The New England Revolution announced today that All-Star midfielder Shalrie Joseph and defender Jay Heaps have signed contract extensions with Major League Soccer to continue playing for the Revs. Per MLS and team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Joseph is completing his fifth MLS campaign, all in New England. Heaps is currently in his seventh season with the Revolution and his ninth MLS season overall.
"We're very pleased to have both Shalrie and Jay with us for the long term," Revolution Director of Soccer Michael Burns said. "Both players have been key components of our recent success, and carry that on the field, in the locker room and in the community. We're looking forward to more success with them in the future."
Joseph, 29, is a four-time MLS All-Star and a 2005 MLS Best XI selection. A perennial MLS MVP candidate, Joseph has anchored the Revs' midfield since his arrival in New England in 2003. The Grenada international has scored 15 goals and added 16 assists while directing the team's defense and attack from his defensive midfield position.
Joseph was drafted by the Revolution in the second round (14th overall) in the 2002 SuperDraft. After pursuing playing opportunities in Europe, he returned to the U.S. where he played for the New York Freedoms of the D3 Pro League before signing with the Revs on Dec. 3, 2002.
Heaps, 31, has been a stalwart on the Revs since joining the club through a trade with Miami in 2001. The 1999 MLS Rookie of the Year, Heaps has scored 16 career goals and added 29 career assists primarily playing as a right back. The Longmeadow, Mass., product is the Revolution club leader in career games played, games started and minutes played, and this year cracked the top 10 in MLS career minute played.
Heaps was originally drafted out of Duke by the Miami Fusion with the second overall selection in the 1999 College Draft. On June 20, 2001, Heaps was traded from Miami to New England with a 2003 second-round SuperDraft selection in exchange for Brian Dunseth and a 2003 first-round SuperDraft choice.
Joseph, Heaps and the Revolution (14-8-7, 49 pts.) conclude the 2007 regular-season on Saturday, Oct. 20, when they travel to face Toronto FC at BMO Field in downtown Toronto. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be televised live by Comcast Sports Net (formerly Fox Sports New England), and broadcast on the radio by WRKO 680 AM.
The Revs open the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they travel to East Rutherford, N.J., to take on the New York Red Bulls in Game One of the teams' Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Game Two of the series will be played at Gillette Stadium on Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.
