Player Details

Name

Sacha Kljestan

Height

6' 1"

Weight

170 lbs

Date of Birth

9.9.1985 (38)

Birthplace

Huntington Beach, California, California USA

Position

Midfielder

Player Category

Designated Player, Generation adidas
Career Summary

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017: Made 32 appearances and 28 starts, tallying 21 points on two goals and 17 assists ... led the league in assists for the second-straight season and became the first player in MLS to achieve the feat ... made MLS season debut against ATL in March 5, recorded assist on game-tying goal ... tallied his 36th career assist as a Red Bull to move into a three-way tie for second all-time in club history against Houston ... recorded the secondary assist on Muyl’s game-winning goal in the 11th minute against Columbus to become the club’s leader in game-winning assists with 12, surpassing Thierry Henry ... tied Henry with 42 career assists as a Red Bull as he tallied two assists against San Jose on July 19 ... he also scored his first goal of the season against San Jose ... set the franchise record in assists with 43, surpassing Henry, on July 22 against Minnesota with one assist ... tallied his 10th assist of the season against Montreal, which is the third consecutive season with at least 10 assists ... recorded his second multi-assist game of the season against NYC in his 200th career MLS match ... tallied his 10th multi-point match as a Red Bull against FC Dallas on Sept. 2 with a goal and an assist ... record an assist in his 200th career MLS start vs. D.C (Sept. 27) ... tallied two assists vs. VAN to become MLS active leader in assists with 84. CCL: Played in both legs of QF series against Vancouver. Open Cup: Started and appeared in all five matches ... scored a goal against Philadelphia on June 28 to force overtime. Playoffs: Started all three matches ... tallied a goal and an assist against Chicago in the Knockout Round on Oct. 25.

2016: Played 31 games, including 29 starts, scoring five goals and setting a franchise record with 20 regular season assists... Named MLS All-Star for second time in his career... MLS Best XI Selection and MVP finalist... Started season opener against Toronto on March 6... Scored first goal of season and assisted on Felipe’s game-tying goal on March 19 vs Houston... Two assists in win over Orlando on April 24... Goal and assist in win over FC Dallas on April 29... Assist at Orlando on May 6 to stretch point streak to four games... Had two assists, both on Dax McCarty goals, against NYC FC on May 21... Two more assists, both on BWP goals, vs Toronto on May 28... Scored twice against Philadelphia on July 17... Goal and two assists, including game-winner, against NYC on July 24.. Assist vs MTL on August 13... Assist at DC on August 21 set new franchise single-season record (15)... Missed Vancouver match after receiving USMNT call for World Cup Qualifiers... Assist at TOR on Sept. 18 (16)... Goal and assist (17) against PHI on Oct 1... Two assists vs CLB on Oct 16... Reached 20 assist mark against PHI on Oct. 23. Playoffs: Started and played full 90 in both playoff matches. Open Cup: Made two appearances, including one start... Scored PK goal against Rochester on June 15.Champions League: Recorded two goals and an assist in three substitute appearances in group stage.

2015: Led the team in assists and tied single-season club record for assists (14) in first season with New York Red Bulls … Tallied 25 points (six goals and 13 assists) in final 19 matches of regular season … Started and played 33 games, totaling eight goals and 14 assists … First start with the Red Bulls in season opener at Sporting Kansas City on March 8 … Made first start at Red Bull Arena in the home opener against D.C. United on March 22 … Scored first goal for New York, game-winner, in 2-0 win over San Jose April 17 … Scored at New England on May 2 … Assisted on Wright-Phillips’ game-winner against NYC FC on May 10 … Missed only regular season match of 2015 against Real Salt Lake on June 24 due to red card suspension … Returned from suspension with two assists at NYC on June 28 … Scored on a PK vs. New York Cosmos in Open Cup on July 1 … Assist vs. New England on July 11 … Third goal of season at Orlando City on July 18 … Scored on PK in Philadelphia and also added an assist on Aug. 1 … Game-winning assist vs. NYC Aug. 9 … Assist vs. Toronto on Aug. 15 … PK goal and assist at Chicago on Aug. 8 … Assist vs. D.C. on Aug. 30 … Another PK goal and assist vs. Chicago on Aug. 26 … Assist vs. Orlando on Sept. 25 … Assist vs. Columbus on Oct. 3 … PK goal vs. Montreal on Oct. 7 … Assist vs. Philadelphia on Oct. 18 … Assist and Supporters’ Shield-clinching goal (PK) at Chicago on Oct. 25 … Game-winning assist in first leg of Eastern Conference Semifinals at D.C.

