Richard Mulrooney's first season in Dallas didn't turn out quite the way he had expected. But after suffering a devastating just weeks after his arrival, Mulrooney recovered to anchor the Hoops' drive to the top of the Western Conference this season, and on Tuesday was named 2006 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
In May 2005, he tore his right ACL in a match against his former team, San Jose, an injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the campaign. Mulrooney made his return to the field on May 10 of this season against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Pizza Hut Park, when he played 21 minutes as a second-half substitute.
He returned to the starting 11 the following Saturday against Houston -- exactly 364 days from the date of the injury. Mulrooney ended 2006 having playing in 25 regular season matches, 23 of them starts and had one goal and nine assists in the regular season.
"It was a surprise (to win the award)," Mulrooney said. "There were a lot of injuries last year. I wouldn't say I worked the hardest or had the best impact. There were a lot of guys who deserved to win it, but I was fortunate to win it."
FCD head coach Colin Clarke was very happy for his veteran central midfielder.
"He's been through so much," Clarke said. "You remember how well he was playing when the injury happened. He set a goal at the end of last year to get back last year at the end of the year, but it didn't happen. He was very close and had a little bit of a setback in the offseason, which knocked him back a few weeks. He's been through a lot on and off the field in the last 18 months."
Clarke also lauded Mulrooney for his strong performance in the Hoops 2-1 win against Colorado in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals in Denver last Saturday.
"I thought he was outstanding on Saturday as well in the midfield," Clarke said. "He broke up a lot of plays. I'm delighted that he won it. It was thoroughly deserved."
Before coming to FCD prior to the 2005 season, Mulrooney spent his first six MLS campaigns in San Jose. He was a key performer on the Earthquakes' MLS Cup championship teams in both 2001 and 2003.
"I feel that I am at a level where I can make a difference," he said. "Maybe I am (at 100 percent). I think even before the injury, I knew I could get better. I can still improve physically as well as mentally. I'm expecting to be an even better player at the start of next year."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
