As a follow up to our 25th season celebration series naming the top 5 players by position in FCD franchise history, I started a Top 5 FCD Players by Number series.
And we are at 25. Which is starting to get into the weird zone of numbers frequently being worn by players who don’t see a ton of time on the pitch.
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… until now.
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!
Top 5 FCD Number 25s
Watching Walker Zimmerman #25 play center back with Matt Hedges #24 made my soccer number loving heart ache.
| Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walker Zimmerman | Walker wore the 25 from 2013 to 2017, before Oscar Pareja lost faith in him and traded the center back to LAFC. But there’s no question Zimmerman is a quality center back with a nose for goal. He came in at #6 in our franchise All-Time Center Back rankings. Numbers in Dallas including playoffs: 95 games, 75 starts, 8 goals, and 1 assist. |
| 2 | Dominic Oduro | “Dom,” as we called him, played for 13 seasons in MLS. For his first three seasons, the speedy winger/forward wore the 25 in Dallas and put up some solid numbers mostly as an off-the-bench threat: 72 games, 22 starts, 9 goals, and 4 assists including playoffs. He earned a #3 Impact Sub nod and an Honorable Mention at Off-Striker. |
| 3 | Abe Thompson | Abe was our #2 Impact Sub but he only wore the 25 for one season, in 2005. The rest of his FCD stint came in the no. 7 jersey. Some very good 2005 rookie numbers by Thompson: 18 games, 6 starts, and 4 goals. |
| 4 | Steve Purdy | A Cal native and Golden Bear, Purdy played for 1860 Munich II (2007-2008) before coming back to MLS and joining FC Dallas. A former US U17, U20, and U23; Purdy went on the play 15 times for El Salvador. One season for Dallas wearing the 25: 5 games with 4 starts. Purdy went on to play for Portland Timbers (USL and MLS), Chivas USA, and Orange County Blues. |
| 5 | Callum Montgomery | I’m sticking to my own personal beliefs and listing Montgomery 5th in the number 25 even though he never played a game for FCD. He dominated with North Texas SC on the way to the 2019 USL-1 title and was a fantastic defender for San Antonio FC on loan. I still believe he’s an MLS starter in caliber and combined with the increasing quality of MLS he gets the nod in my list. |
Montgomery makes it in ahead of Jack Stewart 2011 (2 games, 1 start), Juan Sastoque 1997-1998 (5 games, 74 total minutes), Josue Mayard 2001-2002 (3 games, 27 minutes), and David Wagenfuhr’s 0-game rookie 2004.
What’s your list look like?
#25 – All-Time FCD Roster
| Callum Montgomery | 2019 to 2020 |
| Walker Zimmerman | 2013 to 2017 |
| Jack Stewart | 2011 |
| Steve Purdy | 2009 |
| Dominic Oduro | 2006 to 2008 |
| Abe Thompson | 2005 |
| David Wagenfuhr | 2004 |
| Andy Rosenband | 2003 |
| Josue Mayard | 2001 |
| Miguel Pineda | 1999 |
| Juan Sastoque | 1997 to 1998 |
Up next?
26.
Which Johnny Nelson says he wants to make into something special.