100 Cap Club: Jeff Agoos

When Landon Donovan earned his membership into the ‘100 Cap Club’ in the 0-0 draw against No. 1-ranked Argentina – becoming the fourth youngest player in soccer history to achieve that mark! - he joined 10 American men in this highly exclusive fraternity. Each U.S. player before him reached the century mark in a unique and, in some cases, historic way. With Donovan’s story now told, ussoccer.com has set out to provide a chronicle of the memorable ways in which the previous 10 players joined the elite group who have proudly worn the jersey at least 100 times for the United States.

Jeff Agoos
Caps: 134
First Cap: Jan. 10, 1988
100th Cap: June 3, 2000 vs. South Africa (Nike U.S. Cup)
Era: 1988-2003

The USA vs. South Africa match in the 2000 U.S. Cup opened with a pre-game ceremony celebrating Jeff Agoos’s 100th career appearance for the national team. The game was played in Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium, Agoos’ home for five years while playing with D.C. United. The celebration was somewhat overshadowed by the play of U.S. forward Cobi Jones, who scored two left-footed goals in the first half and had two assists in the second in the 4-0 win. Agoos had one of the best games of his career in the shutout though, and said after the game, “I wanted the 100th to be a memorable game and it was.”


Even though he had played in all but one qualifier leading up to France ’98, he became the first U.S. player to reach 100 caps without playing in a World Cup game -- although he would later appear in the 2002 tournament.

Agoos on the 100 cap milestone:
“To represent your country one time, I think, is an honor and a privilege, but to do it at that type of number- at 100 and above- speaks to the qualities not of the player, but of the person.”