FC Dallas midfielders Richard Mulrooney and Ronnie O'Brien today were named to the MLS All-Star Team that will take on two-time English Premier League champions Chelsea in the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. The 2006 MLS All-Star Game will be played at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, Ill. at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, August 5 and will be aired live on ESPN. This is the third All-Star selection for both players.
O'Brien was selected by MLS All-Star and D.C. United Head Coach Peter Nowak, marking the third consecutive season in which he will participate in the All-Star Game. The 27-year old Irish-born midfielder has started 16 games this season, tallying a goal and four assists. O'Brien started both the 2004 and 2005 All-Star Games and scored the game-winning goal for the MLS All-Stars in last year's 4-1 win over Fulham FC, also from the English Premier League.
"It is always an honor to be named to an All-Star Team, and it makes it that much more special when you can play against a major club like Chelsea," O'Brien said. "We put on a good showing and got a result against Fulham last year, and hopefully we can turn some heads and do the same this time around."
Mulrooney was chosen for the All-Star Team by MLS Commisioner Don Garber, who used one of his two Commissioner's picks on the 29-year old midfielder. In his first year with Dallas in 2005, Mulrooney started the team's first seven games but sustained a torn right ACL on May 14 against his former team, the San Jose Earthquakes. The injury sidelined him for nearly a year, as he made his return to the first team on May 10 against Los Angeles. He made his first start of the year three days later at home against Houston, 364 days to the date of the original injury.
"It is a huge honor anytime you are selected to play in the All-Star Game and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to represent MLS against a big club like Chelsea," Mulrooney said. "This is my third time playing in the All-Star Game, but my first as one of the Commissioner's picks, so I hope that I can repay the faith that he has shown in me with a strong showing out on the field."
Since returning, Mulrooney has been a fixture in the FC Dallas midfield, starting each of the last 11 games and playing all 90 minutes in each of those contests. In that time, Mulrooney has tallied four assists, placing him in a tie with O'Brien for second place on the club in assists.
DALLAS ALL-STARS:
2006:
Ronnie O'Brien - MID
Richard Mulrooney - MID
2005:
Ronnie O'Brien - MID
Greg Vanney - DEF
Carlos Ruiz - FOR
Eddie Johnson - FOR
Scott Garlick - GK
Simo Valakari - MID
2004:
Cory Gibbs - DEF
Jason Kreis - FOR
Ronnie O'Brien - MID
2003:
Jason Kreis - FOR
2002:
Chad Deering - MID
Jason Kreis - FOR
Ryan Suarez - DEF
Joselito Vaca - MID
2001:
Chad Deering - MID
Ariel Graziani - FOR
Jason Kreis - FOR
Lubos Kubik - DEF
2000:
Jason Kreis - FOR
Ariel Graziani - FOR
1999:
Matt Jordan - GK
Jason Kreis - FOR
1998:
Leonel Alvarez - MID
1997:
Damian - FOR
Mark Dodd - GK
Mark Santel - MID
Diego Sonora - DEF
Alain Sutter - MID
Dante Washington - FOR
1996:
Leonel Alvarez - MID
Mark Dodd - GK
Jason Kreis - FOR
Mark Santel - MID
Diego Sonora - DEF
