The 2010s: Minnesota United’s pound-for-pound Best XI of the decade

Miguel Ibarra and Christian Ramirez
By Jeff Rueter
Nov 27, 2019

This week, The Athletic is rolling out a whole host of all-decade teams as the 2010s wind to a close. The exercise is never an easy one and the sort of thing that fuels heated debates at your local bar.

There are a lot of ways these discussions can go. How much do you value longevity with a team compared to one brilliant season? Do you pick a team off of talent alone or what they meant to the team? Was a player elite because of the coach’s system, or would they fit into a different side like a chameleon?

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With Minnesota United, there’s another massive question: how much do you value the NASL era compared to MLS?

Trying to build the Loons’ Team of the Decade is a difficult venture given the league switch ahead of 2017. For seven years (counting 2010’s residency in the hilariously on-the-nose USSF D2 Pro League), the club featured players who were fantastic for the level. If I’m purely going off of talent, would any of them hold a candle to the 2019 side that finished top-four in the Western Conference?

To avoid just dropping this season’s Best XI, I’m going to give both eras equal weight. As you dive into this, I’m not asking you to frame the discussion in terms of who was the most talented player. Instead, this team consists of the 11 players that I believe best exemplify the decade that was in Minnesota men’s professional soccer. You can disagree — that’s why we have a comments section, after all. And, in the interest of saving my word count, I’m going to refer to these teams across three leagues as one club.

Pull out your old Stars gear, your Inaria gray wing kits, and your 2019 U.S. Open Cup final split-scarves. This is the Minnesota United Team of the 2010s.

Goalkeeper: Matt Van Oekel (2010-2014)

One thing you’ll notice is the sheer level of rotation among Minnesota’s No. 1. This club has some solid performers between the sticks. Joe Warren came out of retirement to backstop the Stars to the first NASL title in 2011. Bobby Shuttleworth kept the team afloat in many games with stunning saves. Vito Mannone won the most recent MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award (in an admittedly weak year for the position).

The only player to start regularly for the club over more than two seasons: Matt Van Oekel, who inherited the spot from Warren in 2012 and made it his own through 2014. He helped the Loons to a mighty 2014 season, with a 77 percent save rate and only three losses when he started. He would go on to continue his strong play with FC Edmonton, even earning 5 MLS starts for Real Salt Lake in 2017. Mannone may have had a higher ceiling, but Van Oekel was the best at the position in my book.

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What could have been: Sammy Ndjock (2015-2016)

Another two-year starter, Ndjock joined Minnesota for their final two NASL seasons after making Cameroon’s roster for the 2014 World Cup. Signed as a 25-year-old, he seemed to have an inside track on working his way onto the MLS roster if he could show some poise. He was an ambitious sweeper-keeper, prone to a gaffe every now and again, but his reflexes and distribution were truly MLS-caliber.

But oh, those gaffes …

Ndjock was never the same after this horrific own goal in a summer friendly against AFC Bournemouth. He spent the next month-and-a-half on the bench behind journeyman Steward Ceus, struggling for confidence even when he got his starting spot back. If he had just thrown the ball anywhere ahead of him, there’s a real chance he gets the team to the 2016 NASL postseason — and earns a place on the MLS roster.

Right back: Romain Métanire (2019-present)

Remember that point I drove home about length of tenure mattering? There will be exceptions to that rule based on truly exceptional play. Few players had a better single-season for the club than Métanire, who looked poised to make MLS Best XI after dominating his opponents on both sides of the ball. Even if a summer departure for AFCON gave the opposition enough time to figure out how to neutralize his attacking prowess, he was among the team’s best defenders down the home stretch. His 2019 was good enough to eclipse not one, but three fan favorites at the position: Brian Kallman (2010-2015), Kevin Venegas (2012-2017), and Jérôme Thiesson (2017-2018) …

What could have been: Kevin Venegas (2012-2017)

… but this place arguably should have been Viva’s. He was exceptional in the NASL era, taking opponents on in their 18-yard box and scoring goals usually reserved for a team’s best winger. In the same Bournemouth friendly that saw Ndjock’s confidence take a swan dive, Venegas suffered a left meniscus knee injury that robbed him of his explosiveness. He rushed back for the season’s final month and made the MLS roster, but by 2017 it was clear he didn’t have the same verve that landed him on the NASL Best XI in 2015. Without that injury, there’s a chance he’s still on the team instead of toiling away in the U.S. fourth division with (of all clubs) the New York Cosmos.

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Summer friendlies: Not always worth it.

