Regardless of the spelling, or misspelling, the Maryland senior defender’s stock is on the rise after the MLS Combine. One can’t help but wonder if it started too low in the first place. It always does.
Why? At 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, A.J. Delagarza does not pass the eye test, especially as a central defender. Fine. But that never stopped him before.
“To win two national titles in four years is probably the greatest thing I’ve ever accomplished,” said Delagarza two days after winning an NCAA championship. “I won two in youth soccer, but nothing compares to winning two at the college level because of all the high-caliber teams we play against.”
Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski, sitting two seats away, got a particular fire in his eyes when asked about Delagarza’s prospects in the pro game.
“There are very few defenders in today’s game that really fall in love with defending,” said Cirovski. “Look, A.J. would be on any team I would coach at any level anywhere in the world. First of all, he’s a winner. He loves to defend. He plugs holes. He puts his body in harms way. He’s a lot more skillful than people give him credit for. He’s better in the air than people think he is. He’s won us a lot of games. When I was first looking at A.J., I had some of the same concerns until I saw him over a few games, and then I was sold. If any MLS coach is worried about his size, they can talk to me.”
Baltimore Bays Casa Mia head coach Steve Nichols, who coached Delagarza at the club level, says it actually angers him when Delagarza doesn’t get credit for his teams’ achievements. But things may have turned with Delagarza finally getting some credit.
“There’s no guy that deserves it more,” said Nichols. “Teams that win have A.J. Delagarza.”
