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Jonathan Bornstein
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Jonathan Bornstein
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Jonathan Rey Bornstein (born November 7, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left-back. He has captained and made 38 appearances for the United States national team. In addition to also playing for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer (with whom he was the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year, an MLS Best XI, and a two-time MLS All-Star), he has played in Liga MX and in the Israeli Premier League. He won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2005 Maccabiah Games, in Israel.

Key Information

Youth and college

[edit]

Bornstein attended Los Alamitos High School, where he played soccer for all four years.[2] He was MVP of the Sunset League, first-team all-county, and All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and led the soccer team to a CIF Championship.[3] He also played club soccer for Long Beach United, Beach Soccer Club, and the Irvine Strikers club team coached by Don Ebert. He won the Golden Boot Award as he led the Strikers to the US Youth Soccer 2002 Under-17 National Championship.[3][2][4]

He started his college soccer career at Cal Poly Pomona[5] and played there for the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos for two years. In 2002, Bornstein was California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Freshman of the Year, first-team All-CCAA, and second-team All-Far West Region, as he led the team in scoring.[3] In 2003, he was again first-team All-CCAA and second-team All-Far West Region, and was selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America College Division District VIII team with a 3.30 GPA in Business Administration, as he led Cal Poly in all scoring categories.[3] He finished his career at Cal Poly Pomona ranked second in career assists (19), third in career points (53), and fifth in career goals (19).[3]

He then transferred to UCLA for the 2004 season as a sociology major.[3] In 2004, Bornstein played in all of the UCLA's 20 games, with nine starts.[3] In 2005, he started all 20 games and was named second-team All-Pac-10.[3]

Bornstein was a teammate of Benny Feilhaber at the youth (with the Irvine Strikers), college (at UCLA, where they were roommates), and national-team level, and at the Maccabiah Games in Israel.[2] Feilhaber said he and Bornstein "definitely had a special connection" because of their religion from the beginning of their friendship.[2]

Club career

[edit]

Chivas USA

[edit]

Bornstein was selected by Chivas USA in the fourth round (37th overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.[6] A forward in college, he was converted to a left back by Chivas coach Bob Bradley, and was his team's surprising starter at the position when the season opened.[7] Injuries and suspensions forced Bornstein back into an attacking role for Chivas USA's June 3 match against FC Dallas, where the rookie scored his first MLS goal. He continued his fine play in the back and also contributed to the attack during the rest of the season, finishing the year with four assists and six goals, leading all rookies. He started every game in the season, and his total of 2,878 minutes played was third-highest in the league.[8] He was rewarded for his fine form by winning the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.[6]

In 2007, he was an MLS All-Star, and named to the MLS Best XI as one of the best 11 players in Major League Soccer.[6] In 2008, Bornstein suffered a knee injury that affected him throughout the spring. When he came back, Chivas coach Preki began to employ him in an attacking capacity, which Bornstein trained for in his youth.[9] He repeated as an MLS All-Star in 2008.[6]

In summer 2008, Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv was reportedly interested in Bornstein.[10] News stories claimed that the offer involved a transfer fee of $750,000 and would increase the player's salary five-fold to around $500,000 a season. Bornstein was apparently unenthusiastic, fearing that such a move could cost him his place in the U.S. national team.

In 2009, he was the Chivas USA Defender of the Year (2009) and captain.[6][11] In five seasons with Chivas USA (2006–10), Bornstein made 123 regular season appearances (117 starts).[6]

Liga MX

[edit]

Bornstein spent the next eight seasons in Mexico's first division, Liga MX.[6] He first played for Tigres de la UANL (2010–14).[6] In July 2010, it was announced by Chivas USA that Bornstein would join Tigres de la UANL in January 2011, following the conclusion of the 2010 Major League Soccer season.[12][13]

Bornstein was selected by Portland Timbers in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft. In doing so, Portland retained his MLS rights should he ever return to the league.[14] On February 13, 2013, Portland traded Bornstein's MLS rights back to Chivas USA with allocation money for midfielder Ben Zemanski.[15]

Bornstein was transfer listed by Tigres on November 19, 2012.[16]

He played for Atlante F.C. (2013–14) and Querétaro F.C. (2014–18).[6] On May 24, 2015, Bornstein scored the goal that sent Querétaro F.C. to their first-ever Liga MX final. Then, on June 10, 2015, it was announced that Bornstain had signed for Querétaro on a permanent basis.[17]

While playing in Mexico, he made 128 appearances and won the 2011–12 Liga MX championship, as well as the 2016–17 Copa MX and 2017 Supercopa MX titles.[6]