Center backs: Ike Opara (2019-present), Brent Kallman (2013-present)

This was one of the easier decisions on the team, with only Tiago Calvano and Michael Boxall also factoring for consideration. Opara put in a career year to run away with MLS Defender of the Year, completely changing the identity of the Loons along the way. Kallman signed as a young prospect in 2013, sharing his hometown club’s locker room with brother Brian. In 2016, he finally got his first chance to start and didn’t miss the mark, forcing his way onto the MLS roster. In each of the last three years, he has began the season on the bench but earned serious minutes as he stabilized the backline. A PED suspension clouds his future a little bit, but he’s still under contract for 2020 and should factor again.

What could have been: Francisco Calvo (2017-2019), Damion Lowe (2016)

In reality, these two may have been the most physically talented defenders the club fielded throughout the decade. Lowe joined the team on loan in 2016 and was just about as consistent as the weather in Minnesota. On his day, he was the best defender in the NASL, capable of neutralizing any opposing attacker. When he was off, he was found wildly out of position or earning yellow cards like they were extra credit.

As for Calvo, Adrian Heath could never quite find the best way to utilize the Costa Rica international. He inherited the captain’s armband from Vadim Demidov and idolized Sergio Ramos, wanting to be a rare two-way center back. Unfortunately, his nomadic positioning is partly to blame for the record-setting 141 goals conceded in the club’s first two MLS years, and he never accepted a switch to left back. When he signed, he seemed destined for a long and successful stint worthy of earning a place on teams like these. It just wasn’t meant to be.

Left back: Justin Davis (2011-2017)

With apologies to Kevin Friedland and Chase Gasper’s first half-season in MLS, this spot is all JD. One of the first two MLS signings (along with Venegas), Davis was a lock for nearly every teamsheet in the NASL era. That carried over to the start of the MLS era, where he may have been found out by right wingers at the next level. Still, he was a true two-way left back who was as capable at tackling as he was crossing. He began his career with a quiet workmanship, but etched his place into team lore with his trademark postgame beer-chugging with the supporters.

What could have been: Ish Jome (2016-2017)

This could have been Calvo’s second spot on the team given his unwillingness to be the regular left back. However, Jome left college early on a lucrative 2016 contract to be the team’s wing back of the future. He never quite put it all together, but was an exceptional athlete and offered a wicked early cross. He’s still chasing his professional dream in the USL Championship, as he scored four goals and added seven assists in 2019 while starting every game for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Defensive midfielder: Aaron Pitchkolan (2013-2016)

While the MLS era has seen a paucity of true No. 6s, there were a few in the NASL era who deserved some consideration. Greg Jordan, Juliano Vicentini and Jeb Brovsky all had stellar stints for the Loons. While Osvaldo Alonso wound back the clock for a solid 2019 campaign, the club’s first veteran leader at the center of the park was Aaron Pitchkolan. For four years, he played wherever the coach needed him to provide dependable defending and passing. An ideal captain who carried himself with quiet confidence, Pitch gets the nod over one season of Alonso.

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What could have been: Sam Cronin (2017)

Many of the players on this alternative lineup are stories of talented athletes who couldn’t put it all together. Cronin’s situation, by contrast, is truly heartbreaking for one of the most beloved locker room guys in the game. Acquired early in 2017 to stop the Loons’ defensive bleeding, Cronin brought instant respectability to the team throughout the season until he suffered yet another concussion on Aug. 26, 2017. It ended his career at age 30 — far too soon for a player with so much to offer.

Central midfielder: Ibson (2015-2018)

Of all of the Loons on this team, it was the Brazilian midfielder that Heath called the most talented player he coached in his first two seasons at the helm. He came to the NASL with a UEFA Champions League pedigree, running the show in the center of the park no matter the opponent. He found another gear as the team moved to MLS, continuing to provide moments of magic that overshadowed his headache-causing mishaps from poor positioning. Truly, Ibson was one of a kind.

 

What could have been: Rasmus Schüller (2017-2019)

Schüller was signed for a $750,000 transfer fee ahead of the 2017 season, with Minnesota hoping the Finland international could become a midfield fixture. He struggled to adjust and finished the year on loan in his native country, but returned with plenty to prove in 2018. He was quietly among the best box-to-box men in the league that year, even if his partnership with Ibson never quite made sense. Ján Greguš’s signing was the beginning of the end for Schüller, miscasting him on the left wing before he rode the bench for the second half of the season.

Left wing: Miguel Ibarra (2012-2015, 2017-2019)

There was never a question about whether Ibarra would make this roster or not — the only real debate was where he should play. Just as was the case in real life, Ibarra never found a regular spot on the field under Manny Lagos or Heath. He often played best centrally or on the right, but this team simply needs him to do the job on the left.

Why? There wasn’t a single above-average starting left winger for an entire decade.

