Alexi Lalas

Alexi Lalas, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and one of the sport’s most recognizable personalities, joined FOX Sports in January 2015 to serve its family of networks as a lead studio and game analyst. In 2017, he was named lead studio analyst for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, providing in-depth analysis from FOX Sports’ state-of-the-art studio in Moscow’s iconic Red Square.

Best known as a standout defender on the U.S. Men’s National Team (U.S. MNT) during the 1994 World Cup, Lalas was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team and the 1998 World Cup squad.

He was the first American to play in Italy’s top division, Serie A, with club Padova, before moving to the MLS in 1996, the league’s inaugural season. One of the first signings for Major League Soccer, Lalas began his MLS career with the New England Revolution. He went on to play for the MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

He enjoyed much of his on-field success with the LA Galaxy, winning the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup in 2002. Following his retirement in 2002, he was appointed President and General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes; he served the same role with the New York MetroStars in 2005 and LA Galaxy in 2008 before joining ESPN.

On the collegiate level, Lalas was a three-time captain at Rutgers and the only soccer player to receive three All-America honors. He helped Rutgers to its first No. 1 ranking in the history of the program during his senior year. He was also named to a trio of Atlantic 10 All-Conference teams and a was a four-time Mid-Atlantic Region choice. During his time “On The Banks,” the Scarlet Knights went a combined 71-15-8 with Atlantic 10 Championships in 1990 and 1991.

Lalas has contributed to FOX Sports’ coverage of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, England’s FA Cup, Major League Soccer, U.S. MNT matches, Concacaf Gold Cups, UEFA European Championship Qualifiers, FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2015, and Copa America in 2016. He also hosts the weekly podcast ALEXI LALAS’ STATE OF THE UNION.

Lalas came to FOX Sports from ESPN, where he was the lead studio analyst for the network’s coverage of the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups™. He also provided analysis on Major League Soccer, U.S. MNT matches and international soccer events including the UEFA European Championships and FIFA Confederations Cups.

One of the best defenders in American soccer history, Lalas was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006. Lalas is also a member of the Rutgers Sports Hall of Fame (1998) and Rutgers Soccer’s 75th All-Anniversary Team. As a broadcaster, Lalas was the first-ever soccer analyst nominated in the Outstanding Sports Personality category at the 39th annual Sports Emmys.