Maccabi Netanya

[edit]

In 2018, Bornstein signed with Maccabi Netanya of the Israeli Premier League ahead of the 2018–19 League campaign.[6] Playing for Maccabi Netanya in Netanya, Israel in 2018–19, he became an Israeli citizen due to his Jewish lineage.[18] During his time with the club, Bornstein made 36 appearances with 35 starts, totaling 3,163 minutes across all competitions.[6]

Chicago Fire

[edit]

The Chicago Fire of MLS acquired him from Maccabi Netanya on July 22, 2019.[6] The team signed Bornstein to a contract through 2020, with a 2021 club option that the team exercised in July 2020.[19][20] In 2019, he played in 11 starts in his first season with the Fire.[6] Bornstein left Chicago at the end of the 2022 season.[21]

International career

[edit]

Bornstein has made 38 appearances for the United States national soccer team.[22] He got his first cap, and scored his first goal on an assist from Justin Mapp, for the U.S. national team on January 20, 2007, against Denmark.[6] As 2007 continued, Bornstein became the first choice left back for Bob Bradley. He played for the U.S. in Copa América 2007.[6] He received his first World Cup Qualifying appearance in a start against Guatemala in the semifinal round of World Cup Qualifying. In 2007, he helped the USMNT win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, making five starts during the tournament.[6] He featured in the Concacaf Gold Cup (2007, 2011).[6]

In 2008, Bornstein lost his starting place to Heath Pearce and also struggled with injuries. He started the group stage matches at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, but was relegated back to the bench when Carlos Bocanegra returned from injury.[23]

After the Confederations Cup, Bornstein eventually replaced Pearce as first-choice again and remained so for the rest of the qualifiers. He scored the equalizing goal in the United States' final World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in the fifth minute of injury time. The goal meant that Honduras, when combined with their win over El Salvador, a game in which Bornstein captained the US side, qualified automatically for the 2010 World Cup.[24][25] That goal resulted in Bornstein having a level of celebrity in Honduras; he was invited to Honduras by the President of the country and he received letters of thanks for years afterwards.[26][27]

After sitting out the first two group-stage games for the United States in the 2010 World Cup, Bornstein started at left back against Algeria in the final group game and against Ghana in the round of 16.

Bornstein was never recalled to the squad by Bradley's successor, Jürgen Klinsmann, by Klinsmann's successor, Bruce Arena, or by Arena's successor, interim manager Dave Sarachan.

Maccabiah Games

[edit]

Bornstein played in the 2005 Maccabiah Games, in Israel, representing the U.S. along with Benny Feilhaber, Kevin Friedland, Matt Reiswerg, and Leo Krupnik, winning a silver medal.[28][29] He scored two goals in the team's quarterfinal win over South Africa.[3] Because of his Jewish lineage, he had an opportunity to play in Israel and not count as a foreign player.[30]

Personal life

[edit]

Bornstein was born in Torrance, California, and later lived in Los Alamitos, California.[31] His father is Jeff Bornstein, who is Jewish and was born in Torrance into an Orthodox family, and worked for Hostess until his death in 2014.[3][32][2] His mother is from Mexico, and is not Jewish.[7] Bornstein's parents divorced when he was three years old, and he lived with his father.[27] His stepmother, Rochelle Bornstein, works as a deli supervisor and cashier at a grocery store in Long Beach, California.[2][33][32][34][35][36][29][37] His father's family were Romanian Jews.[24] Bornstein grew up observing Rosh Hashanah and Passover with relatives, and said of his experience representing the U.S. in the 2005 Maccabiah Games reinforcing his Jewish identity: "I was able to explore my Jewish identity in the Old City, at Masada, at the Dead Sea."[7][2] In 2006 he said: "in the past couple years, I've felt more Jewish than ever."[7] He found faith in Christianity when he met his wife, and was baptized, while in Mexico.[18] He told ESPN, "Just experiencing both cultures, sometimes I felt like I didn't know where I belonged. It's still a soul-searching kind of thing, trying to figure out exactly where you come from or which heritage you relate to. I still kind of feel lost even to this day, but it's something that I just deal with, and it makes me a stronger person having both of those heritages."[38]

