31 Facts About Sacha Kljestan

Sacha Bryan Kljestan is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder.

Sacha Kljestan currently is a studio host on MLS Season Pass.

Sacha Kljestan played three years of college soccer at Seton Hall University in New Jersey under former United States national team coach Manfred Schellscheidt.

Sacha Kljestan was named NCAA Division I First-Team All-America in 2004 and earned third-team honors in 2005.

Sacha Kljestan was named Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 and earned first-team All-Big East in 2004 and 2005.

Sacha Kljestan holds the single-season assists record at Seton Hall with 15 in 2005 and ranks fifth all-time at the school with 28 over a three-year career.

Sacha Kljestan finished his college career with 20 goals and helped Seton Hall University to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Sacha Kljestan signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS, and played USL Premier Development League soccer for Orange County Blue Star in 2005.

Sacha Kljestan was taken fifth overall at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.

Sacha Kljestan was a finalist for 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year as he appeared in 32 league matches for Chivas and recorded seven assists.

Sacha Kljestan improved his performance in his second year as he recorded four goals and provided 13 assists in 25 matches, helping Chivas to a first-place finish in the Western Conference.

Sacha Kljestan was nominated for the Starting XI in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game, but chose instead to play for the US Olympic Team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Sacha Kljestan began the 2010 season with Chivas before being transferred to top Belgian side Anderlecht.

Sacha Kljestan quickly became a fan favorite as supporters began to call him "Mr USA" and bring US flags to the stadium to show praise for the team's only American player.

In March 2013, Sacha Kljestan signed a new three-year contract with Anderlecht.

Sacha Kljestan was ultimately sent off in the later stages of the match.

Sacha Kljestan was honored with a pre-match ceremony in his final match with the club on February 1,2015, against Zulte Waregem.

Sacha Kljestan made a total of 180 appearances for the club, scoring 25 goals, before leaving the club in the winter of 2015.

Sacha Kljestan was suspended for the first two games of the season owing to the confrontation with Jozy Altidore and resultant red card he picked up playing for Red Bulls in the 2017 Eastern Conference Playoff Semi-finals second-leg.

Sacha Kljestan acted as captain for the majority of his debut season in the absence of Jonathan Spector.

Sacha Kljestan's contract expired at the end of the 2019 season.

On December 11,2019, Sacha Kljestan signed as a free agent for LA Galaxy ahead of their 2020 season.

On March 17,2024, Sacha Kljestan signed with USL League Two club Des Moines Menace ahead of the team's first 2024 US Open Cup match.

Menace general manager Charlie Bales and Sacha Kljestan had met in January 2024 at a cycling class in Southern California.

Sacha Kljestan was part of the United States Under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Sacha Kljestan had entered the U-20 program in 2004, earning a total of 16 caps, scoring 1 goal with the team up to 2005.

Sacha Kljestan was selected to Peter Nowak's roster for the U-23 Olympics in Beijing.

Later that summer Sacha Kljestan was a member of the US squad that participated in Copa America 2007.

Sacha Kljestan made regular appearances as a central midfielder and contributed three assists in qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Sacha Kljestan was not selected in the US squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Sacha Kljestan's father Slavko Sacha Kljestan, a Bosnian Serb from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was a professional player playing for Zeljeznicar Sarajevo.