The man who helped consummate the trade is gone, but the New York Red Bulls went forward with getting left back Todd Dunivant from the Los Angeles Galaxy on the same day they announced the dismissal of head coach Mo Johnston.
"It came as a bit of a shock to me, leaving L.A., but New York is a great opportunity and I think the fans deserved for a long time a championship team and I'm excited to be a part of that effort," Dunivant said in a phone interview.
The Red Bulls receive much needed help on the left side and give up a partial allocation to the Galaxy in exchange. Dunivant, considered one of the best left backs in MLS, is not available to play Wednesday night for the Red Bulls against Columbus at Giants Stadium.
"This was a decision that was made mutually between the head coach and myself and we both feel it's going to improve our team significantly on the field," Red Bull New York managing director Marc de Grandpre said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
It's not the first time Dunivant's name has surfaced in trade rumors with the Red Bulls. In February, Dunivant was linked with a deal that would have sent Eddie Gaven to Los Angeles. Instead, he stayed put while Gaven was dealt to Columbus for Edson Buddle.
It is also not be the first time that Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, in charge of a club, was involved in a deal that sent Dunivant away. The 25-year-old was dealt to the Galaxy with goalkeeper Steve Cronin from the Quakes -- where Lalas was then general manager -- for Alejandro Moreno and Chris Aloisi on Jan. 11, 2005. The teams also swapped first-round draft picks.
"Todd has been a wonderful player for the Galaxy and we wish him all the best in New York," Lalas said in a statement. "But, in an effort to improve this team we have to make some difficult decisions and these were only the first ones."
"I'm looking to move forward now," Dunivant said. "Alexi's been the GM who has traded me twice and I think that speaks for itself. I didn't talk to him when he traded me in San Jose and he hasn't gotten in contact with me again this time around. I don't know what he's thinking -- your guess is as good as mine."
In addition, Dunivant has had a star-crossed history with current Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop. Yallop brought Dunivant into the league, taking him as the sixth overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, but then he left after that season to take over the Canadian national team.
"In order to gain value sometimes you must also give it up and this is one of those trades. By acquiring the allocation, we give ourselves the ability to strengthen our team through the upcoming transfer window," Yallop said in a statement.
Dunivant is a two-time MLS Cup champion and was in consideration for Bruce Arena's 23-man roster for the U.S. national team in Germany. He could play either left back or up on the left side of midfield.
"He's definitely more of a back in a 4-4-2," Red Bulls interim coach Richie Williams said. "I think he can play in the midfield, I believe he played in the midfield in college. He's a left-footer, which we don't have too many of ... he's a good player. I'm not saying if we're going to play a 3-5-2 or a 4-4-2 -- we're still looking at all those options."
Dunivant's excitement to play in New York though was tempered a bit Tuesday by the firing of Johnston. He is expected to remain in Los Angeles, where he is being treated for a partially torn left quad he picked up last Wednesday and will join the Red Bulls when they fly out on Sunday for their July 4 game with the Galaxy.
"Mo was so vehement about getting me in there and then he's fired the next day. It kind of throws everything into chaos a little bit," Dunivant said. "but I'll go with the flow and I'm sure whoever comes in as a full-time replacement -- if it's not Richie, if it's someone else, I have to prove myself one way or another."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