His brother Andrew played soccer at Cal Poly Pomona, and is now a marketing director.[3][32] He has a third brother, Taylor.[32] His wife, Juliana, is from Brazil, and he has two daughters.[39]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played October 1, 2022[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chivas USA 2006 Major League Soccer 32 6 — — 2[a] 0 34 6
2007 23 1 — — 2[a] 0 25 1
2008 21 2 — 2[b] 0 2[a] 0 25 2
2009 26 0 — — 2[a] 0 28 0
2010 21 0 1 0 2[c] 0 — 24 0
Total 123 9 1 0 4 0 8 0 136 9
Tigres UANL 2010–11 Liga MX 7 0 — — — 7 0
2011–12 0 0 — — — 0 0
2012–13 2 0 — 4[d] 0 — 6 0
2013–14 0 0 7 0 — — 7 0
Total 9 0 7 0 4 0 — 20 0
Atlante (loan) 2013–14 Liga MX 3 0 3 0 — — 6 0
Querétaro (loan) 2014–15 13 1 5 0 — — 18 1
Querétaro 2015–16 27 0 — 5[b] 0 — 32 0
2016–17 27 1 7 0 — — 34 1
2017–18 14 0 8 0 — — 22 0
Total 81 2 20 0 5 0 — 106 2
Maccabi Netanya 2018–19 Israeli Premier League 25 1 6 0 — 5[e] 0 36 1
Chicago Fire 2019 Major League Soccer 11 0 — — — 11 0
2020 20 1 — — — 20 1
2021 30 0 — — — 30 0
2022 22 1 — — — 22 1
Total 83 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 83 2
Career total 324 14 37 0 13 0 13 0 387 14
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in North American SuperLiga
  4. ^ Two appearances in CONCACAF Champions League and two appearances in Copa Libertadores
  5. ^ Appearances in Toto Cup

International

[edit]
As of November 24, 2011
National team Year Apps Goals
United States
2007 12 1
2008 1 0
2009 13 1
2010 10 0
2011 2 0
Total 38 2

International goals

[edit]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
01. January 20, 2007 Home Depot Center, Carson, United States  Denmark 2 – 1 3–1 Friendly
02. October 14, 2009 RFK Stadium, Washington, United States  Costa Rica 2 – 2 2–2 2010 World Cup qualifier

Honors

[edit]

UANL

Querétaro

United States

Individual

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jonathan Bornstein

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from Grokipedia
Jonathan Bornstein is an American former professional soccer player who played primarily as a left-back, earning 38 caps for the men's national team and achieving success in (MLS) as well as leagues in , , and before retiring in 2023. Born on November 7, 1984, in , to a Jewish father and Mexican-American mother, Bornstein grew up in and developed his skills through youth academies like the Irvine Strikers before attending the (UCLA), where he played . He entered professional soccer in 2006 with in MLS, where he quickly established himself as a promising defender, winning the MLS Rookie of the Year award that season and earning a spot on the 2007 MLS Best XI. Bornstein's international career began in 2007 with the USMNT, where he scored on his debut against and contributed to the team's victory in the . He appeared in key matches, including scoring a dramatic injury-time equalizer against in 2009 World Cup qualifying—which earned him honorary status in —and playing in the against and , as well as the 2011 Gold Cup final. Over his national team tenure, he recorded two goals in 38 appearances, with his last cap coming in 2011. After leaving following the 2010 season, Bornstein pursued opportunities abroad, joining in Mexico's in 2011, where he faced initial bench challenges before being loaned to ; there, he helped the team win the and titles between 2014 and 2018. Leveraging his Jewish heritage to obtain Israeli citizenship, he moved to Maccabi Netanya in 2018, competing in qualifiers and further honing his defensive skills. In 2019, he returned to MLS with the , serving as a veteran leader and scoring in the club's first two matches of the 2020 season before departing after the 2022 campaign. His final professional stint came in 2023 with in ' Liga Nacional. Following his retirement at the end of 2023, Bornstein transitioned into coaching, joining the women's soccer team as an assistant coach in February , bringing his extensive playing experience to the collegiate level. Throughout his career, Bornstein was known for his versatility, crossing ability, and resilience, having lived internationally with his family—wife Juliana and daughters Julia and Joanna—while adapting to multiple cultures and languages.

