SALT LAKE CITY - Three games after installing a new head coach, Real Salt Lake on Tuesday traded away its all-time leading scorer and last year's MLS Golden Boot winner in an effort to improve upon its seven-game winless start to the season.
Real acquired Alecko Eskandarian from Toronto FC in exchange for Jeff Cunningham. Also in the deal, Real acquired a first-round 2008 MLS SuperDraft selection.
"I consider Jeff to be an extremely talented player, but I just do not see Jeff fitting in with my long-term plans for this team," head coach Jason Kreis said.
Ever since Kreis took over the reins on May 3, the team has felt additional pressure to prove itself to the new coach.
Cunningham, it seems, did not make his case. In Sunday's match against FC Dallas, Cunningham played a mediocre match and was replaced by Andy Williams in the 62nd minute; it was the first time Cunningham had not played all 90 minutes of a match this season.
Kreis said the final decision to trade Cunningham came Tuesday morning.
Eskandarian will not be available for Wednesday's match against Colorado in U.S. Open Cup play, but he should be available for Sunday's regular season match in Chicago.
The move also frees up some salary cap space for RSL to work with in bringing players to the club. With three roster spots to fill, RSL has a lot to bargain with.
But for now, Kreis is just happy to have a player like Eskandarian on the roster. Kreis said Eskandarian's style of play reminds him of his own.
"He's a fiery competitor, a player that really wants to link up between the high forward and the midfield," Kreis said. "He has a very good and a very strong left-footed shot."
In four years in the league, Eskandarian has won an MLS Cup with D.C. United (in 2004), was named the MLS Cup MVP, and twice was an MLS All-Star. He played with current RSL players Freddy Adu and Nick Rimando at D.C. United, then was acquired by expansion Toronto in a trade during the offseason.
Likely, Eskandarian will be an immediate starter. Kreis does not anticipate any problems with the transition up top.
"It's a pretty seamless one," Kreis said. "I've traded a forward and I've picked up a forward."
Eskandarian was the top overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. Real now lists three top overall picks on its roster, including Freddy Adu (2004) and Nik Besagno (2005). He has started all six games for Toronto this season, and scored his first goal of the season last Saturday in a match against his former D.C. United side.
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
