Jonathan Bornstein

Football player infobox| playername= Jonathan Bornstein
fullname = Jonathan Rey Bornstein
nickname = "Jon, Jonny, El Conejo"


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|11|7
cityofbirth = Torrance, CA
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=9
currentclub = Chivas USA
clubnumber = 13
position = Left Back / Midfielder
youthyears =
2005
youthclubs = Cal Poly Broncos
years = 2006–
clubs = Chivas USA
caps(goals) = 070 0(8)
nationalyears = 2007–
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 012 0(1)
pcupdate = 10 November 2007
ntupdate = 10 November 2007MedalSilver | 2005 Maccabiah | Football

Jonathan Rey Bornstein (born November 7, 1984 in Torrance, California) is an American soccer defender and midfielder, who currently plays for Chivas USA of Major League Soccer.

High School

Jonathan Bornstein attended Los Alamitos High School where he was a starter on varsity for all 4 years. In addition to being an outstanding player, Bornstein excelled in academics.

College

He started his college soccer career at Cal Poly Pomona [cite web | title=Jonathan Bornstein | url=http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t120&player=bornstein_j&playerId=bor453785&statType=current |format=HTML| work= Chivas USA| accessdate=2008-09-11] , and played there for two years before transferring to UCLA for the 2004 season.

MLS

He was taken by Chivas in the fourth round at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. A forward in college, he was converted to a left back by Chivas coach Bob Bradley and was his team's surprising starter at the position when the season opened. Injuries and suspensions forced Bornstein back into an attacking role for Chivas USA's June 3 match against FC Dallas, where the rookie scored his first MLS goal. He continued his fine play in the back and also contributed to the attack during the rest of the season, finishing the year with four assists and six goals, leading all rookies. He was rewarded for his fine form by winning the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2008, he sufferred a knee injury throughout the spring. When he came back, Chivas coach Preki began to employ him in an attacking capacity, which Bornstein trained for in his youth. [cite news |last=Connoly |first=Matt |title=Give & Go: Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein |date= June 21, 2008 |publisher=Goal.com |url=http://china.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=745880 |accessdate=2008-06-23 ]

In summer 2008, Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv was reportedly interested in Bornstein [cite news |title= מבוי סתום למכבי בגזרת המגן השמאלי |publisher = Ynet |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3584249,00.html |accessdate= 2008-08-18] . News stories claimed that the offer involved a transfer fee of $750,000, and would increase the player's salary five-fold, to around $500,000 a season. Bornstein was apparently unenthusiastic, fearing that such a move could cost him his place in the US National team.

National team

Bornstein got his first cap, and first goal on an assist from Justin Mapp, for the US national team on January 20, 2007 against Denmark. As 2007 continued, Bornstein became the first choice left back for Bob Bradley, now at the helm of the national team. He played for the USA in Copa América 2007.

International goals

Personal life

Bornstein comes from a mixed Jewish and Mexican heritage and he told ESPN "Just experiencing both cultures, sometimes I felt like I didn't know where I belonged. It's still a soul-searching kind of thing, trying to figure out exactly where you come from or which heritage you relate to. I still kind of feel lost even to this day, but it's something that I just deal with, and it makes me a stronger person having both of those heritages." [cite news |last= Carlisle |first = Jeff |title= Bornstein fashions a new identity |publisher = ESPN Soccernet |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=373407&root=mls&&cc=5901 |accessdate= 2008-06-23] Bornstein played in the 2005 Maccabiah Games, in Israel, representing USA in soccer. He recently purchased a house in Rossmoor, California.

See also

* List of current MLS players

References

External links

* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=8082&pn=Jonathan_Rey_Bornstein Jonathan Bornstein Stats and biography]