Early life and education

Family background and youth

Jonathan Bornstein was born on November 7, 1984, in . His father was Jewish, with family roots tracing back to , while his mother is Mexican; the couple divorced when Bornstein was three years old, after which he was raised primarily by his father in the area, with limited early contact with his mother. This mixed Jewish-Mexican heritage provided Bornstein with exposure to diverse cultural influences from a young age, including celebrations of both and , though his deeper connection to Mexican traditions developed later in life. He has a brother, Andrew, who also played soccer at the collegiate level for Cal Poly Pomona, and an uncle, Scott Bornstein, who is a UCLA alumnus. Bornstein attended in , where he excelled in soccer under coach Trey Scharlin. During his junior year, he recorded 8 goals and 6 assists, earning first-team all-county and All-CIF honors; as a senior, he tallied 23 goals and 16 assists, leading the team to a CIF Championship while being named Sunset League MVP and team MVP. In his youth, Bornstein played club soccer for the Irvine Strikers, where he emerged as a leading scorer and CSL All-Star. He helped the team capture the US Youth Soccer 2002 Under-17 National , scoring two goals in the final and earning the Golden Boot Award for top scorer overall. These experiences, particularly the national title win, fueled his early passion for the sport and motivated his pursuit of a professional career.

College soccer career

Bornstein began his college soccer career at (Cal Poly Pomona), an program, where he played for the Broncos from 2002 to 2003. In his freshman year of 2002, he appeared in all 18 games with 18 starts, scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists for 27 points, earning him CCAA Freshman of the Year, first-team All-CCAA, and second-team All-Far West Region honors. As a sophomore in 2003, he again started all 18 matches, adding 7 goals and a team-leading 12 assists for 26 points, while securing first-team All-CCAA and second-team All-Far West Region accolades; over two seasons, he tallied 36 appearances, 17 goals, and 19 assists. Seeking a higher level of competition, Bornstein transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an NCAA Division I powerhouse in the Pac-10 Conference, for the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Bruins. As a sociology major at UCLA, he balanced academics with athletics, maintaining eligibility while contributing to the team's efforts in a competitive conference. In 2004, Bornstein played in all 20 games for UCLA, starting 9, and recorded 1 goal and 1 assist for 3 points. His sophomore year in 2005 saw significant improvement, as he started all 20 matches, scoring 5 goals and adding 2 assists for 12 points; notable performances included a two-goal, one-assist outing in a win over UNLV and the game-winning goal against Penn State. Across two seasons at UCLA, he made 40 appearances with 6 goals. Bornstein's academic achievements complemented his on-field success; at Cal Poly Pomona, he earned CoSIDA Academic honors in 2003 with a 3.30 GPA in , and at UCLA, he was named UCLA/ Student-Athlete of the Week in 2005. In 2005, he also received second-team All-Pac-10 recognition for his contributions to the Bruins. Following his junior season at UCLA, Bornstein declared for the 2006 , forgoing his final year of eligibility to pursue a professional career. He was selected 37th overall in the fourth round by .

Club career

Chivas USA (2006–2010)

Jonathan Bornstein entered professional soccer when Chivas USA selected him in the fourth round (37th overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He signed a developmental contract with the club shortly thereafter, transitioning from his forward role at UCLA to a more versatile position in Major League Soccer. Bornstein made his MLS debut on April 2, 2006, starting in Chivas USA's 3–0 home win over Real Salt Lake, where he played the full 90 minutes as a defender. In his rookie season, he featured in all 32 regular-season matches, starting every one, and contributed offensively with 6 goals and 2 assists, including his first MLS goal on July 1, 2006, in a 1–1 draw against FC Dallas. His breakout performance earned him the MLS Rookie of the Year award, recognizing his adaptability and impact across multiple positions. Over the next three seasons, Bornstein solidified his role as the team's primary left back, appearing in 91 additional regular-season matches for Chivas USA through 2010, bringing his total to 123 appearances (117 starts) and 9 goals overall. In 2007, he started all 23 games, scored once, and was selected to the MLS Best XI for his defensive reliability and contributions on set pieces. He earned MLS All-Star honors in both 2007 and 2008, starting in the 2007 All-Star Game as the first Chivas USA player to do so. By 2009, Bornstein captained the side and was named Chivas USA Defender of the Year, though his goal output decreased as he focused on defensive duties. His development from a college forward to a consistent MLS fullback highlighted his tactical growth under coaches like Bob Bradley. Chivas USA, founded in 2005 as an affiliate of Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara, prioritized players of Mexican heritage or dual nationality to foster a cultural connection with the Mexican-American community in . Bornstein, despite his Jewish-American background, fit into this framework through his roots and versatile play, becoming a mainstay in the lineup during the club's competitive Western Conference campaigns from 2006 to 2010. Notable contributions included key assists in tight matches, such as his setup in a 2008 victory over the Houston Dynamo, underscoring his importance in maintaining Chivas USA's playoff contention each year.

