PLAYER PROFILE

Carlos Bocanegra

Position: Defence

Height: 6'1

Weight: 12st 2lbs

Date of Birth: 1979-05-25 Alta Loma, California, USA

Carlos Bocanegra

USA international defender Carlos Bocanegra joined Fulham on a free transfer in January 2003, signing a three-year-deal with the club.

The 24-year-old Californian arrived from Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire, where he was out of contract. He'd graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles in 2000 and was quickly signed up by the MLS outfit. In his first season he was voted the league's Rookie of the Year and in the two consequent seasons, he earned a place in the MLS Best XI and the Best Defender accolade.

Manager Chris Coleman told the club's official website: "I have seen Carlos play and I could see that he has great potential. He reads the game well and is very skilful and strong which are the prime attributes of a defender.

"He has a great track record at international level, so I have no doubt he will acclimatise to the Premiership fairly quickly. I am looking forward to him joining us."

During the first six months of Premiership life he played 19 games, picked up three yellow cards and was sent off in only his sixth game - against Aston Villa.

His first full season with Fulham saw him play regularly through the 2004/05 campaign. All in all, he played 35 games and even got upfield to score once - in Fulham's 4-3 defeat at Portsmouth.

However, he was in and out of the team in the 2005/06 season, although he did make it into the USA squad for the 2006 World Cup, playing twice for his country as they went out in the group stages.

He had a more successful 2006/07 season as he scored five goals in thirty starts.