Cobi Jones

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox football biography Cobi N'Gai Jones (born June 16, 1970) is an American former professional soccer player and commentator. He is an analyst for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. He has also been seen on Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Fox Sports, BeIN Sports, the Pac-12 Network, and as the host of the Totally Football Show: American Edition. In addition, during the 1990s, he hosted the health show Mega-Dose on MTV.

As a player, Jones was a midfielder from 1994 until 2007, starting his career in England with Premier League club Coventry City, before playing for Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. He is one of a significant group of United States national team stars who returned from overseas to aid the then new Major League Soccer in 1996, beginning an 11-year spell with the LA Galaxy. Jones is the all-time leader in caps for the United States national team and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Following retirement, Jones served as an assistant coach with the LA Galaxy for two seasons.

Youth

Jones grew up in Southern California. He played soccer with AYSO starting at age 5 in Westlake Village, California. After graduating from Westlake High School, Jones emerged as a talented player in college, making the UCLA soccer team as a non-scholarship player, ultimately becoming one of its most successful soccer-playing graduates. While attending UCLA, Jones was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, an international fraternity.

Club career

After playing in the 1994 World Cup held in the United States, Jones signed with English team Coventry City of the Premier League, where he spent one season. Jones trained with a German club 1. FC Köln of the Bundesliga before joining Brazilian club Vasco da Gama after impressive performances with the United States national team in the 1995 Copa America. After only a few months in Brazil, Jones signed with the new Los Angeles Galaxy franchise for Major League Soccer's inaugural season.

Jones's best year with the Galaxy came in 1998, when he was second in MLS with 51 points (19 goals and 13 assists), was named to the MLS Best XI, and was also named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. In 2005, he became the last player in MLS to remain with his original team since 1996. Jones announced on March 19, 2007, that he would retire following the season.

International career

Jones is currently the all-time leader of the United States in appearances, with 164 caps as of the end of 2004 (scoring 15 goals). He played for the team in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He was named to the best XI at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup and won with the national team at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also represented his country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. After playing in the 1995 Copa America, he also became a popular player in Latin America because the nickname used by an Argentine commentator to call him: "Escobillón" ("swab"), due to his bleached dreadlock hairstyle and the similar pronunciation of his name, Is Cobi Jones, and the word "escobillón".

Coaching career

On November 9, 2007, Jones was announced as an assistant coach with the Galaxy under Ruud Gullit. After Gullit's resignation on August 11, 2008, Jones served as the interim head coach until the Galaxy hired Jones's former United States national team head coach Bruce Arena.

In January 2011, Jones left the Galaxy to serve as associate director of soccer with the New York Cosmos and was with the club through 2012.

Personal life

On September 12, 2009, Jones married Kim Reese. Reese, a music consultant and former music executive at New Line Cinema, met Jones in 2003 and began dating him in 2004. The couple was married at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad, California. They have two sons, Cayden and Cai.

On March 11, 2011, Jones was selected for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Jones is a part of the ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Coventry City	1994–95	Premier League	20	2			1				21	2
Vasco da Gama	1995	Série A
Los Angeles Galaxy	1996	Major League Soccer	28	7
	1997		26	7					4	1
	1998		24	19
	1999		28	8					1
	2000		25	7					3	1
	2001		22	6
	2002		19	3
	2003		28	2					4
	2004		23	0
	2005		31	3
	2006		27	4					2
	2007		25	4
	Total		306	70
Career total			306	70					14	2

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States	1992	3	1
	1993	30	2
	1994	23	2
	1995	12	1
	1996	14	2
	1997	14	0
	1998	15	0
	1999	8	0
	2000	16	6
	2001	10	0
	2002	14	0
	2003	1	0
	2004	4	1
Total		164	15

Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jones goal.

