MLS Team Ages: Minutes Played by Age Group

For much more on this subject, see the original MLS team ages post. It includes the average age of every MLS team in league history. Age Breakdown First, I wanted to look at the leaguewide distribution of ages. The percentages here are based on the total number of minutes played in MLS history by every player, using on the age of players on July 1st of each season (the midway point). That's the age I consider each player to be for a specific season (it's far too much work to figure out each player's age on each specific match day). Ages weren't rounded for this breakdown, so for example every player who was 19 point something was considered a 19 year old, whether it was 19.01, 19.49, 19.77 or whatever. 15 0.03% 16 0.08% 17 0.27% 18 0.44% 19 0.66% 20 1.78% 21 3.62% 22 7.40% 23 10.14% 24 9.13% 25 8.88% 26 8.58% 27 7.53% 28 6.88% 29 6.75% 30 6.33% 31 5.85% 32 5.02% 33 3.74% 34 2.56% 35 1.72% 36 0.90% 37 0.77% 38 0.42% 39 0.31% 40 0.15% 41 0.06% 42 0.01% In chart form: It's interesting to see that the number peaks at 23, because previously we learned that the average age of every minute played in league history is 27.37 years old. Obviously it's because of the age of rookies coming out of college (and the lack of younger options). I would love to look into how the Premiership compares to MLS, if there hasn't been a similar study (has there?). I'd expect much more playing time for teens, although I don't know if there would be a huge difference in the average age overall. Now, let's look at the MLS teams which have used the most young and old players. There's some overlap between these lists and the youngest/oldest teams I posted about yesterday, but they're not quite the same. Top Five Teen Teams (the average MLS team has gotten 1.48% of their minutes from teens) 5) 2004 Columbus Crew (9.51%) Two young rookies accounted for this ranking: 19 year old Chad Marshall earned a starting role, and 17 year old Danny Szetela was acquired mid-season and saw a bit of action. 4) 2006 Columbus Crew (10.78%) Three teenagers on this team, with 19 year old Eddie Gaven starting full time in his first season for the Crew. Szetela and Tim Ward also saw some part-time action. 3) 2004 Metrostars (13.86%) Gaven and Mike Magee were important players in their sophomore years. Also ranks as the youngest team in league history (24.71 years) by a good margin. 2) 2002 DC United (13.93%) Four teens on the team, though as a whole they played fewer minutes than the last entry did. It's just that 2002 was a shorter, 28 game season. Bobby Convey started, while Justin Mapp, Santino Quaranta, and Eliseo Quintanilla also contributed. 