When the San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston before the 2006 season, the club brought to south Texas a central group of players that had already seen success with the club in California. But even with the upheaval in their lives, Dynamo still came together to win MLS Cup last year.
One year later, the magic is still there. Dynamo have gotten back to the MLS Cup Final, and it's the family atmosphere that was also transported to Houston that has provided the foundation for success.
"When you keep a good amount of players with your team, you know exactly what your getting from these guys year in and year out, day in and day out," said Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear. "You know how they are in good times, you know how they are in bad times. I think the one thing we've been lucky with our guys is that they've grown together and their families have grown together so it's brought together the guys that way too."
Of course, not all times are necessarily good. Dynamo set a record this year for the fewest goals allowed in a single MLS season as along the way they went 727 minutes without allowing a goal -- also a league record. Two key members of that group were Craig Waibel and Eddie Robinson, both of whom overcame significant injuries in recent years.
"This is a good environment to be in and this team has such a positive influence on each other; there is massive support from the group that kind of doesn't allow you to stay hurt," said Waibel, who tore his anterior cruciate and lateral collateral knee ligaments in 2005.
The players like playing in Houston. They like the construction of the team. They have bonded off the field as well and it that has manifested itself on the field as they look to join D.C. United as the only four-time MLS Cup champions and the first back to back champions since United in 1996 and 1997.
"There is a trust and desire to win not just for a guy on your team but for one of your friends," said Robinson. "We've been around a long time and we spend a lot of time with each other. There's families, in the offseason we take trips together so you don't want to let your friend down, not just teammates out there for us. That chemistry and that trust are really good for us."
The camaraderie lends itself to unselfishness. Richard Mulrooney, a defensive midfielder by trade who will fill that role in place of the suspended Ricardo Clark for the championship game, has also filled in a right back and wide midfielder during the season.
"We've used 18-plus guys and everybody has filled in admirably. I think that goes with the idea that there is team chemistry here," Mulrooney said. "There are not (any) individuals because I think when you have individuals that win you games and you start losing those individuals, you lose. Well, we lost individuals this year and we kept on winning so that proves we have a team concept here."
The majority of the players who were on last year's championship-winning team at Pizza Hut Park are back for that chance to repeat. In fact, Dynamo's opponent, the New England Revolution, have also kept the core of their team together over the past few years.
"The consistent rosters and the coaches do a good job of finding players that fit that mold and that they want to work in their system. It shows the spirit and the willingness to fight for each other," said young flank midfielder Stuart Holden.
Added Ching, who could miss Sunday's MLS Cup Final with a calf injury: "We play in a system where everybody knows their role. Dom brings guys in who play the roles he wants."
Dynamo's recent success has also forced players to weigh the option of signing for more money with other clubs or staying with a winning organization. With no designated player and under the salary cap, the Dynamo way seems to have won out.
"I think we've been pretty fortunate to not have to break apart our team too much. Part of that is because a lot of the guys are underpaid," said Ching with a delayed smile. "We are always going to say that but it's the truth but a lot of guys are happy here with the situation that they have on this team. I think because we are such a good team, guys are willing to play for less here."
Add in that teams that don't make the playoffs are rewarded with more salary cap money for the goal of parity, repeating as champions and with the same players is difficult.
"I think it's difficult to repeat in this league because teams in the league that don't make the playoffs get rewarded with more money," Ching said. "It's the league's goal to make parity in the league. When you repeat your players should get rewarded with pay bonuses and when that happens, because you don't get more money, teams have to break apart."
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
