37 Facts About Alexi Lalas

Panayotis Alexander Lalas is an American former soccer player who played mostly as a defender.

Alexi Lalas is best known for his participation with the United States men's national soccer team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where his appearance made him a standout player on the team with his distinctive long beard and hair.

Alexi Lalas played with Club Sport Emelec of Ecuador, and the MLS squads MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards, but his most successful period was with Los Angeles Galaxy, with whom he won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and MLS Cup before retiring in 2003.

Alexi Lalas was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006.

Alexi Lalas was a reporter at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Alexi Lalas was born in Birmingham, Michigan, United States, to a Greek father, Demetrios Alexi Lalas and an American mother, Anne Harding Woodworth.

Alexi Lalas's father was a professor who later became the director of Greece's national observatory, while his mother is a widely published poet.

Alexi Lalas's younger brother, Greg Lalas, is a former professional soccer player and currently the Chief Marketing Officer at United Soccer League.

Alexi Lalas was rated for the Ontario Hockey League Midget draft in 1987, but was ultimately not selected.

Alexi Lalas attended Rutgers University, where after trying out and playing some spring matches and an indoor tournament in 1988, he played on the men's soccer team from 1988 to 1991.

Alexi Lalas was named a third-team All-American in 1989 and 1990.

Alexi Lalas left Rutgers in 1991 to focus on the US national team despite being interested in finishing his degree.

Alexi Lalas resumed his education in 2013, when Rutgers began offering enough online classes to fulfill what Lalas required to graduate.

Alexi Lalas took 12 classes and 36 credits over 10 months to finish what he jokingly called "a 26-year plan", earning a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in music in May 2014.

Alexi Lalas then returned home to Detroit and spent a month reluctant about his future in soccer before coach Bora Milutinovic invited him for the United States tryouts in Mission Viejo, California.

Alexi Lalas last played for Padova in a home game against Lazio on February 25,1996.

Alexi Lalas was a regular on the Revs backline during the 1996 and 1997 seasons, starting 25 matches in 1996 and 29 in 1997.

Alexi Lalas made his Revolution debut in the club's first-ever match, against Tampa Bay Mutiny on April 13,1996, and recorded the first assist in Revolution history, setting up Robert Ukrop for the team's first-ever goal, in the 20th minute.

Alexi Lalas returned to New England at the end of December only to find himself traded to the MetroStars on February 4,1998 in what would become the first three-team trade in MLS history.

Alexi Lalas spent the 1998 season with the MetroStars before being traded, along with Tony Meola, to the Kansas City Wizards for Mark Chung and Mike Ammann on January 28,1999.

Alexi Lalas spent one season with the Wizards before announcing his retirement on October 10,1999.

Alexi Lalas was named to the MLS All-Star team in both the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

In 2001, Alexi Lalas helped the Galaxy win the 2000 CONCACAF Champions' Cup and the 2001 US Open Cup.

The next year, Alexi Lalas helped the Galaxy win the 2002 Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup 2002.

Alexi Lalas earned 96 caps, scoring nine goals, with the United States national team between 1991 and 1998.

Alexi Lalas went on to start and play all ninety minutes in the four US games of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and was named an honorable mention All-Star.

On June 11,1995, Alexi Lalas flew directly from a relegation playoff game with his club team, Padova, in order to appear in the second half of a 1995 US Cup victory over Nigeria.

Alexi Lalas scored in a game against Saudi Arabia, in which the United States had their biggest comeback in their history.

Alexi Lalas's last cap had come in the final US tuneup for the finals, a May 30,1998, scoreless tie with Scotland where he was a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart.

Alexi Lalas was part of the United States Olympic soccer team for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Spain.

Alexi Lalas was selected as overage player on the United States Olympic soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Alexi Lalas served as president and general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2004 and 2005 MLS seasons.

Alexi Lalas served as President of the LA Galaxy from 2006 to 2008 during which time the club signed David Beckham.

Alexi Lalas appeared in both FIFA 16 and FIFA 17, by EA Sports, as a legend card having an 86 rated center back card in both iterations of the game.

Alexi Lalas speaks Spanish and Italian in addition to his native English and Greek.

Alexi Lalas is a Republican and endorsed Ron DeSantis in the 2024 United States presidential election.

Alexi Lalas has released eight solo albums over the past three decades: Far from Close, Ginger, So It Goes, Infinity Spaces, Shots, Sunshine, Look at You and Melt Away.