The Resurrection of Jaime Moreno and DC United

- By Joseph Schoenbauer Fri Jun 10, 2005




It is no coincidence that DC United’s resurrection as a club has coincided with Jaime Moreno’s resurrection as a player. Two seasons ago Jaime Moreno was struggling to stay healthy with back and muscle problems that persisted over an entire year while he was playing for DC United’s east coast rivals, the New York MetroStars. His struggles were so bad he was released from the team after the season, in which he made as few as 11 appearances and scored only 2 goals. Without a club, still reeling from herniated disc surgery and out of shape, it looked as though Jaime Moreno, who played such an integral part in previous DC United championship campaigns, no longer had a future in MLS. Fortunately, DC United remembered how integral of a role Moreno had played for the club in his previous stint and gave him an opportunity. Initially, the opportunity wasn’t a spot on the team or even a short-term contract offer. DC United, in good faith, merely decided they would attempt to help Jaime Moreno get over his unrelenting back problems and into better physical shape in order to resurrect his playing career. The opportunity, in short, was to come train with DC United in their upcoming preseason, as a trialist, in hopes that he could impress, if not DC United, than another team, enough to take the chance and sign him.

The rest, as we say, is history. Jaime Moreno did not only overcome his injury problems and get into good physical condition over the preseason tryout. He impressed the DC United coaching staff so much he was offered a spot on the team and a long- term contract. By the time the opening game of the season rolled around, his form was so outstanding he was a guaranteed starter at forward, a position that included the last two first overall picks in the MLS Superdraft, University of Virginia star Alecko Eskandarian and teenage phenomenon Freddy Adu, among others.

Jaime Moreno went on to have a tremendous season from a personal standpoint, leading the team and league in assists, with 14, to go with his 7 goals scored. More incredibly, Moreno’s resurrection as a player coincided with DC United’s resurrection as a team. Over the past 4 seasons, DC United had looked a shadow of the team that had won far more competitions than any other team in MLS. In 2004, DC United not only returned to the playoffs and advanced past the first round, accomplishments that had eluded the team over the barren spell, they became MLS Cup champions once again.

Heading into this weekend’s game against the Metrostars in New York, the statistics show that Jaime Moreno is showing no signs of slowing his progress of returning to be one of the best and most influential players in MLS. For DC United, he currently is only behind Bobby Boswell in minutes played and is the current leading goal scorer with 4 goals and 2 assists from 10 games. In addition to his minutes played and goals scored, Jaime Moreno is showing other signs of class on the field. He has been able to combine his full repertoire of tricks, which have included sombreros, stepovers, and flicks, with his excellent passing and changes of pace with the ball to the delight of the DC United faithful. Furthermore, with the departure of Ryan Nelsen and Earnie Stewart after last season, Jaime Moreno has accepted a greater leadership role in the team as captain.

This Saturday, Jaime Moreno has the opportunity to further show what the MetroStars have missed out on. But as always, Jaime Moreno will put the team first and will surely be hoping that this encounter with DC United’s biggest rivals will get them back on track and moving up the Eastern Conference standings.

Team news: Freddy Adu is currently with the US U-20 National team in Holland where he is competing in the FIFA World Youth Championships and is unavailable. Englishman Steve Guppy is still sidelined with achilles tendonitis, while Bryan Namoff is questionable. For New York, Eddie Gaven and Tim Ward are also with the US U-20 National team, while ex-DC United star Jeff Agoos, World Cup '98 and Euro 2000 winner Youri Djorkaeff, and Abbe Ibrahim are all nursing injuries.