Liga MX clubs (2011–2018)

Bornstein transitioned from to in 2011, signing with ahead of the Apertura tournament. He contributed to the team's success that season as part of the squad that won the 2011–12 championship, though he did not feature in any league matches during the Apertura 2011. Over his time with Tigres (2011–2014), Bornstein made 16 total appearances across all competitions, hampered by persistent injuries including a issue early in his tenure and a knee problem that limited his integration into the squad. These setbacks, combined with stiff competition for the left-back position, restricted him to five league starts overall, prompting Tigres to loan him out in early 2014. Bornstein joined Atlante on loan for the 2014 Clausura, where he appeared in three matches but struggled to secure consistent minutes amid the team's relegation battle. Later that year, he moved to on an initial for the Apertura, which transitioned to a permanent deal in 2015. At (2014–2018), Bornstein found stability, logging 107 appearances and scoring two goals while adapting to the league's physicality and tactical demands as a reliable left-back in the team's defensive setup. He faced initial challenges adjusting to the faster pace and cultural nuances of Mexican soccer but grew into a key rotational player, providing overlapping runs and solid defending. One highlight came in the 2015 Clausura playoffs, where he scored a decisive second-half goal against on May 24, securing a 2–0 victory that advanced to their first-ever final after overturning a first-leg deficit. Bornstein's tenure peaked with silverware, as he helped win the 2016–17 title and the subsequent 2017 . His experience bolstered the club's backline during these campaigns, contributing to improved defensive records in cup competitions.

Maccabi Netanya (2018–2019)

In June 2018, following seven years playing in Mexico's , Jonathan Bornstein signed a one-year with Maccabi Netanya of the , marking his first professional stint in Europe. The move allowed him to register as a domestic player upon arrival due to his Jewish heritage from his father, and he later obtained full Israeli citizenship by the end of the season through that lineage. Bornstein quickly became a key figure in Netanya's defense, starting 35 of his 36 appearances across all competitions and logging 3,163 minutes during the 2018–19 campaign. His reliability was evident in the second half of the season, where he played the full 90 minutes in eight consecutive matches from to March 2019, contributing to an unbeaten run of five wins and three draws that helped stabilize the team's position in the upper half of the table. Although primarily a left-back focused on defensive duties, he recorded one goal and one assist in league and cup play, underscoring his versatility in a side that finished fifth overall. The opportunity to play in carried deep personal meaning for Bornstein, representing a return to his father's homeland and a chance to connect with his cultural roots amid a professional career spent abroad. Netanya's season emphasized defensive solidity amid a competitive league, with Bornstein's experience from MLS and proving valuable in high-stakes matches. However, after the campaign concluded in May 2019, Bornstein sought a return to , citing a desire to reunite with his family in the United States; he was subsequently acquired by the Chicago Fire on July 22, 2019.

Chicago Fire (2019–2023)

Bornstein returned to in July 2019 when the Chicago Fire acquired his rights from Maccabi Netanya, signing him to a contract through the 2020 season with a club option for 2021. The move bridged his recent experience in the , allowing the 34-year-old veteran left back to provide defensive stability and leadership to a Fire squad rebuilding after several challenging years. In his debut season of 2019, Bornstein appeared in 11 matches, all starts, logging 911 minutes while contributing 16 tackles and 18 interceptions as part of the Fire's backline. He quickly established himself as a reliable presence, helping anchor the defense during the latter half of the campaign. The following year, 2020, saw him feature in 20 matches (13 starts, 1,142 minutes), where he scored his first goal for the club—a memorable 70th-minute header from a Djordje Mihailović cross that secured a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution, marking Chicago's first point of the season—and added one assist, alongside 31 tackles and 28 interceptions. His performance earned him a spot on the MLS Team of the Week for that match. Bornstein's role expanded in 2021, playing 30 matches (25 starts, 2,219 minutes) and captaining the side in multiple games, including four during Francisco Calvo's absence for international duty with at the Gold Cup. He recorded 40 tackles and 48 interceptions, contributing to several clean sheets, such as in a 2-0 win over early in the season. In 2022, his final full season with the , Bornstein made 22 appearances (13 starts, 1,201 minutes), scoring his second goal for the club in a match against and captaining several outings, including a 90-minute performance against where he reached his 200th career MLS appearance milestone. His defensive efforts included 19 tackles and 13 interceptions, underscoring his veteran poise in a transitioning squad. Over four seasons with Chicago, Bornstein amassed 83 appearances (62 starts), 2 goals, and 1 assist, while earning 5 yellow cards and no red cards, demonstrating consistent durability and discipline. The Fire exercised his 2021 option in July 2020 and re-signed him to a one-year deal in December 2021, extending his stay through the 2022 campaign. However, following the 2022 season—his 17th in professional soccer—the club declined to offer a new contract, releasing him as a free agent in October 2022 after he had served as a key leader in the locker room.
SeasonAppearances (Starts)MinutesGoalsAssistsTacklesInterceptions
201911 (11)911001618
202020 (13)1,142113128
202130 (25)2,219004048
202222 (13)1,201101913
Total83 (62)5,47321106107

