Major League Soccer announced the full selection order for the 2006 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, laying out all four rounds of picks and how the teams acquired them. The SuperDraft will be held on Jan. 20 in Philadelphia as part of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Selection order for the SuperDraft is based on reverse order of finish from the previous season. The first four picks are given to the teams that failed to qualify for the 2005 MLS Playoffs, with the top pick going to Chivas USA as the club that had the fewest points at the end of the 2005 campaign. The remaining eight positions are ranked by fewest regular season points among the teams that were eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs in the same round. The MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy will have the last pick in each round.
The Chicago Fire, who own the 10th slot in each round, come away with a total of seven picks, having acquired three additional selections in trades. That total is only matched by FC Dallas, who hold the sixth spot in the order. Despite their MLS Cup championship, the Galaxy still come away with five picks in the draft. The Kansas City Wizards also have five selections.
Though they hold the first and second picks in the SuperDraft, respectively, Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake will have to find other means to stock their teams for 2006, as each side only owns two picks. Chivas USA will have to wait until the start of the fourth round to make their second pick. RSL's second pick comes early in the third round.
Many players available for selection in the SuperDraft will be at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., from Jan. 12-15 to participate in the MLS Player Combine. Fifty-four of the nation's top prospects have been invited to participate.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
