Sporting Kansas City center back Matt Besler has been named to Goal.com’s MLS Team of the Decade, announced on Wednesday.
Besler is one of three defenders on the team, alongside Chad Marshall and Omar Gonzalez, as the Kansas City native led the team to unprecedented success by hoisting aloft an MLS Cup (2013) and three U.S. Open Cups (2012, 2015, 2017) this decade.
The 32-year-old has shattered club records in games played, games started and minutes played both in the MLS regular season and in all competitions for Sporting since the turn of the decade.
Besler took the captaincy ahead of the 2014 season following Jimmy Nielsen’s retirement and was a defensive stalwart as the club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for eight straight seasons from 2011-2018.
Goal.com’s MLS Team of the Decade
- GK: Nick Rimando (RSL)
- DEF: Matt Besler (SKC)
- DEF: Chad Marshall (SEA)
- DEF: Omar Gonzalez (LA/TOR)
- MID: Carlos Vela (LAFC)
- MID: Diego Valeri (POR)
- MID: Ozzie Alonso (SEA/MIN)
- MID: Landon Donovan (LA)
- FWD: Sebastian Giovinco (TOR)
- FWD: Robbie Keane (LA)
- FWD: Josef Martinez (ATL)
