The 25th season of FC Dallas just ended and thanks to Covid-19 the season-long league and club celebration was put on hold. As part of the celebration – and to be fair, out of a need for something to write about during the shutdown – we ran a series naming the top 5 players by position in FCD franchise history.
Around these parts, we think numbers are important, and I had the idea that – if the season didn’t restart – it might be fun to spin the Top 5s a bit and do a Top 5 Players by Number series. Of course, the season did restart so the idea went on the back burner.
Now it’s the offseason and it seems like a good time to re-visit the concept.
So without further ado, I’m kicking off my top 5 players at each number series with the no. 1. The big Kahunas of goalkeepers.
Now, 1s are always keepers and I suppose you could just read our 25th Season Top 5 Goalkeepers list… but not all keepers are 1s.
Disclaimer: The 25th Season Top 5 Player lists were voted on by a committee. These Top 5 Player by Number lists are just mine. So come at me, bro!
Actually, I lied, I need to start with the number 0. There has been one number 0 in club history. Technically 00 if you want to be accurate.
Top 5 FCD Number 0s or 00s
| Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Cassar | The only 00 in club history so he wins the list. 33 games, 30 starts, 1.78 GAA, 6 shutouts, and an 8-15-6 record. |
The man, the myth, the legend that is Jeff Cassar.
Top 5 FCD Number 1s
| Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Dodd | 1996 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS Best XI, the only keep in team history to win either award. |
| 2 | Kevin Hartman | 2010 MLS Cup run Keeper led MLS in GAA (0.60). Holds the single-season franchise shutout record (2011 – 13 shutouts). |
| 3 | Jesse Gonzalez | The franchise leader in career shutouts with 31. Arguably the best pure shot-stopper in club history. |
| 4 | Matt Jordan | Leads the franchise in most games played by a goalkeeper. Named a 1999 MLS All-Star while setting a new league shutout record that year. |
| 5 | Scott Garlick | 2005 MLS All-Star in his one full season in Dallas. |
What’s your list look like?
Here’s the All-Time FC Dallas Numeric Roster if you want to play along.
Up next? Why the number 2, obviously.
#1 – All-Time FCD Roster
At the suggestion from a long-time reader, I’ll paste in the all-time numeric roster for ease of reference.
| Jesse Gonzalez | 2016 to mid 2020 |
| Dan Kennedy | 2015 |
| Raul Fernandez | 2013 to 2014 |
| Kevin Hartman | 2010 to 2012 |
| Shaka Hislop | 2006 to 2007 |
| Scott Garlick | 2004 to 2005 |
| DJ Countess | 2003 |
| Matt Jordan | 2001 to 2002 |
| Mark Dodd | 1996 to 1999 |
Special Award for protecting home field Dario Sala for the punch heads around the world…
He’s going to own 2 lists down the line.