Chivas USA of Major League Soccer announced today the acquisition of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy from Chilean club Municipal Iquique. The U.C. Santa Barbara product and native of Yorba Linda, Calif. is eligible for selection for Chivas USA's gameday roster this Saturday at the Columbus Crew, pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.
Kennedy, 25, becomes the third goalkeeper on Chivas USA's 28-man roster, alongside fellow Senior Roster player Brad Guzan and Developmental Roster goalkeeper Lance Parker, who signed with Chivas USA in early March. Chivas USA now has a full complement of 28 players on its roster.
"We are happy to acquire a goalkeeper of Dan Kennedy's quality and international experience, as we continue to deepen our squad ahead of a busy summer," said Chivas USA Head Coach Preki.
Kennedy joins Chivas USA from Chile's Municipal Iquique, where he spent the 2007 season and led the Chilean Second Division in goals against average. Prior to his time in South America, Kennedy was with the Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues First Division for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. In 2005, he was named First Division Rookie of the Year after posting a 10-10-8 record for the team while playing every minute of the season. Kennedy's 114 saves that season put him in second place in the league, 10 behind ex-Chivas USA goalkeeper Preston Burpo, then playing for the Seattle Sounders.
In college, Kennedy was a standout at UCSB, where he led his team to the NCAA National Championship Final during his senior year. A two-year co-captain, Kennedy was on the All-Big West conference teams each of his four seasons, earning Big West Goalkeeper of the Year honors in his last three seasons, and was named an All-American by College Soccer News during his senior year. Following his senior year at Santa Barbara, Kennedy was selected by Chivas USA in the fourth round of the in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft.
In a separate transaction today, Chivas USA received 2009 and 2010 MLS SuperDraft picks from Toronto FC in exchange for the MLS rights to Honduran midfielder Amado Guevara.
"This trade was made in the best interests of our club," said Preki. "We feel good about our group right now, and since the player in question did not fit into our plans, we made the best available deal for his rights. We hope that these additional SuperDraft picks will help Chivas USA as we continue to build our team moving forward. We wish Amado Guevara the best of luck in Toronto."
Amado Guevara, 31, was acquired by Chivas USA on Nov. 22, 2006, in a trade with the New York Red Bulls. The midfielder played 4 games for Chivas USA during the 2007 MLS campaign, logging 326 minutes and registering 5 shots. In May 2007, he was loaned to Motagua of the Honduran First Division.
Chivas USA faces the Columbus Crew this Saturday on the road before returning to The Home Depot Center on Sunday, April 20, for a rematch against Duilio Davino and FC Dallas. The two teams earlier tied 1-1 in Texas on the opening weekend of the 2008 MLS season. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
DAN KENNEDY
Nombre/Name: Dan Kennedy
Número/Number: 1
Posición/Position: Portero/Goalkeeper
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1982-07-22, Fullerton, California, USA
Residencia/Hometown: Yorba Linda, California, USA
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 91 kg / 200 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.85 m / 6'1"
Último equipo/Last team: Municipal Iquique (Chile)
Universidad/University: University of California Santa Barbara
Equipos juveniles/Youth clubs: Irvine Strikers, JUSA Alliance
Adquisición/Acquired: Firmado por Chivas USA, 9 de abril, 2008 / Signed by Chivas USA on April 9, 2008
TRANSACTION: Chivas USA signs GK Dan Kennedy to a Senior Roster contract. In a separate transaction, Chivas USA receives picks in the 2009 and 2010 MLS SuperDrafts from Toronto FC in exchange for the MLS rights to MF Amado Guevara.
