The New York Red Bulls have had some interesting players over the years. While many have been excellent servants to the club and won the hearts of fans, only a select few could be considered legends.
It feels mean to leave out certain names, but the list of debatable legends would be as long as my arm, so I have stuck to a hand-picked few who are without question worthy of the label as a legend.
Players like Tim Howard, Tony Meola, Sacha Kljestan, Tab Ramos, Amado Guevara, and Giovanni Savarese are all fondly remembered by supporters and deserve an honorable mention, but the names on the list below have New York Red Bulls in their DNA.
6 – Juan Pablo Angel – 2007-2010
Juan Pablo Angel had spent 7 years playing for Aston Villa in England’s Premier League before making the journey across the Atlantic to join New York Red Bulls. That top-flight experience enabled him to make an immediate impact in MLS, scoring 20 goals in his first season. He was also selected for the MLS Best XI, making him one of the most talked about signings for years.
He was a prolific goal scorer, equally adept at finding the net from powerful free-kicks, clinical headers, and composed finishes in the box. His ability to create magic moments made him a very exciting player to watch, and fans loved him for his skills and class. He was the top goal scorer for the Red Bulls for all 4 seasons he played in New York.
His second season at the club is still the Red Bulls’ most successful MLS Cup campaign. They lost 3-1 in the final, a game he captained, but they wouldn’t have got there at all without him – he scored in both Conference Semi-Finals.
Angel was the Red Bulls record all time goal scorer when he left the club. It wasn’t a record he held for long thanks to the arrival of Bradley Wright-Phillips, but his exploits in the red and white jersey are still talked about today.
5 – Dax McCarty – 2011-2016
The engine of the Red Bulls’ midfield during their most successful period in history, Dax McCarty was always going to have a place on this list.
He was the heart and soul of the club. A tireless old fashioned box to box midfielder, he anchored the team, broke up opposition play, and initiated attacks demonstrating masterful positioning and distribution.
Fans loved him for his tireless work rate, his tenacity, and his commitment – the 15 goals and 27 assists he notched up during his 169 appearances didn’t hurt either. He ranks 4th in all time appearances for the franchise.
While wearing the Red Bulls jersey, McCarty won two Supporter’s Shield trophies, won the Eastern Conference thrice, and saw two MLS Cup semi-finals. He also wore the captain’s armband from 2015 onwards.
McCarty was traded to Chicago Fire in 2017, much to the dismay of Red Bulls fans who felt he had been mistreated. He always gave the impression he would have liked to stay, and continued to show respect and admiration to the club where he spent 6 seasons of his career.
He left as one of the most beloved captains in team history and a symbol of their transition to MLS Cup contenders.
4 – Luis Robles – 2012-2019
The New York Red Bulls have been blessed with many dependable goalkeepers over the years, but none more reliable than Luis Robles.
He made a staggering 281 appearances in all competitions for the club, a franchise record, and kept 72 clean sheets, another franchise record. Neither are likely to be matched any time soon.
Robles was between the sticks for all three Supporter’s Shield winning seasons, he’s the clubs longest serving team captain, and widely recognised as one of the most reliable keepers in MLS history. All that, and the Red Bulls signed him as an unheralded free transfer.
His durability, shot-stopping ability, and calm demeanour under pressure all made him a cornerstone of the Red Bulls’ success during the 2010s. His consistency and match fitness were legendary. In fact, he also holds the MLS record for the most consecutive games played – 183 between 2012 and 2018. He never missed a single game in that time. It’s one of the longest playing streaks in global soccer.
He made a lot of key saves in his 8 seasons at the club, with a penalty save ratio of 17.7% which is considered above average.
His skill, dependability, and genuine love for the club made him a firm fan favourite, with supporters giving him the nickname, ‘The Ironman’. Robles retired from soccer in 2019, still in a New York Red Bulls jersey.
