# 2006 Major League Soccer season

The 2006 Major League Soccer season was the 11th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 94th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 28th with a national first-division league.
The MetroStars were bought by Austrian company Red Bull and rebranded as the New York Red Bulls.
Due to owner AEG being unable to secure a soccer specific stadium in San Jose, the Earthquakes ceased operations and had their personnel transferred to the expansion Houston Dynamo.
In June, the Chicago Fire moved into their new soccer-specific stadium, Toyota Park, in Bridgeview, Illinois.
The regular season began on April 1, and concluded on October 15. The 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 21, and concluded with MLS Cup 2006 on November 12. Houston marked their inaugural season with a league championship by defeating the New England Revolution on penalties in MLS Cup.

## Overview
### Season format

The season began on April 1 and concluded with MLS Cup on November 12. The 12 teams were split evenly into two conferences. Each team played 32 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their conference four times, and every team in the opposite conference twice.
The top four teams from each conference qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. In the first round, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners. The conference finals were played as a single match, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.
The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. If a team qualified for multiple berths into the Champions' Cup, then additional berths were awarded to the highest overall finishing MLS team(s) not already qualified. Qualification for the inaugural SuperLiga was also awarded to the MLS Cup Champion and Supporters' Shield winner, as well two invited teams, FC Dallas and LA Galaxy.
Automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup was awarded to the top three finishers in each conference. The rest of the U.S.-based MLS teams had to qualify for the remaining two berths via a series of play-in games.

### Stadiums and locations

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Chicago Fire | Toyota Park | 20,000 |
| Chivas USA | Home Depot Center | 27,000 |
| Colorado Rapids | Invesco Field at Mile High | 76,125 |
| Columbus Crew | Columbus Crew Stadium | 22,555 |
| D.C. United | RFK Stadium | 46,000 |
| FC Dallas | Pizza Hut Park | 21,193 |
| Houston Dynamo | Robertson Stadium | 32,000 |
| Kansas City Wizards | Arrowhead Stadium | 81,425 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Home Depot Center | 27,000 |
| New England Revolution | Gillette Stadium | 68,756 |
| New York Red Bulls | Giants Stadium | 80,200 |
| Real Salt Lake | Rice-Eccles Stadium | 45,017 |

### Personnel and sponsorships

| Team | Head coach | Captain | Shirt sponsor |
| Chicago Fire | Dave Sarachan | | Honda |
| Chivas USA | Bob Bradley | | — |
| Colorado Rapids | Fernando Clavijo | | — |
| Columbus Crew | Sigi Schmid | Robin Fraser | — |
| D.C. United | Piotr Nowak | | Sierra Mist |
| FC Dallas | Colin Clarke | | RadioShack |
| Houston Dynamo | Dominic Kinnear | Wade Barrett | — |
| Kansas City Wizards | Bob Gansler | | U.S. Soccer Foundation |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Steve Sampson | | Budweiser |
| New England Revolution | Steve Nicol | | Sierra Mist |
| New York Red Bulls | Mo Johnston | Youri Djorkaeff | Red Bull |
| Real Salt Lake | John Ellinger | Jason Kreis | — |

### Coaching changes

| Team | Outgoing coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming coach | Date of appointment |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Steve Sampson | Fired | June 6, 2006 | Frank Yallop | June 7, 2006 |
| New York Red Bulls | Mo Johnston | Fired | June 27, 2006 | Richie Williams | June 28, 2006 |
| New York Red Bulls | Richie Williams | End of interim period | July 18, 2006 | Bruce Arena | July 18, 2006 |
| Kansas City Wizards | Bob Gansler | Resigned | July 19, 2006 | Brian Bliss | July 19, 2006 |

## Standings
### Eastern Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | D.C. United | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 55 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | New England Revolution | 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 48 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 47 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 4 | New York Red Bulls | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 39 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 5 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 38 | |
| 6 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 33 | |

### Western Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | FC Dallas | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 52 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Houston Dynamo | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 40 | +4 | 46 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Chivas USA | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 43 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 36 | 49 | −13 | 41 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 39 | |
| 6 | Real Salt Lake | 32 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 39 | |

### Overall standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | D.C. United (S) | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 55 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 2 | FC Dallas | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 52 | North American SuperLiga |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 32 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 48 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 47 | |
| 5 | Houston Dynamo (C) | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 40 | +4 | 46 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 6 | Chivas USA | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 43 | |
| 7 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 36 | 49 | −13 | 41 | |
| 8 | New York Red Bulls | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 39 | |
| 9 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 39 | North American SuperLiga |
| 10 | Real Salt Lake | 32 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 39 | |
| 11 | Kansas City Wizards | 32 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 38 | |
| 12 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 33 | |

