It’s seven days till MLS First Kick, so it's fitting that we take a look at the No. 7 throughout MLS history ...
The Greatest 7: Seven was the number worn by Columbus legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto, a three-time All-Star, two-time Best XI, two-time Supporters’ Shield winner, one-time MVP and one-time MLS Cup winner and MVP.
Other 7s: Portland manager John Spencer, a Best-XI selection in 2003, wore No. 7, as did 2004 Golden Boot winner Eddie Johnson. Same with Brazilian attacker Fred, who won two Shields with D.C. United, and ironman Chris Klein, who’s fourth all-time in league history in minutes and fifth in games played.
And, of course, 7 was the number of the immortal Andrew Shue.
Scoring at 7: The “other” Eddie Johnson scored for the Timbers in the 7th minute against Montreal in February, in what became Portland’s first win as an MLS team.
7 Shields: The number of times the coach of the Supporters’ Shield winner has been named Coach of the Year.
7 Stand-out Yanks in the Cup: Seven Americans have won MLS Cup MVP, including Nick Rimando and Conor Casey, the 2009 and ’10 MVPs respectively.
[inline_node:325660]Extratime 7: Seven MLS Cups that have gone to extra time, including the last two.
7 Best 11s: Seven naturalized Americans have made the MLS Best XI: Stuart Holden the most recent in 2009, current Chivas USA coach Robin Fraser and former Chivas USA coach Preki the first back in 1996 – though Preki wasn’t yet a citizen. He made the Best XI both before and after he completed the naturalization process.
7 Yank Scorers: Seven Americans are in the MLS all-time top 10 goalscorers.
7 Yank 'Keepers: Seven Americans are in the MLS all-time top 10 GAA.
Build-from-the-back 7: In seven consecutive years, the MLS Rookie of the Year has been either a midfielder or defender.
Pick 7: Chris Armas was picked 7th in the 1996 Supplemental Draft; John Wolyniec was picked 7th in the 1999 College draft; 2010 World Cupper Clarence Goodson was picked 7th in the 2004 SuperDraft; Houston’s Hunter Freeman was picked 7th in the 2005 SuperDraft; and Chicago attacker Patrick Nyarko was taken 7th in the 2008 SuperDraft.
Record 7: Colombian Milton Rodriguez - who wears No. 7 - scored in the 7th minute of FC Dallas’s 3-0 win over the Fire last October, a win that equaled the league-record unbeaten streak at 18 games.
Regular 7: Regular-season finish of the Colorado Rapids, last year’s MLS Cup champions.
Quad 7: Number of MLS players to have scored four or more goals in a game.
