Cerritos College

Connections 2006 >> June 2006 >> June 12 Connections >> The Campus Connection Online -- June 12 2006

 

Former Cerritos College soccer player Marcello Balboa, who played for the Falcons from 1985-86, went on to become one of the first three players in the history of the U.S. Men’s National Team to play in three consecutive World Cups (1990, 1994 and 1998). Since his retirement from international competition, he is now serving as a color commentator for this year's World Cup, which is being held in Germany.
 
Balboa, a defender who was nicknamed "The Ironman", was inducted into the United States Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005, and will be calling the action in the first U.S. game of the world Cup on Monday at 8:55 a.m. on ESPN2 against the Czech Republic. He also served as the color commentator during the England-Paraguay game on Saturday in Frankfurt.
 
After finishing his career with Cerritos, where he was a 1st Team All-South Coast Conference selection, Balboa moved on to San Diego Stare University and was a two-time All-American. He earned his way onto the international team and during his storied career, he earned an amazing 128 caps (games played) and scored a remarkable 13 goals, while being named the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year twice during his 13-year national team career (1992, 1994).
 
Balboa was also a Major League Soccer founding player for the Colorado Rapids in 1996 and during his six seasons he was a five-time All-Star from 1997-2001. He became the first defender in the history of the MLS to score 20 goals and register 20 assists in his career. In 2000, he scored the MLS Goal of the Year, which was noted as Soccer America's Best Goal in the first 10 years of the MLS. Balboa was traded to the MetroStars in 2002, where he suffered a career-ending injury in the first five minutes of his first game.
 
He also played six years in the American Professional Soccer league (APSL) with the San Francisco Blackhawks, San Diego Nomads and Colorado Foxes. In 2003, Balboa was honored with a star at the U.S. Soccer Star Plaza at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

 

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