1) 2005 Metrostars (20.77%) The largest teen percentage of any team, though they were much older (and better) than their record-setting 2004 squad. That's because of the addition of 30-somethings Jeff Agoos, Youri Djorkaeff, Tony Meola, and Ante Razov. Anyway, Michael Bradley and Eddie Gaven were starters, while Abbe Ibrahim and Tim Ward also saw some action. And don't forget the fifth teen (though surely you already have), Danilo da Silva and his 62 minutes. Top Five Over-30 Teams (the average MLS team has gotten 27.82% of their minutes from 30+ players) 5) 2008 Toronto FC (49.94%) This year's TFC team is also in the top ten (though the overall age was a year lower). Brennan, Cunningham, Dichio, Guevara, Marshall, Robert, Robinson, Sutton, Teliby, and Titus comprised the O-30 group. 4) 2002 Colorado Rapids (51.42%) As you may have seen yesterday, they're also the oldest team in league history. 3) 2001 Dallas Burn (52.60%) Six regular starters over the age of 30: Dade, Deering, Farrer, Graziani, Pareja, and Rodriguez, though all were under 33. Eck and Kubik also were 30+ but didn't see as much time. 2) 2001 Miami Fusion (53.20%) Also the second oldest team in league history. They really had something special there. 1) 2008 Houston Dynamo (54.90%) Also the ninth oldest team in league history. Seven of eleven starters were 30+. Down to 31.84% this season, despite almost all the same players back. The team with the fewest O-30 minutes? That would be 1996 LA, where Andrew Shue's 96 minutes were the only such ones for their whole team - a total of 0.30%. Tough to beat that. Minutes Played by Age Group: Team by Team List 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-42 20-29 30+ CHI 1998 0.00% 39.70% 16.83% 43.47% 0.00% 0.00% 56.53% 43.47% CHI 1999 0.00% 16.28% 40.47% 28.47% 14.78% 0.00% 56.75% 43.25% CHI 2000 3.36% 28.04% 50.71% 7.43% 10.46% 0.00% 78.75% 17.89% CHI 2001 7.89% 30.36% 46.89% 5.79% 9.07% 0.00% 77.25% 14.86% CHI 2002 0.33% 42.35% 44.75% 0.70% 11.88% 0.00% 87.10% 12.58% CHI 2003 4.92% 41.54% 46.13% 7.41% 0.00% 0.00% 87.67% 7.41% CHI 2004 6.99% 37.06% 44.12% 11.83% 0.00% 0.00% 81.18% 11.83% CHI 2005 0.51% 46.30% 18.39% 34.80% 0.00% 0.00% 64.69% 34.80% CHI 2006 0.00% 53.17% 14.70% 28.04% 4.10% 0.00% 67.87% 32.13% CHI 2007 0.00% 44.12% 24.62% 31.27% 0.00% 0.00% 68.73% 31.27% CHI 2008 0.00% 27.18% 34.75% 21.25% 16.82% 0.00% 61.92% 38.08% CHI 2009 0.00% 36.83% 32.80% 18.83% 11.55% 0.00% 69.63% 30.37% CHV 2005 0.02% 47.06% 32.37% 12.41% 8.15% 0.00% 79.42% 20.56% CHV 2006 0.07% 50.45% 13.41% 27.54% 8.53% 0.00% 63.86% 36.07% CHV 2007 0.05% 52.16% 17.75% 22.75% 7.28% 0.00% 69.92% 30.04% CHV 2008 2.00% 48.13% 24.41% 21.81% 3.65% 0.00% 72.54% 25.46% CHV 2009 1.12% 35.05% 25.49% 23.62% 14.35% 0.38% 60.54% 38.34% CLB 1996 0.00% 38.79% 31.67% 29.53% 0.00% 0.00% 70.47% 29.53% CLB 1997 0.00% 41.90% 28.92% 25.04% 4.14% 0.00% 70.82% 29.18% CLB 1998 0.00% 21.74% 48.77% 23.13% 6.36% 0.00% 70.51% 29.49% CLB 1999 0.00% 20.98% 47.85% 19.26% 11.91% 0.00% 68.83% 31.17% CLB 2000 0.00% 17.66% 48.20% 25.93% 8.20% 0.00% 65.87% 34.13% CLB 2001 0.00% 28.60% 39.97% 28.73% 2.70% 0.00% 68.57% 