CDS Vida and retirement (2023–2024)

In January 2023, Bornstein signed with of the Honduran Liga Nacional, marking his return to Central American football after four seasons with the Chicago Fire in . As a celebrated figure in due to his decisive goal for the against in 2009 qualifying, his arrival generated significant media attention and fan enthusiasm. During the 2023 season, spanning the Clausura and Apertura tournaments, he made 31 appearances as a left-back, contributing to the team's defensive efforts in the top flight. Following the conclusion of his contract with Vida at the end of 2023, Bornstein made a brief appearance in the in 2024, signing with Tallahassee SC in May for their Gulf Coast Sunshine Conference campaign. He featured in just one match, the season opener on May 18, where Tallahassee secured a 2-0 , providing veteran leadership to the developing squad before shifting focus to coaching. On January 1, 2024, Bornstein officially retired from professional soccer after 19 seasons, reflecting on the physical demands and adaptability required for such longevity across MLS, , and international leagues. Post-retirement, Bornstein participated in the non-professional 7v7 format of (TST) in June 2025, joining Bumpy Pitch FC—a team composed of former professionals and enthusiasts. The squad advanced through the knockout stages and defeated Pumas de 2-1 in the final, claiming the $1 million grand prize and highlighting Bornstein's continued involvement in the sport in a recreational capacity.

International career

United States national team

Jonathan Bornstein earned his first cap for the United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) on January 20, 2007, during a 3-1 friendly victory over Denmark in Carson, California, where he also scored the game-winning goal in the 57th minute. Over the course of his international career from 2007 to 2011, Bornstein accumulated 38 caps and scored 2 goals, primarily operating as a left-back after coach Bob Bradley repositioned him from his natural attacking role to bolster the defense. His selection to the national team stemmed from standout performances with Chivas USA in Major League Soccer, where his versatility and work rate caught the attention of selectors during the mid-2000s. Under Bradley, who took over as head coach in 2007, Bornstein quickly established himself as a key defensive option, contributing to the USMNT's success in major tournaments. He made five starts in the , helping the team secure the title with a 2-1 final win over at in . Bornstein also featured in the , starting all three group stage matches. Bornstein also featured in the , starting all three group stage matches and playing in the final as the finished as runners-up to . and remained a regular through World Cup qualifying, including a memorable stoppage-time header that clinched a 2-2 draw against in October 2009, securing the USMNT's qualification for the . At the 2010 World Cup in , Bornstein made two appearances, starting against in the group stage—providing solid defensive support in the 1–0 upset win—and against in the round of 16. Bornstein occasionally wore the captain's armband, including for the first time in a 2-1 friendly win over on February 24, 2010, ahead of preparations. His role in the era (2007–2011) was marked by reliability in high-stakes matches, though his international career tapered off after moving to in 2011, with his final appearance as a substitute in the 11th minute of the loss to on June 25, 2011. Overall, Bornstein's contributions helped stabilize the left flank during a transitional period for the USMNT, contributing to regional dominance and a memorable run.

Maccabiah Games

Bornstein represented the as a college athlete at the 2005 in , an international often referred to as the "Jewish Olympics," held from July 11 to 23. At age 21 and playing for UCLA, he gained early exposure to international competition just prior to turning professional, competing alongside other American Jewish athletes in the under-21 . The U.S. team advanced to the final but secured a after a loss to host nation . As a forward, Bornstein contributed significantly to the team's run, notably scoring two goals in the quarterfinal victory over , helping secure a 3-1 win that propelled the U.S. to the semifinals. His performances showcased his versatility and skill in a competitive setting, marking a key milestone in his development as a defender and before his MLS draft selection the following year. The experience held deep personal significance for Bornstein, reinforcing his and connection to . He described the tournament as "an amazing experience," particularly appreciating the opportunity to play soccer in in front of local crowds. "It made me realize how fulfilling and enriched really is," Bornstein reflected, noting that the event left him feeling "more Jewish than ever."

