Peter Vagenas
Encyclopedia
Panayiotis Alexiou "Peter" Vagenas (Παναγιωτης Αλεξιου Βαγενας) born February 6, 1978 in Pasadena, California
is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer
.
in La Cañada Flintridge, class of 1996, where he captained the team to a CIF Southern Section Championship his senior year, as well as being named CIF SS divisional player of the year. Vagenas played club soccer for Afshin Ghotbi
. He played college soccer
at UCLA from 1996 to 1999, leading them to the NCAA title
in 1997, and finished his career there with 15 goals and 30 assists in 82 games. He was elected team MVP during his campaign at UCLA.
in the second round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
, and subsequently spent nine years with the team, winning the US Open Cup in 2001 and 2005, and the MLS Cup
in 2002 and 2005, captaining the team to the 2005 double. Vagenas missed the most part of his last two seasons due to injury, but during his time with Galaxy he scored 14 goals and 12 assists in 183 league appearances, plus added two goals and two assists in the playoffs. He was a fan favorite with the Galaxy due to his energetic play and local roots (earning him the nickname "Pasadena Pete").
On November 26, 2008, Vagenas was selected by Seattle Sounders FC
in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft
.
After two seasons with Seattle, Vagenas was traded to Colorado Rapids
on November 22, 2010. After the trade Colorado declined Vagenas's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
.
Vagenas became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft; after a couple of months out of the game he signed for expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC in April 2011.
in the 2000 Summer Olympics
, scoring three goals, all on penalty kicks. He earned his first cap for the senior national team on October 25, 2000 against Mexico
, but injuries have curtailed his appearances at the international level. He has earned three caps to date. He was also the captain and leading scorer in the Pan American games in Canada for the USA national team.
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
High School and College
Vagenas graduated from Saint Francis High SchoolSaint Francis High School (La Cañada Flintridge)
Saint Francis High School is a Catholic preparatory high school for young men, located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, USA. Founded in 1946 on the lands bought from a golf club, it is owned and directed by the Capuchin Friars of the Western American Province of Our Lady of Angels.Its official...
in La Cañada Flintridge, class of 1996, where he captained the team to a CIF Southern Section Championship his senior year, as well as being named CIF SS divisional player of the year. Vagenas played club soccer for Afshin Ghotbi
Afshin Ghotbi
Afshin Ghotbi is an Iranian-American football coach and current head coach of the Japanese side Shimizu S-Pulse in J-League.-Early life:Though his family were from Shiraz, Mr. Afshin Ghotbi was born in the country's capital Tehran...
. He played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at UCLA from 1996 to 1999, leading them to the NCAA title
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
in 1997, and finished his career there with 15 goals and 30 assists in 82 games. He was elected team MVP during his campaign at UCLA.
Professional
Vagenas was drafted by Los Angeles GalaxyLos Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in the second round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft
2000 MLS SuperDraft
The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
, and subsequently spent nine years with the team, winning the US Open Cup in 2001 and 2005, and the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
in 2002 and 2005, captaining the team to the 2005 double. Vagenas missed the most part of his last two seasons due to injury, but during his time with Galaxy he scored 14 goals and 12 assists in 183 league appearances, plus added two goals and two assists in the playoffs. He was a fan favorite with the Galaxy due to his energetic play and local roots (earning him the nickname "Pasadena Pete").
On November 26, 2008, Vagenas was selected by Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft
2008 MLS Expansion Draft
The 2008 MLS Expansion Draft took place on November 26, 2008, and was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team Seattle Sounders FC. They made 10 selections from a pool of players from the other 14 MLS clubs.-Format:...
.
After two seasons with Seattle, Vagenas was traded to Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
on November 22, 2010. After the trade Colorado declined Vagenas's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
The two-stage 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 8, 2010 and December 15, 2010. The Stage 1 Draft of the Re-Entry Process took place on Wednesday, December 8, at 2 p.m. ET via teleconference. The Stage 2 Draft took place on Wednesday, December 15, at 2 p.m. ET...
.
Vagenas became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft; after a couple of months out of the game he signed for expansion side Vancouver Whitecaps FC in April 2011.
International
Vagenas played for the United StatesUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, scoring three goals, all on penalty kicks. He earned his first cap for the senior national team on October 25, 2000 against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, but injuries have curtailed his appearances at the international level. He has earned three caps to date. He was also the captain and leading scorer in the Pan American games in Canada for the USA national team.
Statistics
| Season | Club | Country | Competition | Apps. | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Los Angeles Galaxy Los Angeles Galaxy The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second... |
Major League Soccer Major League Soccer Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada... |
16 | 3 | |
| 2001 | 26 | 3 | |||
| 2002 | 17 | 0 | |||
| 2003 | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2005 | 29 | 5 | |||
| 2006 | 25 | 2 | |||
| 2007 | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2008 | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2009 | Seattle Sounders FC Seattle Sounders FC Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in... |
14 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | | | 16 | 0 | |
| Total | Last Updated | October 26, 2011 | 220 | 14 |
Personal life
Peter was born to Alex and Tassia Vagenas. He and his three siblings, George, Theoni and Dino were raised in Pasadena, California. Vagenas now resides in Seattle along with his wife Mindy.Los Angeles Galaxy
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1): 2000CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2000The 2000 CONCACAF Champions' Cup was the 36th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CONCACAF region , the CONCACAF Champions' Cup...
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(2): 20012001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Four PDL and four USASA teams start.-----Second round:...
, 20052005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-Qualifying round:Teams from USASA and PDL start.-----First round:Teams from USASA, PDL, and USL-2.----... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
MLS Cup (2): 2002, 2005 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Supporters' Shield (1): 2002 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Western Conference Championship (2): 2002, 2005