1. Overview
Jeffrey Adam Larentowicz is an American former soccer player who primarily played as a midfielder and later as a defender. Known for his consistency, adept passing, and strong defensive contributions, he had a distinguished 16-year career in Major League Soccer. Larentowicz was a key player in two MLS Cup-winning teams: the Colorado Rapids in 2010 and Atlanta United in 2018. His career also included significant stints with New England Revolution, Chicago Fire, and LA Galaxy. He also represented the United States national team in several friendly matches.
2. Early Life and Background
Jeffrey Adam Larentowicz was born on August 5, 1983, in Pasadena, California, United States. His parents are of Polish descent.
2.1. Youth and College Career
Before his professional career, Larentowicz excelled in youth and college soccer. He played for Chestnut Hill Academy, helping the traditional Philadelphia-area power secure back-to-back Interacademic League championships in 2000 and 2001. He also captained the FC Delco Arsenal team, leading them to two USYSA National Championships in 2002 and 2003.
From 2001 to 2004, Larentowicz played college soccer for Brown University. During his four seasons with the Brown Bears, he appeared in 66 matches, scoring 7 goals and providing 6 assists. His contributions helped Brown secure two Ivy League Championships.
3. Professional Career
Larentowicz's professional soccer career spanned 16 years, primarily in Major League Soccer, where he played for five different clubs.
3.1. New England Revolution
Larentowicz began his professional journey after being selected by New England Revolution in the fourth round, 45th overall, of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. His first season in 2005 saw limited playing time, with only one minute played for the first team. However, in 2006, he gained more opportunities due to injuries within the squad, starting 19 games and making an additional seven appearances. He scored his first-ever MLS goal on August 27, 2006, in a home game against the Columbus Crew. By 2007, Larentowicz had firmly established himself as a regular starter for the Revolution, playing all but two games as a defensive midfielder alongside Shalrie Joseph. During his time with New England Revolution, he also had a loan spell with Seacoast United Phantoms in 2005, where he made 5 appearances.
3.2. Colorado Rapids
On January 21, 2010, Larentowicz was traded to the Colorado Rapids along with Wells Thompson. In exchange, the Revolution received Preston Burpo, Cory Gibbs, a 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick, and allocation money. Larentowicz quickly became a crucial part of the Rapids squad, serving as a starting midfielder for the team that went on to win the 2010 MLS Cup Championship. In November 2011, following a recommendation from United States national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Larentowicz trained with Premier League club Bolton Wanderers.
3.3. Chicago Fire
On January 16, 2013, Larentowicz was traded to Chicago Fire. The Fire acquired him and a second-round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for a first-round selection in the same draft, allocation money, and a 2013 international roster slot. In the 2013 season, Larentowicz proved to be an effective addition to the Fire squad, appearing in 32 games, scoring two goals, and contributing four assists. He was frequently entrusted with the captaincy when regular captain Logan Pause was absent from the starting lineup. Following Pause's retirement in 2014, Larentowicz became the full-time captain of the Chicago Fire. His option was not picked up by Chicago at the end of the 2015 MLS season, making him a free agent.
3.4. LA Galaxy
As a free agent, Larentowicz signed with LA Galaxy on January 6, 2016. He made his debut for the club on April 23, 2016, in a match against Real Salt Lake, which the Galaxy won 5-2, ending Real Salt Lake's undefeated streak that season. On July 4, 2016, Larentowicz scored his first goal for the Galaxy in a 2-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps. During his time at LA Galaxy, he also made one appearance on loan for LA Galaxy II in 2016.
3.5. Atlanta United
In December 2016, Larentowicz signed as a free agent with Atlanta United, joining the team for their inaugural 2017 season. He scored his first goal for Atlanta United on September 24, 2017, in a 2-0 win against Montreal Impact. In December 2017, Atlanta United re-signed Larentowicz for the 2018 season. He played a crucial role as a starting defender in Atlanta United's 2018 MLS Cup-winning side. On November 24, 2020, Atlanta United announced that Larentowicz's contract had expired and he would not be returning to the roster for the 2021 season.
4. International Career
On December 22, 2010, Larentowicz received his first call-up to train with the senior U.S. national team. He made his international debut approximately a month later, participating in a friendly match against the Chile national team. On August 25, 2011, it was announced that Larentowicz would play for the U.S. national team in two friendly matches against the Costa Rica national team and the Belgium national team. Overall, he earned 4 caps for the national team.
5. Playing Style and Nicknames
Larentowicz was widely regarded as one of the most consistent midfielders in Major League Soccer throughout his career. He was highly adept at passing and maintaining possession, and his defensive contributions, including tackling, tracking opponents, and providing defensive cover, were considered well above average. His versatility allowed him to play effectively both as a midfielder and later in his career as a defender.
He earned several notable nicknames during his career. After scoring an acrobatic goal against Chicago Fire on May 6, 2007, he acquired the nickname Ginja (or Ginger) Ninja. Due to his role as a defensive midfielder who occasionally ventured into the offensive half of the pitch, Paul Mariner referred to him as der Kaiser, a reference to the legendary German footballer Franz Beckenbauer. He was also commonly known as "Big Red."
6. Career Statistics
The following table details Jeff Larentowicz's professional club career statistics as of November 23, 2020:
| Club | League | Season | League | MLS Playoffs | US Open Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| New England Revolution | MLS | 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2007 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | 36 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2008 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 4 | ||
| 2009 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| Total | 111 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 141 | 10 | ||
| Colorado Rapids | MLS | 2010 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 36 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 2011 | 34 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 8 | ||
| 2012 | 32 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 33 | 3 | |||||||||||
| Total | 96 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 110 | 15 | ||
| Chicago Fire FC | MLS | 2013 | 32 | 2 | ||||||||
| 4 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 36 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 33 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 37 | 7 | |||||||||||
| 2015 | 29 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 30 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Total | 94 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 15 | ||
| LA Galaxy | MLS | 2016 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| Atlanta United FC | MLS | 2017 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 35 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 34 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 38 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 19 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |||||||
| Total | 113 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 131 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 437 | 42 | 30 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 515 | 45 | ||
7. Honors
Jeff Larentowicz achieved significant team and individual honors throughout his professional career:
- New England Revolution
- U.S. Open Cup: 2007
- North American SuperLiga: 2008
- Colorado Rapids
- MLS Cup: 2010
- Atlanta United
- MLS Cup: 2018
- Campeones Cup: 2019
- U.S. Open Cup: 2019
- Individual
- MLS 400 Games Club
8. Retirement
Jeff Larentowicz officially announced his retirement from professional soccer on April 5, 2021, concluding a distinguished 16-year career in Major League Soccer.