3 – Mike Petke – 1998-2002 and 2009-2010 (Coach 2011-2015)
Mike Petke had two stints playing for the Red Bulls, and he even came back as a coach once he had hung up his boots.
He was the quintessential club man, a homegrown talent known for his deep connection with the fan base and loyalty towards the club. You could argue that Petke is everything it means to be a club legend.
He fully embodied what it meant to play for the club. He was a fighter, gritty, disciplined, and with a fiery personality. He provided stability at the back and was a respected leader.
He played as a defender so never got the star treatment that goal scorers enjoy, but he was there in 1998 long before the Metrostars to Red Bull rebrand so knows the club better than most. He came back after the name change and then transitioned into management, first as assistant coach and then becoming head coach and winning the Red Bulls’ first Supporter’s Trophy in 2013.
He was fired in 2015, much to the surprise of many, who felt he had done more than enough to deserve an extension. All in all he spent 12 years working at the club on and off the pitch, and fans have an awful lot to thank him for.
2 – Thierry Henry – 2010-2014
Although Thierry Henry was 33 when he joined the Red Bulls and no longer in his prime, he still had plenty to offer in the MLS. He was a global superstar too, having played for giant clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona and Juventus. Oh, and he was also a World Cup winner. This brought worldwide attention to the club and plenty of financial benefits too. Henry was the face of the New York Red Bulls and his arrival was an incredibly exciting time for fans.
This wasn’t just about money though. After joining part way through 2010, Henry proved his loyalty to the Red Bulls by sticking around for 4 more seasons before retiring.
Henry displayed his trademark style and skill on the pitch, and his desire to perform for the club and win games was never in question. He demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities, as well as netting 52 goals and registering 42 assists in 135 games. His first season with the club was also their first top-place finish in the Eastern Conference since 2000.
The start of Thierry Henry’s 4.5 year spell at NYRB was also the start of their most successful period in history. Henry would retire before they reached their peak, but he was instrumental in setting the wheels in motion. He also led the team to their first Supporter’s Shield trophy in 2013, and turned them into consistent playoff contenders.
Then there was his Olimpico – one of the greatest moments in MLS history:
Although he was a goalscorer, he was also an exceptional playmaker for the Red Bulls. His 42 assists – still a club record – are evidence of this. He was a real team player, a fantastic captain, and brought out the best in those around him.
Henry was New York Red Bulls’ first truly world class player.
1 – Bradley Wright-Phillips – 2013-2019 and 2022
There could only be one man at the top of this list. Bradley Wright-Phillips, the son of ex-England international and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, found his best form with the Red Bulls.
He joined towards the end of the 2013 season, and on a free transfer no less. At the time, the Red Bulls were experiencing their greatest ever form. They had the best regular season record in the whole league for the first time, winning the Supporter’s Shield – their first trophy. However, they remained perpetual quarter-finalists in the MLS Cup.
Wright-Phillips helped the club to two more Supporter’s Shields in 2015 and 2018. He also helped them reach the semi-finals of the MLS Cup on three occasions as well as being Runners Up in the US Open in 2017. But top silverware remained out of reach. Nevertheless, Wright-Phillips time with the Red Bulls was also their most successful period since they were formed. This is not a coincidence.
He is the all time top goal scorer for the Red Bulls with 126 goals in 240 games, plus 35 assists on top. He was their top scorer for 5 seasons in a row between 2014-2018, including an incredible 31 goals during his first full season at the club. He won two Golden Boots, is the fastest MLS player in history to reach 100 goals (it took him just 159 games), and was named in the MLS Best XI three times too.
Fans will never forget that hat-trick in 2017 during a playoff game against the Chicago Fire, or his uncanny ability to score against rivals New York City FC. However, it was his professionalism and humility despite being a star player that really endeared him to supporters.
After a few final seasons elsewhere, Wright-Phillips decided his playing days were done in 2021. As a mark of respect and gratitude, the Red Bulls re-signed him on a 1 day contract just so he could retire as a Red Bull player. Ain’t that something?