Marco Antonio Etcheverry.

Marco Antonio Etcheverry. Marco Antonio Etcheverry, born in 1970, Bolivian soccer player, who led D.C. United to Major League Soccer (MLS) championships in 1996, 1997, and 1999. The talented midfielder rose to worldwide prominence during the 1990s with his ability to score goals and set up goal-scoring chances for teammates. Etcheverry's nickname is El Diablo (Spanish for "the Devil"). A Bolivian cartoonist pinned the name on him because of his crafty play and because "he plays like a man possessed." Marco Antonio Etcheverry was born in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. At the age of eight he enrolled at the Tahuichi Soccer Academy, an institution in his hometown that combines academics and athletics. In 1987, at age 17, Etcheverry signed to play professionally for the Destroyers, a Bolivian soccer club. He moved between clubs in Bolivia and, briefly, Spain before gaining international acclaim in 1993 as a member of a dominant Chilean team, Colo Colo. That year he also led the Bolivian national team as it qualified for the 1994 World Cup. Etcheverry played only briefly in the World Cup because of an injury and because he was ejected from Bolivia's first game. After the World Cup he moved to the United States to play for D.C. United. In 1996 the team won the first-ever league championship, called the MLS Cup. Etcheverry led the league in assists during the regular season, with 19, and earned the championship game's most valuable player (MVP) award. Etcheverry helped D.C. United reach the MLS Cup finals again in 1997, when the team defeated the Colorado Rapids, and 1998, when the team lost to the Chicago Fire. In 1998 Etcheverry earned the league MVP award. After the 2003 season Etcheverry retired from the United. Contributed By: Steve Davis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.