By all accounts, Steven Lenhart is a laid-back and mellow person off the field. Someone who enjoys surfing and is considered quiet by most who know him.
On the field, the San Jose Earthquakes forward is something else entirely.
Lenhart has fashioned a well-earned reputation as a bad boy, a villain, the kind of player who spends as much time getting under his opponent's skin as he does actually playing the game.
On Saturday, Lenhart reminded us there's more to his game than just being a pest. He can also score big goals. Lenhart delivered two of them in San Jose's 2-1 road victory against Philadelphia on Saturday night.
I focus on Lenhart in my latest Fox Soccer MLS Rewind, with comments from Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop and star striker Chris Wondolowski about a player who might be second only to Rafa Marquez on the most-hated player list.
Give the story a read and let us know what you think of Lenhart. Think he's a good player? Hate his on-field antics? Do you enjoy seeing him get under people's skin?
Share your thoughts below.
Of course noone cares what I think. Im a fan, not Ives.
At least I don’t make generalized blanket statements with no evidence saying that he sucks. So he got kicked by a Seattle player, and tackled another player. I won’t remember he won POTW, but every time I see him play I will feel the heart and fight he has to win. The heart of a Quake and a feeling I haven’t felt since 2005.
Lenhart rocked. Not sure if you watched the same match.
Steven and his haircut bear a great resemblance to Brazilian and Roma soccer legend Roberto Falcao.
If Lenhart was on your team and you tried to do that, he would just deck you in the face
Maybe a little homer bias but I’d have to add Brian Mullan to that list.
Larentowicz is No. 2 on my list behind Lenhart. Marquez is hurt or suspended too much to hold the top spot.
I wish I could be as sanguine as you guys; I had a rooting interest — I went to the SJ home-opener and actually paid money to watch them; after watching Lenhart, I decided I will never watch this team again.
That’s why you’re in the big leagues, huh “A coach”?
^^ RSL fans are such cry babies.
I also pay to watch soccer and Lenhart was fantastic on Saturday.
Not sure what you mean by “This,” but your post was as poorly formed as your opinion.
I agree completely with you. He really brought down the quality of the match by scoring 2 of the 3 goals in the match (a fourth one was ruled offside in a blown call by the linesman).
I know how annoying it is as a neutral to watch a match and see goals scored and the lead changing hands. You must have been so disappointed!
LOL at you and your opinions BTW.
I enjoy watching Lenhart win games for his team. He’s scrappy and he throws the other side off balance, and best of all he’s not dirty. Rafa Marquez is dirty – Lenhart is just annoying.
Most of the people claiming Lenhart is bad for the league are fans of other teams so why should I care what they think. Kiss my butt RSL fans, Seattle fans, and Philadelphia fans.
I guess you coach womens soccer do you teach them to apologize on a clean tackle also?
Good for him, I could care less. If he’s that nice off the field, let him stay of the field. Cuz he’s a jerk on it!
What dive are you talking about. I’m not talking $hit I’m honestly curious? THe seattle PK was 100% correct and the Seattle player even admitted to forcing contact in the box because he was mad from a previous play. The RSL was soft but he jumped right back up and tried finishing the play, how is that a dive? I hate divers as much as the next person but I honestly don’t see it with Lenny. His problemis he play 110% 100% of the time and other players can’t keep up.
HA HA HA! That’s a good one, Oh wait? You were serious???
Does anyone really care when you think about it- Are anyone of you going to remember the POW for every week, a month from now you won’t. He sucks, he should’nt be in the MLS.
Maybe the POW is just what he needed then – first week this season where he doesn’t play like a complete a** throughout and he gets rewarded for it. I hope it motivates him to play a better brand of ball more consistently.
YES! i hate jeff.
Yeaaaaah Ben Olson almost tore that Thompson kid a structurally superfluous new behind in a game between DC and New England a few years ago ( the year Olsen retired if I’m not mistaken).
David St. Homer
I don’t think he would throw elbows when the ball isn’t in play around him.
Maybe the Raja bell of mls.
Yea those 2 goals were really bad quality. And that assist on the called back goal was so not quality.
Yea, he’s a hothead on the field. He’s passionate. To see him come back from his injury and prove the haters wrong in Player of the week fashion was just great.
I hated playing him on the crew because he was so big and physical. Glad he’s on my side.
SJ fan?
If I had Lenhart on my team, I’d make him run laps til he puked. My middle schoolers have more character on the field than this guy.
Glad he got two clean goals though – shows what he can do when he’s not being an idiot.
Carlos Ruiz…even if he’s not in MLS anymore.
This is my primary complaint with Lenhart, particularly when he’s playing in a match that I have no direct rooting interest in. He brings the quality of play down and makes the match less enjoyable to watch.
If I was a SJ supporter I might tolerate it because he helps them win. But as a fan of the game, he’s horrible.
I see a biopic (Semi-Pro style) starring Will Ferrell in your future Mr. Lenhart
The Committee has to vote 5/5 members to review the play. If one of them has a doubt, and as we have seen by opinions on the previous weeks PK there are, than they don’t rule on it. Therefore, its not surprising they didn’t give ban.
go back in your cave you have no idea what a dive is
he’s a great guy off the field. Lots of service in the community.
Maybs the Metta World Peace of MLS.
3. Jeff Larentowicz
He’s tough, but I refuse to call anyone with a blonde fro a “bad boy”.
No can do, not caps made to size to fit over the cabbage patch kid afro he rocks!
he may be a badass… but he’s the goofiest looking dude in MLS. get a hair cut man!
amerikwa (sp) from Colorado is pretty annoying….
but, right up there with #1 & 2 above is Wells Thompson – the ‘holy hack’.
He should be called up for all US games against Mexico to even out the cheap shots.
love to hate him
as close to a villain among MLS fans as anybody not named Rafael Marquez – nice on Ives!
Here’s the thing… Lenhart’s game isn’t soccer. It’s psychology. I pay to watch soccer.
This, I think Lenhart’s is a giant douchenozzle.
Agree, how could the MLS Inquisitioners miss Big Bird?
both of those were 100% good calls… they may have been a bit on the softer side but no one was duped.
he has one of the best first touches of a target man in the league… significantly improved since his early days in the league.
Wonder if he’d be so hated if he didn’t look so doofy.
Players like Lenhart make the game less fun to play, which in turn makes the game less fun to watch. MLS should do everything in their power to neuter his tactics, and if that means labeling him a “repeat offender” and suspending him for little things others would get away with, then so be it. Players of his ilk are bad for the future of pro soccer.
Cap him!
I think if the MLS Disciplinary Committee was as consistent as they keep insisting they are, then Lenhart would have missed the last match for diving and thus wouldn’t have been able to score those goals against Philadelphia. Mind, I’m happy to see Philly lose, so it’s all good.
1. Rafa Marquez
2. Rafa Marquez
3. Rafa Marquez
… you get the idea.
Amazing as in what an incredible way to dupe a ref into giving a PK? RSl – repeat process to draw piss poor red card on Olave.
MLS should punish him, not reward him. By rights he should have been suspended for this game
Most hated players in MLS:
1. Rafa Marquez
2. Stephen Lenhart
3. ???
Any ideas?
i think Lenhart’s game against seattle 2 weeks ago was amazing. I’m glad to see him score against Philley as well. I don’t care for wither of those two teams. I think SJ is playing great at the moment. I hope they can continue because they play very entertaining soccer.