Peter Vagenas

Peter Vagenas
Personal information
Full name Panayiotis Alexiou Vagenas
Date of birth February 6, 1978 (1978-02-06) (age 34)
Place of birth Pasadena, California, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
1996–1999 UCLA Bruins
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2008 Los Angeles Galaxy 183 (14)
2009–2010 Seattle Sounders FC 21 (0)
2011 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 16 (0)
National team
2000 United States U-23 6 (3)
2000 United States 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 26, 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 4, 2010

Panayiotis Alexiou "Peter" Vagenas (Παναγιωτης Αλεξιου Βαγενας) born February 6, 1978 in Pasadena, California is an American soccer player who most recently played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.

Contents

Career

High School and College

Vagenas graduated from Saint Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, class of 1996, where he captained the team to a CIF Southern Section Championship his senior year, as well as being named CIF SS divisional player of the year. Vagenas played club soccer for Afshin Ghotbi. He played college soccer at UCLA from 1996 to 1999, leading them to the NCAA title in 1997, and finished his career there with 15 goals and 30 assists in 82 games. He was elected team MVP during his campaign at UCLA.

Professional

Vagenas was drafted by Los Angeles Galaxy in the second round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft and subsequently spent nine years with the team, winning the U.S. Open Cup in 2001 and 2005, and the MLS Cup in 2002 and 2005, captaining the team to the 2005 double. Vagenas missed most of 2007 and 2008 due to injury, but during his time with Galaxy he scored 14 goals and 12 assists in 183 league appearances, plus added two goals and two assists in the playoffs. He was a fan favorite with Galaxy due to his energetic play and local roots (earning him the nickname "Pasadena Pete").

On November 26, 2008, Vagenas was selected by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft.[1]

After two seasons with Seattle, Vagenas was traded to Colorado Rapids on November 22, 2010.[2] After the trade Colorado declined Vagenas's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft.

Vagenas became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft; after a couple of months out of the game he signed for expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC in April 2011.[3] At season's end, Vancouver declined his 2012 contract option and he entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Vagenas was not selected in the draft and became a free agent.

International

Vagenas played for the United States in the 2000 Summer Olympics, scoring three goals, all on penalty kicks. He earned his first cap for the senior national team on October 25, 2000 against Mexico, but injuries have curtailed his appearances at the international level. He has earned three caps to date. He was also the captain and leading scorer in the Pan American games in Canada for the USA national team.

Statistics

Season Club Country Competition Apps. Goals
2000 Los Angeles Galaxy  United States Major League Soccer 16 3
2001 26 3
2002 17 0
2003 20 0
2004 12 0
2005 29 5
2006 25 2
2007 24 0
2008 14 1
2009 Seattle Sounders FC 14 0
2010 7 0
2011 Vancouver Whitecaps FC  Canada 16 0
Total Last Updated October 26, 2011 220 14

Personal life

Peter was born to Alex and Tassia Vagenas. He and his three siblings, George, Theoni and Dino were raised in Pasadena, California. Vagenas now resides in Seattle along with his wife Mindy.[4]

Honors

Los Angeles Galaxy

Seattle Sounders FC

See also

References

External links