31.43% CLB 2002 0.00% 38.71% 43.82% 13.16% 4.32% 0.00% 82.53% 17.47% CLB 2003 0.00% 15.33% 60.99% 23.68% 0.00% 0.00% 76.32% 23.68% CLB 2004 9.51% 26.89% 41.36% 13.75% 8.50% 0.00% 68.24% 22.25% CLB 2005 3.53% 49.47% 12.92% 25.84% 8.24% 0.00% 62.39% 34.08% CLB 2006 10.78% 34.54% 39.86% 14.81% 0.00% 0.00% 74.40% 14.81% CLB 2007 0.00% 39.07% 36.42% 18.25% 6.26% 0.00% 75.50% 24.50% CLB 2008 0.00% 39.68% 36.93% 13.56% 9.83% 0.00% 76.61% 23.39% CLB 2009 0.00% 50.07% 30.94% 12.85% 6.15% 0.00% 81.01% 18.99% COL 1996 0.00% 25.69% 42.10% 25.67% 6.55% 0.00% 67.79% 32.21% COL 1997 0.00% 22.03% 59.31% 18.66% 0.00% 0.00% 81.34% 18.66% COL 1998 0.00% 25.05% 47.14% 27.81% 0.00% 0.00% 72.19% 27.81% COL 1999 0.00% 28.07% 22.71% 49.22% 0.00% 0.00% 50.78% 49.22% COL 2000 0.06% 44.95% 20.90% 34.08% 0.00% 0.00% 65.85% 34.08% COL 2001 0.74% 24.73% 30.96% 39.32% 4.25% 0.00% 55.69% 43.57% COL 2002 0.00% 25.67% 22.91% 33.89% 8.72% 8.81% 48.58% 51.42% COL 2003 0.00% 36.36% 23.81% 32.14% 7.69% 0.00% 60.17% 39.83% COL 2004 0.00% 40.44% 35.18% 24.39% 0.00% 0.00% 75.61% 24.39% COL 2005 0.40% 37.15% 49.68% 11.38% 1.38% 0.00% 86.84% 12.76% COL 2006 0.00% 33.01% 38.60% 28.39% 0.00% 0.00% 71.61% 28.39% COL 2007 0.00% 28.54% 30.51% 39.17% 1.78% 0.00% 59.05% 40.95% COL 2008 0.00% 30.25% 45.68% 20.12% 3.95% 0.00% 75.92% 24.08% COL 2009 0.00% 13.14% 71.84% 11.69% 3.34% 0.00% 84.97% 15.03% DAL 1996 0.92% 15.30% 50.57% 27.80% 5.40% 0.00% 65.87% 33.20% DAL 1997 0.00% 26.27% 47.26% 26.25% 0.22% 0.00% 73.53% 26.47% DAL 1998 0.00% 17.03% 52.27% 26.20% 4.50% 0.00% 69.30% 30.70% DAL 1999 0.00% 19.48% 50.64% 28.19% 1.68% 0.00% 70.13% 29.87% DAL 2000 0.00% 30.97% 36.63% 32.34% 0.07% 0.00% 67.59% 32.41% DAL 2001 6.51% 12.74% 28.16% 48.83% 3.77% 0.00% 40.90% 52.60% DAL 2002 8.45% 17.16% 43.61% 30.78% 0.00% 0.00% 60.77% 30.78% DAL 2003 7.69% 39.81% 24.12% 28.37% 0.00% 0.00% 63.93% 28.37% DAL 2004 0.36% 34.81% 35.65% 25.47% 3.71% 0.00% 70.46% 29.18% DAL 2005 3.61% 34.50% 35.92% 23.92% 2.04% 0.00% 70.43% 25.96% DAL 2006 0.04% 36.42% 30.03% 32.37% 1.14% 0.00% 66.46% 33.50% DAL 2007 1.48% 45.21% 37.70% 13.78% 1.82% 0.00% 82.91% 15.61% DAL 2008 1.40% 51.37% 18.67% 28.57% 0.00% 0.00% 70.03% 28.57% DAL 2009 2.46% 41.85% 21.53% 34.16% 0.00% 0.00% 63.37% 34.16% DC 1996 0.00% 26.62% 68.53% 4.85% 0.00% 0.00% 95.15% 4.85% DC 1997 0.00% 20.62% 62.23% 17.15% 0.00% 0.00% 82.85% 17.15% DC 1998 0.00% 31.59% 48.04% 20.37% 0.00% 0.00% 79.63% 20.37% DC 1999 0.00% 26.81% 40.82% 32.37% 0.00% 0.00% 67.63% 32.37% DC 2000 5.61% 27.89% 29.33% 37.16% 0.00% 0.00% 57.22% 37.16% DC 2001 7.46% 47.01% 18.00% 25.11% 2.42% 0.00% 65.01% 27.53% DC 2002 13.93% 24.40% 37.11% 24.56% 0.00% 0.00% 61.51% 24.56% DC 2003 2.38% 33.00% 49.01% 12.69% 2.91% 0.00% 82.01% 15.61% DC 2004 5.24% 30.80% 46.55% 10.35% 7.06% 0.00% 77.35% 17.41% DC 2005 4.70% 40.49% 38.52% 15.38% 0.90% 0.00% 79.01% 16.29% DC 2006 7.98% 55.29% 20.70% 16.03% 0.00% 0.00% 75.99% 16.03% DC 2007 0.35% 30.25% 46.30% 23.10% 0.00% 0.00% 76.55% 23.10% DC 2008 0.00% 30.68% 44.43% 24.89% 0.00% 0.00% 75.11% 24.89% DC 2009 0.00% 39.32% 28.62% 27.88% 4.18% 0.00% 67.94% 32.06% HOU 2006 0.00% 26.67% 45.73% 18.46% 9.15% 0.00% 72.40% 27.60% HOU 2007 0.00% 22.95% 45.67% 23.23% 8.15% 0.00% 68.62% 31.38% HOU 2008 0.00% 19.71% 25.39% 47.82% 0.00% 7.09% 45.10% 54.90% HOU 2009 0.36% 38.06% 29.74% 22.70% 0.00% 9.14% 67.80% 31.84% KC 1996 0.00% 23.47% 51.86% 24.67% 0.00% 0.00% 75.33% 24.67% KC 1997 0.40% 19.91% 52.95% 22.13% 4.60% 0.00% 72.86% 26.73% KC 1998 0.10% 15.47% 51.71% 19.29% 13.44% 0.00% 67.18% 32.72% KC 1999 0.00% 30.55% 31.53% 21.75% 16.16% 0.00% 62.08% 37.92% KC 2000 0.00% 34.21% 27.61% 24.23% 13.96% 0.00% 61.82% 38.18% KC 2001 0.34% 28.36% 42.28% 25.83% 3.19% 0.00% 70.64% 29.02% KC 2002 0.00% 17.28% 54.87% 16.23% 11.62% 0.00% 72.15% 27.85% KC 2003 0.00% 18.65% 53.78% 18.86% 0.00% 8.71% 72.43% 27.57% KC 2004 0.00% 33.57% 46.83% 12.92% 6.37% 0.30% 80.40% 19.60% KC 2005 0.00% 25.79% 50.23% 22.47% 0.00% 1.51% 76.02% 23.98% KC 2006 0.70% 24.69% 56.68% 17.93% 0.00% 0.00% 81.37% 17.93% KC 2007 2.25% 25.24% 47.42% 25.09% 0.00% 0.00% 72.66% 25.09% KC 2008 0.00% 35.83% 27.55% 36.62% 0.00% 0.00% 63.38% 36.62% KC 2009 0.00% 31.25% 28.87% 30.78% 9.11% 0.00% 60.11% 39.89% LA 1996 0.00% 33.66% 66.03% 0.30% 0.00% 0.00% 99.70% 0.30% LA 1997 0.00% 38.13% 45.66% 16.21% 0.00% 0.00% 83.79% 16.21% LA 1998 0.00% 41.96% 24.22% 33.82% 0.00% 0.00% 66.18% 33.82% LA 1999 0.53% 21.07% 40.57% 30.64% 7.19% 0.00% 61.63% 37.84% LA 2000 0.00% 21.20% 40.14% 31.91% 6.75% 0.00% 61.34% 38.66% LA 2001 0.00% 30.94% 37.05% 25.03% 6.99% 0.00% 67.99% 32.01% LA 2002 0.00% 41.56% 30.37% 28.07% 0.00% 0.00% 71.93% 28.07% LA 2003 0.42% 31.82% 37.69% 25.72% 4.35% 0.00% 69.51% 30.07% LA 2004 0.38% 32.26% 42.72% 14.85% 9.79% 0.00% 74.98% 24.64% LA 2005 0.00% 45.36% 31.61% 15.44% 7.59% 0.00% 76.97% 23.03% LA 2006 7.07% 48.79% 20.82% 17.92% 5.40% 0.00% 69.61% 23.32% LA 2007 4.10% 26.74% 33.24% 30.25% 5.68% 0.00% 59.97% 35.93% LA 2008 0.02% 32.58% 28.42% 36.09% 2.88% 0.00% 61.00% 38.98% LA 2009 0.00% 25.95% 28.94% 28.74% 16.37% 0.00% 54.89% 45.11% MIA 1998 0.00% 38.41% 30.99% 25.69% 4.92% 0.00% 69.40% 30.60% MIA 1999 0.00% 54.93% 22.86% 17.10% 5.11% 0.00% 77.79% 22.21% MIA 2000 0.34% 37.61% 34.61% 23.74% 3.70% 0.00% 72.22% 27.44% MIA 2001 0.05% 28.11% 18.63% 36.95% 16.25% 0.00% 46.75% 53.20% NE 1996 0.00% 32.80% 52.42% 14.78% 0.00% 0.00% 85.22% 14.78% NE 1997 0.00% 25.22% 50.60% 17.93% 6.25% 0.00% 75.82% 24.18% NE 1998 0.16% 20.34% 57.18% 22.33% 0.00% 0.00% 77.51% 22.33% NE 1999 1.59% 17.88% 42.41% 30.26% 7.85% 0.00% 60.29% 38.12% NE 2000 0.10% 35.26% 35.98% 28.66% 0.00% 0.00% 71.24% 28.66% NE 2001 0.00% 41.01% 34.22% 18.01% 6.77% 0.00% 75.23% 24.77% NE 2002 0.00% 29.87% 47.06% 23.06% 0.00% 0.00% 76.94% 23.06% NE 2003 0.00% 24.13% 57.30% 18.57% 0.00% 0.00% 81.43% 18.57% NE 2004 0.00% 40.65% 43.21% 16.14% 0.00% 0.00% 83.86% 16.14% NE 2005 0.00% 42.52% 39.02% 18.46% 0.00% 0.00% 81.54% 18.46% NE 2006 0.00% 40.53% 34.27% 25.20% 0.00% 0.00% 74.80% 25.20% NE 2007 0.07% 32.54% 36.62% 30.77% 0.00% 0.00% 69.16% 30.77% NE 2008 8.97% 31.30% 28.20% 31.53% 0.00% 0.00% 59.50% 31.53% NE 2009 0.13% 42.85% 27.05% 24.75% 5.22% 0.00% 69.90% 29.97% NY 1996 0.00% 18.14% 63.59% 18.27% 0.00% 0.00% 81.73% 18.27% NY 1997 0.00% 29.55% 46.18% 24.27% 0.00% 0.00% 75.73% 24.27% NY 1998 0.29% 23.01% 66.05% 10.65% 0.00% 0.00% 89.06% 10.65% NY 1999 0.00% 38.73% 39.98% 21.29% 0.00% 0.00% 78.71% 21.29% NY 2000 0.00% 51.68% 13.37% 26.69% 8.26% 0.00% 65.05% 34.95% NY 2001 0.00% 33.30% 31.55% 35.15% 0.00% 0.00% 64.85% 35.15% NY 2002 0.00% 36.59% 50.57% 9.51% 3.34% 0.00% 87.16% 12.84% NY 2003 7.78% 30.08% 51.78% 10.36% 0.00% 0.00% 81.86% 10.36% NY 2004 13.86% 34.79% 41.91% 9.43% 0.00% 0.00% 76.71% 9.43% NY 2005 20.77% 29.21% 23.05% 9.59% 17.37% 0.00% 52.26% 26.97% NY 2006 1.11% 38.58% 31.18% 10.74% 18.38% 0.00% 69.76% 29.12% NY 2007 4.73% 21.65% 33.84% 34.51% 5.27% 0.00% 55.50% 39.77% NY 2008 2.24% 33.40% 32.98% 31.38% 0.00% 0.00% 66.38% 31.38% NY 2009 0.00% 32.63% 40.48% 26.89% 0.00% 0.00% 73.11% 26.89% RSL 2005 2.81% 32.59% 44.85% 19.75% 0.00% 0.00% 77.44% 19.75% RSL 2006 0.92% 35.52% 31.40% 32.16% 0.00% 0.00% 66.92% 32.16% RSL 2007 5.70% 35.68% 27.74% 30.88% 0.00% 0.00% 63.42% 30.88% RSL 2008 0.00% 19.42% 66.53% 14.05% 0.00% 0.00% 85.95% 14.05% RSL 2009 0.00% 34.15% 48.30% 17.55% 0.00% 0.00% 82.45% 17.55% SEA 2009 0.00% 37.31% 37.94% 16.10% 8.65% 0.00% 75.25% 24.75% SJ 1996 1.46% 12.08% 62.74% 23.72% 0.00% 0.00% 74.82% 23.72% SJ 1997 0.00% 19.47% 43.36% 37.17% 0.00% 0.00% 62.83% 37.17% SJ 1998 0.00% 47.72% 21.39% 25.79% 5.09% 0.00% 69.11% 30.89% SJ 1999 0.00% 55.87% 32.22% 11.90% 0.00% 0.00% 88.10% 11.90% SJ 2000 0.00% 36.24% 47.45% 16.31% 0.00% 0.00% 83.69% 16.31% SJ 2001 6.33% 23.50% 46.19% 23.99% 0.00% 0.00% 69.69% 23.99% SJ 2002 1.15% 17.23% 56.17% 25.45% 0.00% 0.00% 73.40% 25.45% SJ 2003 2.14% 22.91% 45.88% 12.38% 16.68% 0.00% 68.79% 29.07% SJ 2004 1.26% 16.78% 55.68% 11.43% 14.86% 0.00% 72.45% 26.28% SJ 2005 0.00% 26.63% 48.64% 9.07% 15.66% 0.00% 75.27% 24.73% SJ 2008 0.00% 29.54% 35.49% 30.98% 3.99% 0.00% 65.03% 34.97% SJ 2009 0.00% 29.97% 30.33% 33.90% 5.80% 0.00% 60.30% 39.70% TB 1996 0.00% 23.37% 31.89% 44.74% 0.00% 0.00% 55.26% 44.74% TB 1997 0.34% 30.26% 31.12% 32.74% 5.53% 0.00% 61.39% 38.27% TB 1998 0.00% 28.42% 37.65% 27.43% 6.51% 0.00% 66.06% 33.94% TB 1999 0.00% 34.06% 44.78% 13.52% 7.63% 0.00% 78.84% 21.16% TB 2000 0.00% 20.99% 50.50% 7.79% 20.72% 0.00% 71.48% 28.52% TB 2001 6.93% 20.79% 43.78% 18.60% 9.90% 0.00% 64.57% 28.50% TOR 2007 1.43% 36.85% 28.18% 33.53% 0.00% 0.00% 65.04% 33.53% TOR 2008 2.85% 30.34% 16.87% 49.63% 0.30% 0.00% 47.21% 49.94% TOR 2009 3.39% 45.95% 7.02% 43.63% 0.00% 0.00% 52.97% 43.63% MLS Total 1.49% 32.07% 38.62% 23.50% 4.11% 0.21% 70.69% 27.82%