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Alex Yi

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Full name
  
Alexander Yi

Name
  
Alex Yi

Parents
  
Kyom Yi

Playing position
  
Defender

Role
  
Soccer player

Current team
  
LA Galaxy

2000–2001
  
UCLA

Height
  
1.91 m

Number
  
21 (FC Dallas / Defender)

Years
  
Team

Weight
  
91 kg


Alex Yi After European MLS career former Bruin soccer star Alex

Date of birth
  
(1982-02-27) February 27, 1982 (age 33)

Place of birth
  
Alexandria, VA, United States

Education
  
University of California, Los Angeles

Alex yi found confidence abroad through support of fans


Alexander "Alex" Yi (born February 27, 1982 in Alexandria, Virginia) is a retired American soccer defender who last played for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. He is currently head coach for the U18 academy team at Los Angeles Galaxy.

Contents

Alex Yi httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Playing career

Alex Yi Alex Yi Pictures FC Dallas v Los Angeles Galaxy Zimbio

As a teenager, Yi was a member of Under-17 national team, and as such was part of the inaugural class of the USSF's Bradenton Academy, along with other players such as Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, and Oguchi Onyewu. Upon graduating, he matriculated to UCLA, where he played college soccer in 2000 and 2001, where he started in 41 games and was named a third team All-American as a sophomore. He was named PAC-10 Player of the Year.

Alex Yi Alex Yi Pictures FC Dallas v Los Angeles Galaxy Zimbio

Following his sophomore year Yi left UCLA to pursue a professional career in Europe; he signed with Royal Antwerp of the Belgian First Division, a feeder club of Manchester United, before the start of the 2002-3 season. Yi disappointingly only appeared in four matches for Antwerp in the 2002-3 season, and, after appearing in only seven for the struggling club in the subsequent season, was released from his contract to pursue opportunities in America.

Alex Yi Alex Yi found confidence abroad through support of fans

Yi was coveted by several teams upon his return to the United States, most notably his hometown D.C. United, but was eventually allocated to F.C. Dallas through a weighted lottery on January 12, 2005.

Alex Yi Alex Yi Photos FC Dallas v Los Angeles Galaxy Zimbio

Yi has played for the U-17, U-20, and U-23 United States youth national teams, and played in the 1999 Football World Youth Championship. His father, Kyom Yi, played for the South Korean national team at the youth level.

Coaching career

Alex Yi retired from soccer in April 2008. He struggled with injury and decided to head back to school, applying to UCLA and UT-Austin. Eventually, he was hired as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton, where he became a full-time student.

References

Alex Yi Wikipedia