For 13 years as a professional soccer player, Dunivant a reliable presence along the back line of four different MLS clubs. During his nine-year tenure with the Galaxy, Dunivant routinely shut down dangerous opposing attackers while also providing the Galaxy an outlet in the attack when he pushed forward.
No, he wasn’t always the fastest or the strongest but he was the smartest, and that’s why Dunivant must be considered the best left back in league history.
Dunivant’s resume speaks for itself as the defender is one of the league’s most accomplished players with five MLS Cup championships, four of which came with the Galaxy (2005, 2011, 2012, and 2014) with the first coming in his rookie year with the San Jose Earthquakes (2003). The left back’s tally is second to only Landon Donovan who has won a league record six MLS Cups.
Across his 13 seasons, Dunivant notched 331 appearances across all competitions while tallying seven goals and 21 assists with four teams. The 34-year-old enjoyed the finest year of his career in 2011 when he helped the Galaxy win both MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield en route to his first and only MLS Best XI selection.
To measure just how successful Dunivant has been over the course of career, let’s take a look at some of the numbers of four of the most successful left backs in league history.
Only four players standout as Dunivant’s contemporaries: San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo legend Wade Barrett, former Chicago Fire star Gonzalo Segares, Chicago and Kansas City Wizards defender Diego Gutierrez and longtime D.C. United and San Jose defender Jeff Agoos. Like Dunivant, Barrett, Segares and Gutierrez were career left backs who played consistent roles in successful teams.
Barrett made 262 appearances with six goals and 33 appearances with the Quakes and Dynamo while Segares who spent his entire career with the Fire, playing in 244 league matches with 11 goals and 14 assists. Gutierrez appeared in 313 MLS games with 13 goals and 46 assists during his 13 years in the league.
All three players made more than 250 appearances with double-digit assist numbers but none of the trio came close to Dunivant’s championship pedigree. Of the three comparable left backs, Barrett was the only player to lift an MLS Cup.
Only Agoos comes closest to matching Dunivant’s overall career success with three MLS Best XI selections and five MLS Cups while compiling 283 appearances with 13 goals and 44 assists during his 10 year career. However, unlike Dunivant, Agoos was not a career left back as he saw considerable time at right back and in central defense during his time in the league.
But does Dunivant himself feel that he stacks up as one of the league’s greatest left backs? Well, yes but as the defender says “that’s for others to decide.”
What do you think about where Dunivant stacks up among the left back greats?
Vote in the poll below and leave your thoughts in the comments section.