## MLS Cup Playoffs

| Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference semifinals | Conference finals | Conference finals | Conference finals | MLS Cup | MLS Cup | MLS Cup |
| E1 | D.C. United | 1 | 1 | | | | | | |
| E4 | New York | 0 | 1 | | | | | | |
| E4 | New York | 0 | 1 | E1 | D.C. United | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E1 | D.C. United | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E2 | New England | 1 | | | |
| E3 | Chicago | 1 | 1 (2) | E2 | New England | 1 | | | |
| E2 | New England (p) | 0 | 2 (4) | | | | | | |
| E2 | New England (p) | 0 | 2 (4) | | | | E2 | New England | 1 (3) |
| | | | | | | | W2 | Houston (p) | 1 (4) |
| W1 | Dallas | 2 | 2 (4) | | | | | | | W2 | Houston (p) | 1 (4) |
| W4 | Colorado (p) | 1 | 3 (5) | | | | | | |
| W4 | Colorado (p) | 1 | 3 (5) | W4 | Colorado | 1 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W4 | Colorado | 1 | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W2 | Houston | 3 | | | |
| W3 | Chivas USA | 2 | 0 | W2 | Houston | 3 | | | |
| W2 | Houston | 1 | 2 | | | | | | |

### Conference semifinals

D.C. United advance 2–1 on aggregate.
New England Revolution advance 4–2 on penalties (2–2 aggregate after extra time).
Colorado Rapids advance 5–4 on penalties (4–4 aggregate after extra time).
Houston Dynamo advance 3–2 on aggregate.

### Conference finals

New England Revolution advances 1–0 in single elimination.
Houston Dynamo advances 3–1 in single elimination.

### MLS Cup
## Player statistics
### Goals

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Jeff Cunningham | Real Salt Lake | 16 |
| 2 | Christian Gómez | D.C. United | 14 |
| 2 | Ante Razov | Chivas USA | 14 |
| 4 | Carlos Ruiz | FC Dallas | 13 |
| 5 | Landon Donovan | Los Angeles Galaxy | 12 |
| 6 | Jaime Moreno | D.C. United | 11 |
| 6 | Dwayne De Rosario | Houston Dynamo | 11 |
| 6 | Taylor Twellman | New England Revolution | 11 |
| 6 | Kenny Cooper | FC Dallas | 11 |
| 6 | Brian Ching | Houston Dynamo | 11 |

### Assists

| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| 1 | Brad Davis | Houston Dynamo | 9 |
| 2 | Jeff Cunningham | Real Salt Lake | 8 |
| 2 | Christian Gómez | D.C. United | 8 |
| 2 | José Burciaga Jr. | Kansas City Wizards | 8 |
| 2 | Justin Mapp | Chicago Fire | 8 |
| 2 | Carey Talley | Real Salt Lake | 8 |
| 2 | Ronnie O'Brien | FC Dallas | 8 |
| 2 | Terry Cooke | Colorado Rapids | 8 |
| 9 | Landon Donovan | Los Angeles Galaxy | 7 |
| 9 | Andy Dorman | New England Revolution | 7 |
| 9 | Sasha Victorine | Kansas City Wizards | 7 |

### Clean sheets

| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Matt Reis | New England Revolution | 10 |
| 2 | Kevin Hartman | Los Angeles Galaxy | 9 |
| 3 | Troy Perkins | D.C. United | 8 |
| 4 | Joe Cannon | Colorado Rapids | 7 |
| 4 | Zach Thornton | Chicago Fire | 7 |
| 6 | Preston Burpo | Chivas USA | 5 |
| 6 | Jon Conway | New York Red Bulls | 5 |
| 6 | Brad Guzan | Chivas USA | 5 |
| 6 | Tony Meola | New York Red Bulls | 5 |
| 6 | Pat Onstad | Houston Dynamo | 5 |
| 6 | Bo Oshoniyi | Kansas City Wizards | 5 |
| 6 | Darío Sala | FC Dallas | 5 |

## Awards
### Individual awards

| Award | Player | Club |
| Most Valuable Player | Christian Gómez | D.C. United |
| Defender of the Year | Bobby Boswell | D.C. United |
| Goalkeeper of the Year | Troy Perkins | D.C. United |
| Coach of the Year | Bob Bradley | Chivas USA |
| Rookie of the Year | Jonathan Bornstein | Chivas USA |
| Comeback Player of the Year | Richard Mulrooney | FC Dallas |
| Golden Boot | Jeff Cunningham | Real Salt Lake |
| Goal of the Year | Brian Ching | Houston Dynamo |
| Fair Play Award | Chris Klein | Real Salt Lake |
| Humanitarian of the Year | Michael Parkhurst | New England Revolution |

### Best XI

| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| Troy Perkins, D.C. United | Bobby Boswell, D.C. United José Burciaga Jr., Kansas City Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City | Ricardo Clark, Houston Clint Dempsey, New England Dwayne De Rosario, Houston Christian Gómez, D.C. United Justin Mapp, Chicago | Jeff Cunningham, Salt Lake Jaime Moreno, D.C. United |

## Attendance

| Club | Games | Total | Average |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 16 | 333,016 | 20,814 |
| Chivas USA | 16 | 317,432 | 19,840 |
| Houston Dynamo | 16 | 302,957 | 18,935 |
| D.C. United | 16 | 291,442 | 18,215 |
| Real Salt Lake | 16 | 261,855 | 16,366 |
| FC Dallas | 16 | 239,714 | 14,982 |
| New York Red Bulls | 16 | 233,112 | 14,570 |
| Chicago Fire | 16 | 225,775 | 14,111 |
| Columbus Crew | 16 | 212,699 | 13,294 |
| Colorado Rapids | 16 | 192,894 | 12,056 |
| New England Revolution | 16 | 188,569 | 11,786 |
| Kansas City Wizards | 16 | 177,322 | 11,083 |
| Totals | 192 | 2,976,787 | 15,504 |