Jimmy Conrad
A late-blooming defender who became the heart of MLS backlines and a surprise World Cup starter for the United States.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American soccer player·Birthday: February 12·Generation X
Biography
Jimmy Conrad's path to professional soccer was anything but straightforward. Undrafted out of UCLA, he clawed his way up from the lower-tier A-League, a journey that forged a tenacious and intelligent defensive style. His breakthrough came with the San Jose Earthquakes and later Sporting Kansas City, where his leadership, aerial dominance, and knack for crucial goals made him a fan favorite. Conrad's cerebral play earned him the 2005 MLS Defender of the Year award and four Best XI selections, anchoring some of the league's best teams. His persistence paid off internationally, earning 27 caps and a starting role for the U.S. in the 2006 World Cup, a crowning achievement for a player who defined resilience.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jimmy was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jimmy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2005 MLS Defender of the Year award.
- Selected to the MLS Best XI four times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008).
- Earned 27 caps for the U.S. Men's National Team and started in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Won the MLS Cup with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2003.
- Scored 17 goals in his MLS career, a notable tally for a defender.
Did You Know?
He was a contestant on the game show 'The Price Is Right' in 2001, winning a trip to Puerto Vallarta.
Conrad majored in history at UCLA and is known for his articulate analysis in his post-playing media career.
He began his professional career with the San Diego Flash of the A-League after going undrafted by MLS.
He hosted the popular YouTube series 'KickTV' for Major League Soccer.
“I wasn't drafted, so I had to prove I belonged every single day.”
