soccer player
Personal Information
Born Cobi N'Gai Jones, June 16, 1970, in Detroit, MI.
Education: Attended University of California--Los Angeles (UCLA).
Career
At UCLA tied for most career assists and made Second-Team All American in 1991; played as a member of the US national team, beginning in 1992; as a professional soccer player, played for Coventry City of the English Premier League 1994-95; played first half of the 1995-96 season for the Brazilian first division team Vasco da Gama before joining Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy for the inaugural 1996 season; played with the Galaxy, 1996--; ranked second in career assists with a total of 12; third in all-time appearances with 96; played in all four US games in the 1994 World Cup.
Life's Work
Cobi Jones was born on June 16, 1970, in Detroit, Michigan, but moved with his family soon after to Westlake Village, California. Jones picked up soccer at Westlake High School, earning three varsity letters including one in track. Jones went on to college at UCLA in 1988 hoping to pursue a career in environmental law, with little thought of playing soccer. Not wanting to give up the game he loved without trying, Jones walked on at the soccer powerhouse and ended up making the team.
From such humble beginnings came one of the most decorated U.S. soccer players in the country's history. Jones started slowly at UCLA, but by the end of his freshman year, he led his classmates in scoring with four goals and seven assists. In his sophomore year Jones started all 23 games and this time led the whole team in scoring with eight goals and seven assists. By the time Jones had finished his career at UCLA, he was tied for the lead in career assists, had led his team to an NCAA Championship and was named second-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America All- American in 1991.
After his senior season was done, Jones left school to pursue his soccer dream full-time. Life after college was not always easy for the 21-year-old soccer player. He was cut twice by then-U.S. Olympic Coach Lothar Osiander because he did nott have the skills necessary to play at the international level and relied on raw speed. But Jones persevered and continued to play. With more experience he improved and was named to the 1991 Pan American Games team which eventually won a gold medal. Jones vindicated himself by scoring a goal and adding an assist in a game against Canada.
Jones was able to take his game still higher in 1992, when he was named a member of the U.S. Olympic team. Jones was a key part in helping the squad to an 8-1-1 mark in the qualifying round and played in all three games at the Olympics. As he gained more experience, Jones received more recognition as a player with the requisite skills to play at the highest level. That same year he was named to the U.S. national team, making his first appearance at the age of 22 against Canada. In his third game he scored a goal and assisted on two others in the United States' 5-2 victory over the Ivory Coast at the Intercontinental Championship in Saudi Arabia.
Jones was getting notice from more people than just the United States soccer community. He was invited to train with the German first division club FC Cologne. He became a member of the first wave of American players such as John Harkes, Alexi Lalas, and Kasey Keller to play in Europe. For the first time Jones and other native-born American soccer players were attracting the interest of teams in the top leagues around the world.
In 1993, just three years after being cut twice from the Olympic team, Jones led the national team in appearances with 30 over the course of the year. He also tied for the team lead in assists, with five. Jones established himself as a reliable defender and a go-to member of the squad, particularly when the team needed a lift from perhaps one of the fastest players in the game. In 1994 he participated in soccer's greatest event, the 1994 World Cup, which was held in the United States for the first time. The U.S. team advanced into the second round, but faced eventual champion Brazil in its first game and was eliminated after losing 1-0. Jones played in each of the U.S. team's four games and earned a start in the team's second-round game against Brazil.
Jones was one of several players to benefit from the international exposure of the 1994 World Cup. He was signed by Coventry City of the English Premier League, arguably the top soccer league in the world. He made his first start of 1994 on September 16 against Leeds. Jones led his team to a 2-1 victory, assisting on one goal and being taken down in the penalty area to account for the other goal. Jones scored his first Premier League goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Norwich two months later. Unfortunately for Jones, the team changed coaches and for the rest of the season his playing opportunities were limited.
The 1995-96 season was an exciting one for Jones in both his professional career and his career on the United States national side. He scored his biggest international goal in the 1995 U.S. Cup, notching the game-winner against Nigeria. He and his teammates on the United States team made it to the semifinals of Copa America in Uruguay--a showing which was previously unthinkable for a U.S. soccer team against international powers such as Argentina, Mexico, Columbia, and World Cup Champion Brazil. In one of the U.S. team's most significant victories in its history, Jones assisted on the second goal of a 3-0 thrashing of Argentina--again an unprecedented win for a U.S. soccer team. For his effort against the Argentines Jones was named the "Man of the Match." Jones ended up leaving Uruguay, but not too far from his South American success. He signed to play the 1995-96 season with Brazilian first-division club Vasco da Gama. Again his playing time was limited, this time because of problems with his transfer.
Jones left the Brazilian league halfway through the season to play in the United States' new professional league, Major League Soccer (MLS). For the inaugural 1996 season Jones signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He scored his team's first goal against the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars and its goalkeeper, World Cup teammate Tony Meola. Jones's credibility as a player and natural charisma made him one of the key factors in the new league's surprising success. Jones and five of his teammates were named to the inaugural MLS All-Star Game, while the Galaxy participated in the first MLS Cup--the league's championship game.
In a 1996 ESPN SportsZone interview Jones talked about the quality of the new league: "I would say within five years it will be comparable to other leagues around the world. I think what we are doing right now has us headed in the right direction. The fan support has been great and when other top players from around the world see this, they will be more interested in coming and playing here." Jones's success in the MLS carried over to his national team experience. Jones played 14 games and started 12 for his country in the 1996 campaign. Jones logged over 1,000 minutes in the national side's 10-3-1 season.
Though the 1997 season was less spectacular for the Galaxy, Jones did manage to win MLS Player of the Week during the league's second season. If Jones's club team was somewhat of a disappointment, his season with the U.S. national team was just the opposite. In the tournament to decide what teams would compete in the 1998 World Cup in France, Jones helped the United States to qualify for the world's most-watched sporting event. In the 1997 season Jones tied for the most games played with 14, garnering 10 starts. In all the qualifying games through the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Jones was a mainstay of the U.S. run. In the 16 games in that two-year period, Jones played in 13, including eight of the ten crucial final-round qualifying matches. Jones and his U.S. teammates also played in some of the toughest stadiums in the world, including Mexico City and San Salvador, El Salvador.
At the end of the 1997 season Jones had played in 96 games for his country, with 64 starts. His 96 caps made him third in all-time appearances for the U.S. national team. Jones is likely to be the first player to make 100 appearances in such a short space of time for his country. He also ranked second in career assists, twelfth in goals scored (with eight) and thirteenth in games started (with 64). Jones holds the U.S. record for most assists in a game (three), most assists in a season (five in 1993), and the record for most games played in a season (30 in 1993).
Jones's outstanding play, trademark dreadlocks, and California good looks have made him perhaps the most recognizable soccer player in the United States. Jones's star power has made him desirable on Madison Avenue as well as Hollywood. He has appeared in Nike ads and the television show Beverly Hills 90210. His latest project off the soccer field is hosting MTV's health show Mega-Dose. With all his success both on and off the field, Jones still feels that he and his fellow soccer players don't receive the attention of the other major sports (for better or for worse). He told Vibe Magazine: "Soccer's not at the level yet where people ask who you're sleeping with.... We're not the people who sign $15 million contracts and then complain that there are reporters in the locker room." With the rise of soccer and one of its most talented and charming stars, perhaps it's only a matter of time.
Further Reading
Periodicals
- St. Petersburg Times, June 4, 1996.
- Vibe, October 1996, p. 86.
- 1998 U.S. Soccer Media Guide, pp. 55-152.
- http://espn.sportszone.com/editors/talk/transcripts/1017cobi.html
— Michael J. Watkins