Simone Bracalello drifted to the port side, but he was a No. 10 at his core. From there, the list of lefties is pretty maddening. Removing the likes of Jome and Schüller, you’re still left with luminaries such as Jonny Steele, Lance Laing, Stefano Pinho, Alejandro Vela (Carlos’ older brother), Sam Nicholson, Alexi Gómez, Romario Ibarra and Robin Lod. Ibarra played best elsewhere, but as was often the case this decade, the 2014 NASL Golden Ball winner was simply better than the rest on his weaker foot.

What could have been: Kalif Alhassan (2015)

This could have been literally anybody from the list above, but few of those seemed capable of overcoming the left wing curse like Alhassan. The Ghanaian signed on a free transfer after an up-and-down stint with the Portland Timbers and showed moments of true magic in 2015. His four goals and eight assists often were filled with panache, whether they were on set pieces or the run of play. However, his inconsistency cost him a place on the final NASL roster (effectively a season-long trial for most before the MLS move), and he was off to Tampa Bay.

Second striker: Darwin Quintero (2018-2019)

There isn’t much left to be said after Quintero has required most of this offseason’s ink. Even as he suffered his dry spells, no Loons player in any era could flip a game on its head as effectively as he often did. Kevin Molino looked the part in 2017, but Quintero took it to the next level when he signed partway through the 2018 season. Suffice it to say that Minnesota won’t be looking forward to their first matchup against Houston next year.

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What could have been: Johan Venegas (2017-2018)

Before Quintero, Minnesota hoped to entrust its burden of playmaking on second striker Johan Venegas. The Costa Rica international flamed out of Montreal due to (stop me if you’ve heard this before) inconsistency and fading out of games. Sure enough, those traits followed him south of the border. However, Venegas did have his moments with the Loons in their transitional season, including assisting on the club’s first MLS goal.

Right wing: Daniel Mendes (2014-2016)

While the revolving door at right wing wasn’t quite as rapid as its left-sided counterpart, there wasn’t a lot of stability on the starboard side throughout the decade. The likes of Molino, Miguel Ibarra, Ethan Finlay, and Jamie Watson all played considerable minutes at the position. The one exception may be Mendes, who locked down the right flank for the first two years of his tenure. His 0.46 G+A/90 was a fine contribution to a perennial contender, as he linked up well with the rest of the attack. He wasn’t blazing quick, but his ability with the ball at his feet made him a matchup nightmare for many a left back.

What could have been: Yago (2015)

The only player to have a supporters’ chant to the tune of a DMX banger (“Yago make me lose my mind / up in here, up in here”). In the summer, Minnesota took a loan flier on a young Brazilian who was on the outs from Vasco da Gama. Four years removed from appearances with Brazil’s U-17 side, the 5-foot-7 sparkplug looked electric in his Loons debut. That never translated to any tangible benefit on the pitch, as he failed to score or get an assist in 11 appearances. He spent the 2017 season in Korea’s second division and hasn’t played since.

Striker: Christian Ramirez (2014-2018)

The club’s all-time leading goalscorer wins in what wasn’t a sure thing. Ramirez first signed as a green option off the bench, seen as a player to groom behind 2012 golden boot winner Pablo Campos, who made his Loons debut in 2013 and led the team with 13 goals, figuring to run it back the following season. However, a horrific early-season knee injury brought the youngster Ramirez into the starting lineup. Simply, he never looked back. If scoring 64 goals in four-and-a-half seasons isn’t enough, this drives home his importance in club lore: he scored the late matchwinner in the club’s only victory over their hated rival Cosmos.

Campos was the most skilled big man the club ever had. He was capable of impressive flicks and powerful finishes. However, only Ibarra comes close in terms of being the face of the club throughout the decade. This had to be Ramirez.

What could have been: Abu Danladi (2017-2019)

Simply, the biggest “what if” of the decade for the Loons.

Danladi was selected first overall in a stacked 2017 SuperDraft class ahead of future U.S. men’s national team regulars and MLS Best XI short-listed players at other positions. He looked the part in his rookie year, finishing second in Rookie of the Year after scoring nine goals — among them a few matchwinners. However, a hamstring injury in the 2018 season opener sentenced him to two years alternating between “almost being back to 100 percent” and time on the trainer’s table. Having just turned 24, Minnesota left him unprotected for last week’s expansion draft after seeing enough across three seasons. Nashville made him their top choice, and will now be tasked with resurrecting what once looked like a promising career.

(Photo of Miguel Ibarra and Christian Ramirez: Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today)

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Jeff Rueter

Jeff Rueter is a staff writer for The Athletic who covers soccer in North America, Europe, and beyond. No matter how often he hears the Number 10 role is "dying," he'll always leave a light on for the next great playmaker. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffrueter