With the 2016 MLS season opener between the Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution 10 days away, we begin the final countdown with a look at Dynamo jersey history over the first 10 seasons, and the biggest names who wore each jersey. Today, we start with the No. 10 jersey, currently worn by Giles Barnes.
Barnes wore the No. 23 jersey for his first three seasons in Houston but was awarded the No. 10 shirt last year after a breakout campaign in which he won the 2014 Dynamo MVP, Players' Player of the Year, Golden Boot and Ironman of the Year awards.
Barnes is the sixth player in club history to wear the famous number, normally reserved for a club’s primary playmaker. Barnes, entering his fifth season with the Dynamo, will likely feature on the left flank this season, as well as the attacking midfield role he played most of last season. The London native made 14 appearances for the Jamaica national team last year, and usually dons the No. 9 shirt for the Reggae Boys.
No Dynamo player wore the No. 10 kit from 2006-07 and the club’s all-time assist leaders elected for different numbers. Brad Davis (120 Dynamo assists) wore No. 11, Brian Ching (30 Dynamo assists) chose No. 25, Brian Mullan (29 Dynamo assists) selected No. 9, Dwayne De Rosario (21 Dynamo assists) picked No. 14 and Stuart Holden (19 Dynamo assists) donned No. 22.
Barnes’ best Dynamo moment in the No. 10 jersey: Barnes helped ruin the opening of renovated BMO Field in Toronto last May 10, sprinting past Michael Bradley for a 60-yard run before passing to Will Bruin for the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Toronto FC.
Honorable mention: Barnes had two goals in a 4-4 draw against Sporting Kansas City on April 25, 2015.
Dynamo jersey history, all-time. No. 10 jersey:
Franco Caraccio, 2008
Kei Kamara, 2008-09
Abe Thompson, 2009
Je-Vaughn Watson, 2011-12
Alexander López, 2013-14
Giles Barnes, 2015-
