Jeff Baicher Clash Forward 1996-1999
Clash Career: The Clash took Baicher in the sixth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He played three-plus seasons with the club, scoring 20 goals over 102 appearances.
Since Then: Baicher was traded to New England and spent the remainder of the 1999 season with the Revs before being traded to the Kansas City Wizards in the offseason. Instead of playing for the Wizards, Baicher opted to retire from MLS. That year, he played for the Bay Area Seals of the USL A-League where we was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year before retiring from playing completely. He went on to join the coaching staffs at Bethany College and Santa Clara University as well as the U18 United States Men’s National Team. He is currently the Director of Coaching for the DeAnza Force Soccer Club.
Paul Bravo Clash Forward/Midfielder 1996
Clash Career: Bravo was drafted by the Clash with the eighth overall pick of the MLS Inaugural Player Draft. In his one season with San Jose, Bravo led the team with 13 goals and was selected an MLS All Star. In December of 1996 he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for current Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear and a second round pick in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft. Bravo spent the next five years with Colorado, scoring 39 goals and being named an All Star twice more before retiring in 2001.
Since Then: Bravo continued to play after his retirement from MLS for Hollywood United F.C. He returned to the Rapids as an assistant in 2002 where he remained for two seasons before joining the UCLA men’s team as an assistant coach. In 2006, he became an assistant coach with the Galaxy and was named their Director of Soccer a year later. Bravo again rejoined Colorado in 2009 as their Technical Director and has remained there ever since.
Eric Wynalda: Clash Forward 1996-1999
Clash Career: Wynalda was allocated to the San Jose Clash in 1996 after signing with Major League Soccer. On April 6, 1996 Wynalda scored the first goal in league history in its inaugural game as the Clash beat D.C. United 1-0. He was then named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He went on to score 21 goals and tally 29 assists for San Jose over three seasons before being traded to the Miami Fusion.
Memories: “I think it's amazing that it's been 20 years. The memory of the first game and the first goal is something I am very proud of. Somebody will always bring it up every year and it always makes us smile. It was a great moment in our history.”
Since Then: Up until 2008, Wynalda led the United States National Team with 34 career goals and was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004. Following his retirement, he managed several teams including Cal FC and the Atlanta Silverbacks. Wynalda is currently a Soccer Analyst for FOX Sports, covering mostly European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and German Bundesliga, as well as the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams.
Trailblazer: “The first game and first season will always be an unforgettable memory for all involved – proud to have been a part of it and shared the experience with my teammates. Can’t wait to see everybody again.”
Looking Forward: “I try to watch everything- it's become a part of the fabric of so many people's lives to support MLS. The teams are fantastic and the fans are truly the best part. My kids have never known a world without a domestic league even though they never really got to see me play in it. Watching this league grow through their eyes is still my favorite part. We are all fans, all seven of us!”
Victor Mella: Clash Forward 1996, 1998
Clash Career: Mella was selected in the ninth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft by the Clash. After appearing in each of the club’s first five games of the inaugural season, he joined the New England Revolution for a short stint. He played in Chile during the 1997 season before returning to the Clash in 1998. He played in a total of 36 games for San Jose, scoring four goals and tallying six assists.
Since Then: After his stint with the Clash, Mella moved to Mexico where he finished his playing career with Club Deportivo Magallanes in 2002.
Altimont Butler: Clash Forward 1996
Clash Career: The Clash drafted Butler 18th overall in the MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He spent one season with the club before being traded to the Columbus Crew after the 1996 campaign.
Since Then: Butler left the Crew after one game to concentrate on his Jamaican National Team commitments in the lead up to the 1998 World Cup. He signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Crunch of the NPSL before retiring after the 1998 season. Since then, Butler has built a successful coaching career in New Jersey and abroad. He most recently was named the assistant coach for the Jamaica U20 National Team in 2015.
Ryshiem Henderson: Clash Forward 1996
Clash Career: Henderson joined the Clash mid-1996 season after leading the California Jaguars to a National Championship as their leading goal scorer. He made three appearances for the Clash.
Memories: “What I remember most was the optimism that everyone had for the league and the talent and leadership that team had with John Doyle, Timmy Martin, Paul Bravo and Eric Wynalda… to name a few.”
Since Then: After his time with San Jose, Henderson had stints with the Connecticut Wolves and San Francisco Bay Seals before retiring from playing professionally. For the past 16 years, Henderson has enjoyed a successful career in the financial services industry where he’s a registered Investment Advisor.
Trailblazer: “Being part of the Inaugural season of course was an honor. Whenever an adventure is started and you have a pioneer situation you can expect to either get the land or the arrows as its been said. I've been a part of many teams and leagues and I am proud to have worn the jersey of a club that represents the city that I grew up in. As a youth, my dreams at night of playing as a professional were only of playing overseas. MLS meant that I and others could now dream a further dream and that is to play for and represent the true home crowd fans.”
Looking Forward: “I'll checkout games still. I'm impressed at how the league has carved out a place in primetime media for a sport that was not always embraced nationally. I believe the success of the league is due to media coverage and the hard work and commitment shown by the early players, organizations and sponsorship. MLS is still a young league but it represents some household names that have played around the world. This league is as diverse in its style of play as it is in the in the people who make up the country and support the league.”
Jeff Betts: Clash Forward 1996
Clash Career: Betts was drafted by the Clash in the seventh round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. One of the premier indoor soccer players in the United States, Betts didn’t feature for San Jose during his brief stint with the club.
Since Then: Betts returned to indoor soccer where he appeared for several clubs until his retirement in 2003. In 2000, Betts was a player-coach for the Utah Freezz and won Coach of the Year that season.
Gabe Garcia: Clash Forward 1996
Clash Career: Garcia was selected by San Jose in the 12th round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. The first player in UNC-Charlotte history to be named an All-American did not make any appearances during his time with the Clash.
Since Then: Garcia returned to the USISL to feature for clubs such as the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers, Richmond Kickers and Minnesota Thunder, among others. He and his brother, Carlos, currently own the El Chaparral Mexican restaurant chain in San Antonio, Texas.
Derick Brownell: Clash Forward 1996-
Clash Career: Brownell was the Clash’s second round pick in the 1996 MLS College Draft out of Santa Clara University. Brownell was a marketing intern for the Clash when he was drafted, after impressing during the MLS Combine. He spent the 1996 season on loan with the California Jaguars of the USISL and did not make any appearances for San Jose.
Since Then: After departing Major League Soccer, Brownell continued to play, signing with the Carolina Dynamo of the USISL (1997), the Charleston Battery of the A-League (1997-00) and the Tucson Fireballs of the USL (2001) .
