SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes stars Chris Wondolowski and Bobby Convey were named to the AT&T MLS All-Star game day roster by All-Star coach Hans Backe today. The duo will suit up for MLS on July 27 at Red Bull Arena against Manchester United. The match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2, Galavision and TSN.
Because of the competitive format--MLS vs. the World--of the All-Star Game, MLS asked Backe to select from among all available players, and he constructed a dynamic, balanced roster loaded with the League’s top talent. Backe also has seen success against Manchester United, including two wins during the 2007-08 English Premier League season when he was assistant coach at Manchester City under then Head Coach Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Wondolowski leads the Earthquakes in scoring with six goals in 15 games. The standout striker represented the United States during the CONCACAF Gold Cup and played 45 minutes in a friendly against Spain last June. While listed as a forward for the All-Star roster, Wondolowski has shown his versatility in 2011 while starting at four different positions–forward, right mid, left mid and center mid. In 2010, Wondolowski won the MLS Budweiser Golden Boot with a league-leading 18 goals, nine of which were game winners.
Convey is on the All-Star roster for the second-consecutive year. While splitting time between left back, left mid and right mid, Convey has recorded two assists and scored one goal so far in 2011. He has been a key component for a San Jose squad that has only lost twice in its last 12 matches. Last season, Convey led the Earthquakes with 10 assists.
2011 MLS All-Star Game Day Roster
Goalkeeper: Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Faryd Mondragón (Philadelphia Union)
Defenders: Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes), Sean Franklin (LA Galaxy), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls).
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Nick LaBrocca (Chivas USA)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Inactive All-Stars (Note that another six inactive All-Stars will be chosen via player voting):
Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Rafa Marquez (New York Red Bulls), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
Bobby Convey Bio
Convey has been a consistent performer on the left side for the Earthquakes, both in the midfield and at fullback, notching one goal and two assists in 14 games thus far. Convey joined the league with D.C. United in 2000, and was the youngest player in league history at the time. He has 13 goals and 31 assists in his MLS career, and spent four seasons in England with Reading FC. Convey also has extensive international experience, having represented the United States on 46 occasions, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup. This is Convey’s second straight MLS All-Star selection.
Chris Wondolowski Bio
The seven-year MLS veteran is establishing himself as one of the league’s top goal-scorers. He struggled to find playing time early in his MLS career, but won the MLS Golden Boot in 2010 with 18 goals, and has started 2011 strong with six goals in 15 games. The California native had a successful college career at Division II Chico State, and later earned a place on the Earthquakes roster, where he led the reserve team in goals in the 2005 season. At his goal-scoring best in late 2010, he recorded two hat tricks in less than a month, and eventually earned his first call-up to the U.S. national team. This summer, he was named to the U.S. roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. This is Wondolowski’s first MLS All-Star Team selection.
