Top 5 number 5s in FC Dallas history

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.

We are now on to the number 5. Which is right out.

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 5s

5 is traditionally a number for center backs or holding mids.

RankNameNotes
1Jair BenitezThe top choice at 5 was easy, he’s the #1 left back in club history even though that’s not a great position for the 5 jersey.  153 games, 140 starts, 2 goals, and 12 assists.  Benitez still ranks in the club’s top 10 for games, starts, minutes, and fouls suffered. A no-brainer, given the rest of the list.
2Tenywa BonseuA player with a career bouncing between the USL and MLS, Bonseu was a physical, hard-working defender for two seasons in Dallas who got caught in the Southlake debacle and rebuild. 47 games, 47 starts. 
3Steve Jolley2 years in Dallas toward the end of his solid 11-year MLS career, he came to the Burn in a trade for the player right above him on this list.  Started falling out of favor in late 2005 partially due to the emergence of Drew Moor.  41 regular-season games with 40 starts for Jolley.
4Marcelo Saragosa4 seasons in Dallas as a utility player for Schellas Hyndman who loved Saragosa’s work rate and soccer brain. He only really had one season as a full-time starter in 2008.
5Thiago SantosSantos isn’t on this list due to any recency bias but rather because of the sparsity of quality 5s in FCD history.  Kind of crazy that a dude with just 20 games under his FCD belt makes the list but he did lead MLS in duels in 2020 with 190 (19 ahead of 2nd place).

What’s your list look like?

#5 – All-Time FCD Roster

Thiago Santos2020 to Current
Moises Hernandez2018 to 2019
Carlos Cermeno2017
Norberto Paparatto2016
Ezequiel Cirigliano2015
Jair Benitez2009 to 2014
Marcelo SaragosaJuly 2006 to 2009
Marcos CharrasApril to June 2006
Steve Jolley2004 to 2005
Tenywa Bonseu2002 to 2003
Lubos Kubik2001
Esmundo RodriguezEnd 2000
Kirk Wilson1999 mid 2000
Jorge Flores1996-1998

Up next?

The number 6.

“Six, six, six for my sorrow.”

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