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Alecko Eskandarian and Gerald Goldee

“He did the impossible.” That’s what 2004 MLS Cup MVP Alecko Eskandarian said about his teacher Gerald Goldee. “My high school had lots of really tough kids. In his own quiet way, Mr. Goldee straightened them out. He taught them to respect others by learning to respect themselves. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget.”

Behind Every Famous Person is a Fabulous Teacher.

Alecko Eskandarian and Gerald Goldee

Alecko Eskandarian played his first four MLS seasons for D.C. United, who drafted him #1 overall in the 2003 MLS Superdraft. In 2004, his second season playing, Eskandarian led D.C. United in goal scoring with ten in the regular season and added two assists. His strong play earned him the D.C. United Coaches Award that year and his first spot on the MLS All-Star team. He also was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2004 MLS Cup. After missing most of 2005 with post-concussion syndrome, Eskandarian returned for the 2006 season and scored seven goals and two assists in 22 games. His impressive return to form netted Eskandarian a Commissioner's Pick as an MLS All-Star. After being traded from D.C. United to Toronto FC in December, 2006, Alecko has since played for Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA, and LA Galaxy.

In 2002, while attending the University of Virginia, Alecko was named Soccer America's College Player of the Year, establishing himself as one of the finest players in UVa’s storied soccer history.  Following the 2002 campaign, Alecko was the Athletic Club's Hermman Trophy award winner as the nation’s top player and he earned NSCAA/Adidas NCAA Division First Team All-American honors. He was also rewarded with College Soccer News' First Team All-America honors, the ACC Player of the Year Award, an All-ACC First Team selection, an ACC All-Tournament selection, and the NSCAA/Adidas All-South Atlantic Region First Team.  Following the 2001 season, he was named First Team All-ACC and selected as a NSCAA/Adidas Second Team All-American. He was also named to the NSCAA/Adidas All-South Atlantic Region First Team and All-State Second Team by the Virginia Sports Information Directors.  As a freshman, Alecko was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-ACC selection. He was also selected by Soccer America as the Freshman of the Year and was a Third Team All-American selection. He was named to the 2000 NSCAA/Adidas First Team All-South Atlantic Region squad, selected as the Player of the Year in the state of Virginia and was a First Team All-State selection by VaSID.

Gerald J. Goldee has been a math teacher at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey, since 1976.  He was the recipient of Bergen Catholic’s Outstanding Educator Award for the 1997-1998 school year, and was inducted into the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame in 2000.  During his teaching career, he has taught Algebra, Algebra II-Trigonometry, Geometry, Math 9 Honors, Math 10 Honors, Math 11 Honors, and Calculus Honors.  He has served as a baseball coach, Math Department chairman, Math League moderator, and founding moderator of the school literary magazine, The Talisman.  Mr. Goldee received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, his M.A. and teaching certificate in history from Seton Hall University, and his teaching certificate in mathematics from Montclair State University.

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