Coaching career

Florida State Seminoles

Following his retirement from professional soccer at the end of 2023, Jonathan Bornstein transitioned into coaching by joining the women's soccer team as an assistant coach on February 5, 2024. The move came shortly after his final season with in , allowing him to leverage his over 15 years of professional experience, including 38 caps for the men's national team and stints in , , and abroad. Bornstein, who played primarily as a left back, brings a wealth of defensive knowledge to the program, which was the defending national champion from 2023. In his role under head coach Brian Pensky, Bornstein focused on player development and defensive training, utilizing his charismatic personality and high-level playing background to mentor athletes. Pensky praised Bornstein's addition, stating, "We are thrilled to add Jonny... his breadth of experiences will help continue to develop our players." Bornstein himself described the opportunity as "an honor to transition," expressing eagerness to contribute to a program known for its success in women's college soccer. During the 2024 season, Bornstein supported the Seminoles in their title defense, as the team posted a 15–2–4 regular-season record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, where they fell to Vanderbilt on penalty kicks after a 3–3 draw. He served as an assistant coach for the 2024 season.

Personal life

Family and citizenship

Bornstein was born in , to a Jewish father and a Mexican-American mother, reflecting his multicultural Jewish-Mexican-American heritage. Bornstein converted to after meeting his wife and was baptized in . He is married to , who is Brazilian, and the couple has two daughters, Julia and Joanna, born in . The family speaks a mix of English, Spanish, and at home, influenced by Juliana's background and her parents' involvement in childcare. In 2018, Bornstein acquired Israeli citizenship through his paternal Jewish lineage while playing for Maccabi Netanya, granting him dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship. During his time in , he explored his heritage by visiting significant sites like and . Bornstein has engaged in community service, notably as an ambassador for Illinois during his tenure with the Chicago Fire, where he advocated for the organization and promoted its initiatives through social media and events. Following his retirement from professional soccer in 2023, Bornstein and his family relocated to .

Career statistics

Club

Bornstein's professional club career spanned multiple leagues, including (MLS), , the , and the Liga Nacional de Honduras.
ClubSeasonsLeague(s)AppearancesGoalsAssists
2006–2010MLS13998
2011–20131601
Atlante20141000
2014–201810721
Maccabi Netanya2018–20193111
2019–2022MLS8321
CDS Vida2023Liga Nacional de Honduras3100
Note: Table shows league appearances only. Across all competitions in his senior club career, Bornstein made 433 appearances, scored 14 goals, and provided 12 assists.

International

Bornstein earned 38 caps for the men's national team (USMNT) between 2007 and 2011, during which he scored 2 goals. His strong performances as a left back for in led to his initial call-up to the senior national team. Bornstein featured across multiple competitions, including friendlies, , qualifiers, , , and the . The following table summarizes his appearances and goals by competition:
CompetitionAppearancesGoals
Friendlies171
60
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers61
50
20
20
Total382
Assists were not officially tracked for USMNT matches during this period.

International goals

Bornstein scored two goals in 38 appearances for the United States men's national team.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
120 January 2007Home Depot Center, Carson, CaliforniaDenmark3–13–1Friendly
214 October 2009RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.Costa Rica2–22–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
Bornstein netted his first international goal on debut in the 81st minute against , heading home a corner to secure a 3–1 friendly victory and mark a successful start for new head coach . His second goal, a towering 94th-minute header from a cross, rescued a 2–2 draw in a pivotal qualifier versus , propelling the USMNT to the top of their group while simultaneously qualifying for the 2010 tournament at Mexico's expense.

Honors

Individual

  • MLS Rookie of the Year: 2006
  • MLS Best XI: 2007
  • MLS : 2007, 2008
  • Defender of the Year: 2009
  • Inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame: 2008