List of international goals scored by Cobi Jones

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	October 19, 1992	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Ivory Coast	flag alias = Flag of Côte d'Ivoire.svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of Côte d'Ivoire (WFB 2009).gif	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Cote d'Ivoire (2004 World Factbook).gif	size =	variant =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|5–1 || 1992 King Fahd Cup
2	March 23, 1993	San Salvador, El Salvador	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = El Salvador	flag alias = Flag of El Salvador.svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of El Salvador (1822–1865).svg	flag alias-1823 = Flag of the United Provinces of Central America.svg	flag alias-1824 = Flag of the Federal Republic of Central America.svg	flag alias-1839 = Flag of El Salvador (1822–1865).svg	flag alias-1865a = Flag of El Salvador (April 1865).svg	flag alias-1865b = Flag of El Salvador (June 1865).svg	flag alias-1869 = Flag of El Salvador (1869-1873).svg	flag alias-1873 = Flag of El Salvador (1873-1875).svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of El Salvador (1875-1877).svg	flag alias-1898 = Flag of the Greater Republic of Central America (1898).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of El Salvador.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Salvadoran Army.svg	link alias-army = Salvadoran Army	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Navy of El Salvador.svg	link alias-navy = Navy of El Salvador	flag alias-naval = Flag of the Navy of El Salvador.svg	link alias-naval = Navy of El Salvador	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Salvadoran Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Salvadoran Air Force	flag alias-military = Flag of the Armed Forces of El Salvador.svg	link alias-military = Armed Forces of El Salvador	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly
3	October 13, 1993	Washington, D.C., United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Mexico	flag alias = Flag of Mexico.svg	flag alias-1821a = Flag of the Three Guarantees.svg	flag alias-1821 = Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg	flag alias-1823 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg	flag alias-1864 = Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg	flag alias-1867 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg	flag alias-1893 = Flag of Mexico (1893-1916).svg	flag alias-1916 = Flag of Mexico (1916–1934).svg	flag alias-1934 = Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Mexican Air Force.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Mexican Army.svg	link alias-army = Mexican Army	link alias-air force = Mexican Air Force	link alias-naval = Mexican Navy	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue.png	link alias-coast guard = Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue	flag alias-navy = Naval jack of Mexico.svg	link alias-navy = Mexican Navy	flag alias-marines = Estandarte Infantería de Marina de México.svg	link alias-marines = Mexican Naval Infantry Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly
4	January 15, 1994	Tempe, Arizona, United States	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Norway	flag alias = Flag of Norway.svg	flag alias-old kingdom = Royal Standard of Norway.svg	flag alias-1814 = Flag of Norway (1814–1821).svg	flag alias-1818 = Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg	flag alias-1844 = Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Norway, state.svg	border-state =	flag alias-army = Flag of the Norwegian Army.svg	border-army =	link alias-army = Norwegian Army	flag alias-war = Flag of Norway, state.svg	link alias-war = Norwegian Armed Forces	border-war =	flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Norway.svg	border-naval =	link alias-naval = Royal Norwegian Navy	flag alias-air force = Royal Norwegian Air Force Flag.svg	border-air force =	link alias-air force = Royal Norwegian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of Norway, state.svg	border-navy =	link alias-navy = Royal Norwegian Navy	flag alias-coast guard = Norwegian Coast Guard Racing Stripe.svg	link alias-coast guard = Norwegian Coast Guard	border-coast guard =	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
5	February 18, 1994	Miami, Florida, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Bolivia	flag alias = Flag of Bolivia.svg	flag alias-state = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg	flag alias-football = Flag of Bolivia.svg	flag alias-spain = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg	flag alias-1825 = State flag of Bolivia (1825-1826).svg	flag alias-1825a = Civil flag of Bolivia (1825-1826).svg	flag alias-1831 = Flag of Bolivia (state, 1826-1851).svg	flag alias-1831a = Flag of Bolivia (1826-1851).svg	flag alias-confederation = Flag of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.svg	flag alias-wiphala = Banner of the Qulla Suyu (1979).svg	flag alias-patuju = Flag of the Patujú flower.svg	flag alias-army=Flag of Bolivia (military).svg	link alias-army=Bolivian Army	flag alias-air force=Flag of Bolivia (military).svg	link alias-air force=Bolivian Air Force	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bolivia.svg	link alias-naval = Bolivian Navy	flag alias-naval old = Naval Ensign of Bolivia (1966-2013).svg	flag alias-naval jack = Naval Jack of Bolivia.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of Bolivia (military).svg	link alias-military = Bolivian Armed Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bolivia.svg	link alias-navy = Bolivian Navy	flag alias-civil = Flag of Bolivia.svg	size =	name =	altvar = football	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly
6	June 11, 1995	Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Nigeria	flag alias = Flag of Nigeria.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Nigeria (state).svg	flag alias-colonial = Flag of Nigeria (1914–1952).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-naval = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Nigerian Army Headquarters.svg	link alias-army = Nigerian Army	flag alias-military=Flag of the Nigerian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military=Nigerian Armed Forces	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-air force = Nigerian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-navy = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Nigeria.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|3–2 || align="center"|3–2 || Friendly
7	May 26, 1996	New Britain, Connecticut, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Scotland	flag alias = Flag of Scotland.svg	flag alias-1542 = Flag of Scotland (traditional).svg	link alias-football = Scotland men's national football team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
8	December 1, 1996	San José, Costa Rica	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Costa Rica	flag alias = Flag of Costa Rica.svg	flag alias-1839 = Flag of Costa Rica (1839-1848).svg	flag alias-1848 = Flag of Costa Rica (1848-1906).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Costa Rica (state).svg	flag alias-naval = Flag of Costa Rica (state).svg	flag alias-navy = Flag of Costa Rica (state).svg	Costa Rican Coast Guard	Costa Rican Coast Guard	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|1–2 || Friendly
9	January 29, 2000	Coquimbo, Chile	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Chile	flag alias = Flag of Chile.svg	flag alias-mapuche = Ancient mapuche flag.svg	flag alias-lautaro = Lautaro flag.svg	flag alias-spain = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg	flag alias-spain1 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg	flag alias-1812 = Flag of Chile (1812-1814).svg	flag alias-1812a = Flag of Chile (1812-1814, alternative).svg	flag alias-andes = Bandera de la Provincia de Mendoza.svg	flag alias-1817 = Flag of Chile of the transition (1817).svg	flag alias-1817_proposal = Flag of Chile (1817-1818, 2nd).svg	flag alias-1818 = Flag of Chile (1818).svg	flag alias-1818a = Flag of Chile (1818-1854).svg	flag alias-1819 = State Ensign of Chile (1819-1834).svg	flag alias-expedition = Flag of the Liberating Expedition of Peru.svg	flag alias-1826 = Flag of Chile (Civil Use, 1826-1854).svg	flag alias-ap = Flag of the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia.svg	flag alias-easter1 = Easter Island flag 1876 to 1888.svg	flag alias-easter = Flag of Rapa Nui, Chile.svg	flag alias-president = Bandera del presidente de Chile.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Chile.svg	link alias-naval = Chilean Navy	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Chilean Air Force.svg	link alias-air force =Chilean Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Chilean Army.svg	link alias-army = Chilean Army	flag alias-navy = Flag of Chile.svg	link alias-navy = Chilean Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
10	February 12, 2000	Miami, Florida, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Haiti	flag alias = Flag of Haiti.svg	flag alias-1791 = Flag of Haiti (1791-1789).svg	flag alias-1798 = Flag of France (1794-1815).svg	flag alias-1803 = Flag of Haiti (1803-1804).svg	flag alias-1806 = Flag of Haiti (1806-1811).svg	flag alias-1811 = Flag of Haiti (1811–1814).png	flag alias-1814 = Flag of Haiti (1814–1820).svg	flag alias-1849 = Flag of Haiti (1849-1859).png	flag alias-1859 = Flag of Haiti (1820–1849, 1859–1964).svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Haiti (1964–1986).svg	flag alias-2013 = Flag of Haiti (WFB 2013).gif	flag alias-civil = Flag of Haiti (civil).svg	flag alias-civil-1964 = Flag of Haiti 1964 (civil).svg	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of Haiti (1859–1964, 3-2).svg	link alias-coast guard = Haitian Coast Guard	link alias-army = Haitian Army	link alias-military = Armed Forces of Haiti	Haitian Navy	link alias-air force = Haitian Aviation Corps	Haitian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || 2000 Gold Cup
11	February 16, 2000	Miami, Florida, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Peru	flag alias = Flag of Peru.svg	flag alias-spain = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg	flag alias-1820 = Flag of Tacna Regiment (1820 proposal).svg	flag alias-1821 = Flag of Peru (1821-1822).svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of Peru (1822).svg	flag alias-1822a = Flag of Peru (1822–1825).svg	flag alias-1825 = Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg	flag alias-confederation = Flag of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.svg	flag alias-north = Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg	link alias-north = North Peru	flag alias-south = Flag of South Peru.svg	link alias-south = South Peru	flag alias-1884 = Flag of Peru (1884–1950).svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Peru (state).svg	flag alias-football = Flag of Peru.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Peruvian Army.svg	link alias-army = Peruvian Army	flag alias-naval= Flag of the Peruvian Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Peruvian Navy	flag alias-air force= Flag of the Peruvian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Peruvian Air Force	flag alias-military=Flag of Peru (war).svg	link alias-military=Peruvian Armed Forces	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Peruvian Navy.svg	link alias-marines = Peruvian Naval Infantry	flag alias-navy = Flag of Peru (state).svg	link alias-navy = Peruvian Navy	size =	name =	altvar = football	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 2000 Gold Cup
