MLSsoccer.com 1998,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1998-mls-all-star-game-373141|title=1998 MLS All-Star Game|work=MLSsoccer.com|date=August 2, 1998| access-date= July 27, 2023}} 1999,{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=MLSsoccer.com |language=en}} 2000{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2000 |title=2000 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2000-mls-all-star-game-373143 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 28, 2023}}
- MLS Goal of the Year Award: 2000
- CONCACAF Team of the Century: 1998[http://www.socceramerica.com/article/18669/balboa-ramos-named-to-concacaf-team-of-the-centu.html "Balboa, Ramos named to CONCACAF "Team of the Century""] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005115509/http://www.socceramerica.com/article/18669/balboa-ramos-named-to-concacaf-team-of-the-centu.html |date=5 October 2016 }}, Soccer America, 14 May 1998.
- MLS 10th Anniversary Team
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090630091953/http://www.captainu.com/buzz/273-marcelo-balboa-the-interview-on-role-models Interview on Role Models from CaptainU]
- {{FIFA|174365}}
- {{MLS player|marcelo-balboa}}
{{Navboxes
| bg = white
| fg = #002868
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|title= United States squads
|list1=
{{United States squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1992 King Fahd Cup}}
{{United States squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 1995 Copa América}}
{{United States squad 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|bg=gold
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|title= Awards
|list1=
{{MLS Goal of the Year}}
{{US Soccer Athlete}}
{{MLSXI}}
{{Honda Player of the Year}}
{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}
}}
{{MLS on ESPN}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balboa, Marcelo}}
Category:American people of Argentine descent
Category:Sportspeople from Cerritos, California
Category:Soccer players from Los Angeles County, California
Category:Soccer players from Chicago
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:San Diego State Aztecs men's soccer players
Category:All-American college men's soccer players
Category:Nomads Soccer Club players
Category:San Francisco Bay Blackhawks players
Category:Colorado Foxes players
Category:Club León footballers
Category:Colorado Rapids players
Category:New York Red Bulls players
Category:Western Soccer Alliance players
Category:American Professional Soccer League players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars
Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:United States men's international soccer players
Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:1992 King Fahd Cup players
Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1995 Copa América players
Category:1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players
Category:FIFA Men's Century Club
Category:National Soccer Hall of Fame members
Category:American expatriate men's soccer players
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico
Category:American soccer coaches
Category:Colorado Rapids non-playing staff
Category:American soccer commentators
Category:Major League Soccer broadcasters