2010-15: Played more than 150 matches for RSC Anderlecht from 2010-15 prior to signing with New York Red Bulls on Jan. 28, 2015 … Featured in 14 Champions League games, six Champions League qualifiers and 12 Europa League matches … In his first match with Anderlecht, Kljestan started and scored in a 3-1 victory against TNS on July 27 in UEFA Champions League qualifying … Earned his first league goal on Aug. 21 … An injury kept him out of the lineup for some time, but upon his return he appeared in 14 consecutive matches, including starts in Europa League against AEK, Zenit and Hajduk Split … Ended his first season with 25 appearances … Since then, he appeared in 130 Belgian Pro League matches and scored 18 goals.

2010: Started all 10 matches to begin the season for Chivas USA … Played his final MLS match with Chivas on May 29 and signed with RSC Anderlecht of the Belgian Pro League in June … In nearly five seasons with Chivas, Klejstan finished with 15 goals and 33 assists in 114 games played.

2009: Kljestan started 24 of 25 matches and earned five goals and three assists on the year … In a late season MLS Cup Playoffs push, all five of his goals came in the final 10 games of the season … Playoffs: Started in both Quarterfinals matches against Los Angeles Galaxy … Assisted the opening goal of the first-leg which ended in a 2-2 draw.

2008: Named to the MLS Best XI and the All-Star Team, though he missed the All-Star Game due to prior commitments with the United States Olympic Team … Named Chivas USA Budweiser Golden Boot and Chivas USA MVP … In his third year with Chivas USA, Kljestan finished the regular season with five goals and seven helpers … Playoffs: Started in both Quarterfinals matches versus Real Salt Lake … Scored a penalty kick in the first-leg which ended in a 2-2 draw.

2007: Kljestan improved upon his rookie season at Chivas USA and set a club record with 13 assists on the year … His 13 assists tied him for second in MLS with Landon Donovan and trailed MLS leader Steve Ralston by one … Also added four goals to help Chivas finish in first place of the Western Conference … Playoffs: Started in both Quarterfinals matches against Kansas City Wizards.

2006: Selected No. 5 overall in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA … Started 31 of 32 matches in his first season and supplied seven assists which led all MLS rookies … Runner up in MLS Rookie of the Year voting and second on the team in assists … Playoffs: Started one match and appeared in both Quarterfinals games versus Houston Dynamo … He earned the game-winning assist as a substitute in Chivas USA’s first-leg victory.

2005: Appeared in two matches for Orange County Blue Star, scoring one goal … Entered 2006 MLS SuperDraft.

INTERNATIONAL

United States international (46 caps and four goals) … Was a member of the 30-man preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup … Helped the senior U.S. Men’s National Team to its best-ever finish (second) in a FIFA tournament at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa … His hat-trick against Sweden on Jan. 24, 2009 made him only the second player to open his national team scoring account with a hat trick … In 2008, Kljestan was in the squad for all U.S. World Cup Qualifiers … Was a regular in the U.S. U-23 National Team through Olympic Qualifying and was an important part of the team that traveled to China for the Beijing Games in August 2008 … Scored two goals in three matches at the 2008 Olympics … Played for United States U-20 National Team while at Seton Hall University.

COLLEGE

Spent three years at Seton Hall University from 2003-05 … In his three years, he led the Pirates to three NCAA Tournament appearances … He finished with 20 goals and ranks fifth all-time at the school with 28 assists … Set a school record for most assists in a season (15) in 2005 … As a freshman, he made 18 starts at midfield … Finished second on the team in points (14), assists (6), and goals (4) which earned him Seton Hall Freshman Male Athlete of the Year … As a sophomore, he lived up to his Preseason All-Big East Selection by starting in all 22 matches for the Pirates and finishing with seven goals and seven assists … Five of his seven goals were game winners, and he was named First Team All-Region and First Team All-American … He was honored as Big East Offensive Player of the Year, named to the All-Big East First Team, and selected as Third Team All-American … Following his junior season, Kljestan signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS and played USL Premier Development League soccer for Orange County Blue Star.

PERSONAL

Parents are Slavko and Kim … His father immigrated to the United States in 1980 … Sacha's brother, Gordon, was a teammate of Sacha's at Seton Hall and is also a professional soccer player, having played for the New York Red Bulls … He also has a sister, Vanessa.