Chivas USA of Major League Soccer announced that it has re-signed fan favorite Francisco 'Panchito' Mendoza for Chivas USA's 2008 MLS campaign, which kicks off on March 30. The 22-year-old midfielder is Chivas USA's all-time leader in games and minutes played for the team. Mendoza is also a Chivas USA Original, having been with the club since the organization's first season in 2005. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A native of El Salto, Jalisco, Mendoza joined the Chivas Guadalajara youth system after a tryout in 1999. He then came to Chivas USA in 2005, and is, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan, one of only two players from the 2005 season still on the team's roster. Mendoza, who primarily plays on the left side of midfield, has 5 goals and 12 assists in his three MLS seasons.
Chivas USA also announced today the signing of defender Eric Ebert, who has been training with the Red-and-White throughout preseason, playing mainly as a right-sided defender. Ebert's rights were acquired in a trade with the Houston Dynamo, in exchange for Chivas USA's natural first-round selection in the 2009 Supplemental Draft.
Ebert, an Irvine, Calif. native, was drafted by Houston in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, and was a regular for the Dynamo's reserve division team during the 2007 season. In four years at the University of California, Ebert scored 12 goals and added five assists in 80 career games (64 as a starter). Ebert's father, Don Ebert, played professional soccer in the United States for several teams, including the New York Cosmos, and was the captain of the 1980 United States Olympic Team.
Chivas USA kicks off its 2008 MLS season on March 30 at FC Dallas before playing its 2008 Home Opener against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 5 at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
TRANSACTION: Chivas USA re-signs MF Francisco Mendoza. Chivas USA signs DF Eric Ebert as a Developmental Player after acquiring his rights from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for Chivas USA's natural first-round selection in the 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft.
FRANCISCO MENDOZA
Nombre/Name: Juan Francisco Mendoza Martínez
Número/Number: 6
Posición/Position: Mediocampista/Midfielder
Nacido el/Born: 1985-04-29, El Salto, Jalisco, México
Residencia/Hometown: El Salto, Jalisco, México
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: México
Peso/Weight: 60 kg /135 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.68 m / 5'6"
Último Equipo/Last Team: Club Deportivo Guadalajara (México)
Adquisición/Acquired: Contratado por Chivas USA como Jugador Internacional Juvenil, 17 febrero 2005 / Signed by Chivas USA as a Youth International, February 17, 2005
ERIC EBERT
Nombre/Name: Eric Ebert
Número/Number: 39
Posición/Position: Defensa/Defender
Fecha de nacimiento/Date of birth: 1984-08-27, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Residencia/Hometown: Irvine, California
Nacionalidad/Citizenship: USA
Peso/Weight: 80 kg / 175 lbs
Estatura/Height: 1.83 m / 6'0"
Último equipo/Last team: Houston Dynamo
Adquisición/Acquired: Canje con el Dynamo de Houston, el 20 de marzo de 2008, a cambio de la primera selección de Chivas USA en el Draft Complementario de 2009 / Trade with the Houston Dynamo on March 20, 2008, in exchange for Chivas USA's first round pick in the 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft.
