Richard Mulrooney is headed back to Texas just a month after leaving the Lone Star State, as Toronto FC have traded the midfielder to Houston Dynamo in exchange for defender Kevin Goldthwaite and a first round MLS SuperDraft pick in 2008.
Toronto had acquired Mulrooney from FC Dallas on March 20, sending their 2008 first round SuperDraft pick and an allocation in the other direction. But with the club in need of defensive help, head coach Mo Johnston pulled the trigger on a trade that reunites Mulrooney with many of his former San Jose Earthquakes teammates in Houston. Johnston also dealt for former Red Bulls defender Marvell Wynne.
"We're very sad to see (Mulrooney) go," Johnston said. "We spoke numerous times, his wife has a great job in America, and for me, we had to make a quick decision, but he's a class guy, and we're sorry to see him go."
Mulrooney played the first six seasons of his career in San Jose and provided the game-winning goal in a 4-2 defeat of the Chicago Fire in MLS Cup 2003, one of his and the Quakes' two titles.
"We know Mulrooney very well from his days with us in San Jose," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "He is a very talented player who will give us great depth at midfield. He will also provide a tough, physical presence in that area as well. We would like to wish Kevin a good season up in Toronto."
After the 2004 season, Mulrooney sought to be closer to his ailing mother and his Memphis, Tenn., hometown. Head coach Dominic Kinnear and the Quakes obliged, trading Mulrooney to Dallas on draft day 2005. He spent two seasons in Dallas.
Mulrooney will be close to home again in Houston, and more than just physically. Kinnear, who was an assistant on both San Jose championship teams, will be Mulrooney's head coach once again, and eight of his new Dynamo mates played alongside Mulrooney on the Quakes, as well.
Mulrooney played every minute of both games in which he appeared for Toronto, but with the expansion side's rearguard in need of an upgrade after last weekend's 4-0 rout at the hands of the New England Revolution, Johnston had to let go of the veteran.
Going the other way is third-year defender Kevin Goldthwaite, who starred at University of Notre Dame but could not pin down a starting role with Dynamo. Goldthwaite, whose preferred position is left back, made 24 appearances for the Orange, 10 of them starts.
"We're excited about him," Johnston said. "He's a senior international ... very good on the ball, he's left and he's versatile as well, he can move inside."
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