12	June 3, 2000	Washington, D.C., United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = South Africa	flag alias = Flag of South Africa.svg	flag alias-1795 = Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg	flag alias-1801 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1857 = Flag of Transvaal.svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of the Natal Colony (1875–1910).svg	flag alias-1876 = Flag of the Cape Colony 1876-1910.svg	flag alias-1902 = Flag of Orange River Colony.svg	flag alias-1910 = South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg	flag alias-1912 = Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg	flag alias-1982 = Flag of South Africa (1982–1994).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1946 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1946-1951).svg	flag alias-naval-1951 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1951-1952).svg	flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1952-1981).svg	flag alias-naval-1981 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1981-1994).svg	flag alias-marines=Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	link alias-marines=South African Maritime Reaction Squadron	link alias-naval = South African Navy	flag alias-air force = Ensign of the South African Air Force.svg	flag alias-air force-1940 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1940-1951.svg	flag alias-air force-1951 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1951-1958.svg	flag alias-air force-1958 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1958-1967, 1970-1981).svg	flag alias-air force-1967 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1967-1970.svg	flag alias-air force-1981 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1981-1982.svg	flag alias-air force-1982 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1982-1994).svg	flag alias-air force-1994 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1994-2003.svg	link alias-air force = South African Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the South African Army.svg	flag alias-army-1951 = Flag of the South African Army (1951–1966).png	flag alias-army-1966 = Flag of the South African Army (1966–1973).png	flag alias-army-1973 = Flag of the South African Army (1973–1994).svg	flag alias-army-1981 = Ensign of the South African Defence Force (1981-1994).svg	flag alias-army-1994 = Flag of the South African Army (1994–2002).svg	flag alias-army-2002 = Flag of the South African Army (2002–2003).svg	link alias-army = South African Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the South African National Defence Force.svg	link alias-military = South African National Defence Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	link alias-navy = South African Navy	link alias-football = South Africa national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|2000 Nike U.S. Cup
13				2–0
14	November 15, 2000	Waterford, Barbados	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Barbados	flag alias = Flag of Barbados.svg	flag alias-1885 = Flag of Barbados (1870–1966).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Barbados.svg	link alias-naval = Barbados Coast Guard	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Barbados.svg	size =	link alias-army = Barbados Regiment	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|4–0 || align="center"|4–0 || 2002 World Cup qualifying
15	September 8, 2004	Panama City, Panama	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Panama	flag alias = Flag of Panama.svg	link alias-naval = Panamanian Public Forces	link alias-navy = Panamanian Public Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || 2006 World Cup qualifying

Honours

UCLA Bruins

• NCAA Division I: 1990
• NCAA College Cup: 1990

Los Angeles Galaxy

• MLS Cup: 2002, 2005
• Supporters' Shield: 1998, 2002
• Western Conference Playoffs: 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005
• Western Conference Regular Season: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
• U.S. Open Cup: 2001, 2005
• CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 2000

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2002

Individual

• MLS All-Star: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• MLS Best XI: 1998
• U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 1998
• LA Galaxy Player of the Year: 1998
• MLS 25 Greatest
• MLS 50/50 Club

See also

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

External links

• Template:First word Template:PAGENAMEBASE at SoccerbaseTemplate:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck
• Cobi Jones Biography at Los Angeles Galaxy official site Template:In lang (archived)
• Cobi Jones Interview