FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas today completed a trade with MLS expansion franchise Toronto FC, acquiring the Canadian teams' natural first round selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and a partial allocation in exchange for midfielder Richard Mulrooney. The trade opens up a spot on FCD's 28-man roster, which will be occupied by 21 year-old Colombian midfielder Juan Carlos Toja. Toja was signed on Feb. 28, 2007 after spending the past year at famed-Argentine club River Plate.
"Losing a veteran player like Richard is never easy," said Michael Hitchcock, FC Dallas General Manager. "However we knew that in order to put ourselves in position to continue improving our team we needed to give up something in return. With this move, we free considerable space on our salary budget, bring in additional resources that will allow us the flexibility to be active in the international player market, and acquire an additional first round pick in next year's SuperDraft."
"Richard has been a tremendous professional during his time here, and has been throughout his career, so this was a difficult decision to make," said FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow. "However, we are close to finalizing a deal with a player that we feel could make a significant impact on our team and complement the young talent that we have. In order to proceed with those discussions, we needed to make this move. I want to personally thank Richard and wish him the best in his future."
FC Dallas now holds two first round picks in the 2008 SuperDraft - its own natural selection and Toronto's natural selection; and two selections in the second round - its own and Colorado's natural which was acquired in Jan. 2007 in the trade for Greg Vanney.
Mulrooney, an eight-year MLS veteran, joined the San Jose Earthquakes in 1999 out of Creighton University. In six seasons with the Quakes, he played in 163 regular season games, scored four goals and recorded 44 assists.
On Jan. 14, 2005, FC Dallas acquired him along with midfielder Arturo Alvarez, and two drafts picks from San Jose in exchange for Brad Davis, a partial allocation, and a pick in the 05 draft.
The 30-year old Mulrooney scored two minutes into his Dallas debut on Apr. 2, 2005. He started the first seven games that year before suffering a torn right ACL in the 34th minute of his return to Spartan Stadium in San Jose on May 14, and missed the remainder of the season.
On May 13, 2006 - 364 days from the date of his original injury - Mulrooney returned from the injury to the FC Dallas starting lineup, playing all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Houston. He was named to the MLS All-Star Team for the third time in his MLS career and started in central midfield as the MLS All-Stars defeated Chelsea 1-0 in July. In October, 2006, he was recognized by the League as the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. In two seasons with Dallas, he started 30 of his 32 games, scoring three goals and adding 11 assists.
