Carlos Mendes

Carlos Mendes

Personal information
Full name	Carlos Mendes
Date of birth	December 25, 1980 (1980-12-25) (age 28)
Place of birth	Mineola, New York, United States
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	New York Red Bulls
Number	4
Youth career
1998–2001	Old Dominion Monarchs
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002	Long Island Rough Riders	10	(0)
2003–2004	Rochester Raging Rhinos	33	(1)
2005–	New York Red Bulls[1]	107	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 October, 2009. † Appearances (Goals).

Carlos Mendes (born December 25, 1980 in Mineola, New York) is an American soccer player of Portuguese heritage who currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.

Career

College

Mendes played college soccer at Old Dominion University from 1998 to 2001, where, as a midfielder, he started 72 games, scoring 11 goals and 25 assists.

Professional

Upon graduating, Mendes joined the Long Island Rough Riders of the USL Pro Soccer League, who converted him into a defender. After playing sparingly for the Rough Riders in 2002, Mendes moved up to a division to play for the Rochester Raging Rhinos, where he became a consistent starter for the next two seasons.

Mendes signed with the MetroStars before the start of the 2005 season, and surprised by becoming a starter in central defense, filling the position formerly held by Eddie Pope. During the 2006 MLS campaign Mendes started every game on the season but one, which was due to caution point accumulation. For his efforts, he was voted team Defender of the Year by members of the soccer media.

Mendes continued his solid play anchoring the clubs backline during the early part of the 2007 season with Red Bull New York. However he fell out of favor with coach Bruce Arena and was in and out of the lineup during the latter part of the season. He concluded the campaign appearing in 23 matches (19 starts), his lowest totals since joining the club. For the 2008 season Mendes was converted into a defensive midfielder and appeared in 17 regular season matches. He returned to central defense in the MLS Playoffs starting in the clubs 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, helping the club reach its first ever MLS Cup Final.

Career statistics

Updated 20 November 2008

All-time MLS club performance

Club	Season	Major League Soccer		US Open Cup		MLS Cup		CONCACAF		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Red Bull New York	2005	24	0	1	0	2	0	-	-	27	0
	2006	31	0	2	0	2	0	-	-	35	0
	2007	23	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	24	0
	2008	17	0	1	0	3	0	-	-	21	0
	2009	12	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	13	0
	Total	107	0	6	0	7	0	-	-	120	0

Honors

New York Red Bulls

• Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship (1): 2008

See also

• List of current MLS players

References

External links

• MLS player profile