Club

Tigres UANL

  • Liga MX: Apertura 2011

Querétaro

  • Copa MX: Apertura 2016
  • Supercopa MX: 2017

International

United States

  • CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2007

Maccabiah Games

  • Silver medal: 2005

References

  1. https://ussoccerplayers.com/player/bornstein-jonathan
  2. https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonathan-bornstein/profil/spieler/39454
  3. https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-soccer-club-acquires-defender-jonathan-bornstein
  4. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/veteran-chicago-fire-fc-defender-jonathan-bornsteins-long-and-winding-road-back-
  5. https://seminoles.com/news/2024/2/5/soccer-announces-jonathan-bornstein-as-new-assistant-coach
  6. https://uclabruins.com/sports/2013/4/17/208193217.aspx
  7. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jonathan-bornstein
  8. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37430745/queretaro-jonathan-bornstein-connecting-mexican-roots
  9. https://ucla_ftp.sidearmsports.com/old_site/pdf/m-soccer/05-mg-playerbios.pdf
  10. https://247sports.com/college/football/recruiting/article/california-dominates-youth-soccer-finals-104038197/
  11. https://uclabruins.com/news/2013/4/17/208193217
  12. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2006-mls-superdraft-369925
  13. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chivas-usa-defender-jonathan-bornstein-named-2006-gatorade-rookie-year
  14. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/bornstein-agrees-terms-mexican-club-tigres-uanl
  15. https://fbref.com/en/players/79a6c95f/matchlogs/2006/summary/Jonathan-Bornstein-Match-Logs
  16. https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jonathan-bornstein/
  17. https://fbref.com/en/players/79a6c95f/Jonathan-Bornstein
  18. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-announces-2007-best-xi
  19. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2162943/2020/10/27/chivas-usa-history-mls/
  20. https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-chivas-usa-20141102-story.html
  21. https://fbref.com/en/players/79a6c95f/matchlogs/2008/summary/Jonathan-Bornstein-Match-Logs
  22. https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonathan-bornstein/leistungsdaten/spieler/39454
  23. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/gringo-report-bornstein-tigres-still-rolling
  24. http://www.americansoccernow.com/players/jonathan-bornstein
  25. https://sbisoccer.com/2015/05/jonathan-bornstein-winner-queretaro
  26. https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonathan-bornstein/erfolge/spieler/39454
  27. https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonathan-bornstein/leistungsdaten/spieler/39454/saison/2018
  28. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/7/27/8931445/jonathan-bornstein-ready-for-new-challenge-with-chicago-fire-mexico-israel-veljko-paunovic
  29. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chicago-fire-add-former-us-international-defender-jonathan-bornstein
  30. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-exercise-2021-contract-option-former-usmnt-defender-jonathan
  31. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/03/07/jonathan-bornsteins-goal-gives-the-chicago-fire-their-1st-point-of-the-season-in-a-1-1-draw-with-the-new-england-revolution/
  32. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/7/31/22597215/connecting-with-fans-key-for-chicago-fires-jonathan-bornstein
  33. https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/quote-sheet-hendrickson-bornstein-and-omsberg-on-2-0-fire-win-at-d-c-united
  34. https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/stats/_/id/75621/jonathan-bornstein
  35. https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-re-signs-defender-jonathan-bornstein
  36. https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/chicago-fire-fc-announces-2022-roster-decisions/n-5894792
  37. https://getconcacafed.substack.com/p/jonathan-bornstein-is-feeling-the
  38. https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/tallahassee-sc-signs-jonathan-bornstein
  39. https://www.socceramerica.com/jonathan-bornstein-on-his-playing-career-odyssey-and-opening-a-new-chapter-in-womens-college-coaching/
  40. https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/former-usmnt-captain-jonathan-bornstein-and-bumpy-pitch-fc-win-tst-2025-claim-usd1-million-prize-after-defeating-pumas-de-alabama/bltf6f8dc6c1fa758d4
  41. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/bornstein-added-usmnt-roster
  42. https://ussoccer.com/stories/2020/04/rising-above-how-jonathan-bornsteins-2009-header-vs-costa-rica-lifted-two-nations
  43. https://ussoccer.com/usmnt-stats/2011
  44. https://jewishjournal.com/community/13825/
  45. https://forward.com/schmooze/128702/american-jewish-soccer-players-gunning-for-sports/
  46. https://www.socceramerica.com/jonathan-bornstein-joins-florida-state-coaching-staff/
  47. https://www.ncaa.com/game/6348143
  48. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/723574
  49. https://seminoles.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/2024-25
  50. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-humanitarian-of-the-year-nominees
  51. https://seminoles.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/jonathan-bornstein/752
  52. https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonathan-bornstein/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/39454
  53. https://www.transfermarkt.us/jonathan-bornstein/nationalmannschaft/spieler/39454
  54. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/212562/denmark-united-states
  55. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/279543/costa-rica-united-states
  56. https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/us-opens-2007-win-over-danes
  57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL9HXmBBvcI
  58. https://www.scjewishsportshof.org/year
  59. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/468062/queretaro-chivas
  60. https://subinternacional.ligamx.net/cancha/detallenoticia/21128/club-queretaro-es-campeon-de-la-supercopa-mx-2017
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