SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger began rebuilding its squad for the 2006 MLS season by today announcing it has acquired Costa Rican international DF Douglas Sequeira and U.S. Youth international MF Christian Jimenez from Chivas USA in exchange for former captain of the U.S. Olympic National Team and eight-year MLS veteran DF Brian Dunseth.
Sequeira, a tall central defender, who can also play the defensive midfielder position, joins RSL after one season with expansion brethren Chivas USA. He played in 23 games for Chivas USA starting in 23 games, logging 2,070 minutes, tallying two goals and one assist. Sequeira was an integral part of Costa Rica qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany from the CONCACAF region. Prior to Chivas USA he spent five seasons with Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa (2000-2004). </p>
"We're basically looking for more leadership and senior experience with such a young team," Ellinger said. "It might not be a popular decision for some, but it's kind of where we're headed." </p>
In addition to Saprissa, Sequeira has played for top-flight European sides Feyenoord of the Netherlands (1997-1999) and Karlsruhe of Germany (1999-2000). The 28-year old has played at all major levels for the Costa Rican national team, representing his country at the U-17 (1995) and U-20 (1997) world championships and during the qualifying process for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2004, he won the league title with Saprissa. He resides in Redondo Beach, California with his wife Andrea and their son Douglas. </p>
Jimenez saw action with the Chivas USA reserve team as a midfielder playing in 11 games with eight starts, notching one goal and two assists. The 19-year old was Chivas USA's 14th overall pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 14. A member of Generation adidas, the creative midfielder and former Irvine Strikers, U.S. U-17 and U-18 national team player - who has already trained with U.S. Men's National Team Manager Bruce Arena's full side - left South Florida after his freshman season in 2004 where he started 15 of 17 matches, recording three goals and four assists. Jimenez' parents are from Guadalajara in Jalisco state, the homeland of Chivas.</p>
Dunseth played in 24 games with 24 starts for the expansion club. The southern California native notched RSL's first game-winning goal in a 1-0 win against the Colorado Rapids on April 16 and tallied his second game-winner in the 3-0 win over FC Dallas on July 23.</p>
"It's fair to say Brian was a warrior this season. He was definitely a guy we could count on as much as anybody in our back four. This is a little bittersweet," Pastorino said. "But to get a player of Sequeira's ability and experience was an opportunity we couldn't pass up."</p>
The 28-year old, played in the central defense alongside U.S. Men's National Team defender and 10-year veteran Eddie Pope for RSL. The Cal State Fullerton alum is a nine-year veteran of MLS and the Swedish league, having played for New England (1997-2001), Miami (2001), Columbus (2002-2003), Dallas (2003) and Bodens BK of the Swedish Superettan (Third Division, 2004). In 2005, Dunseth was Real Salt Lake's sixth player in terms of minutes played, logging 2,011 minutes in 24 games (all starts) and scoring two goals in five shots on goal. </p>
Dunseth has represented the United States national team at several levels, having captained the U.S. Olympic squad during its fourth-place run in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In 1998, he was named captain of the U.S. U-23's for a four-game tour of England, and in 1997 he was named the top U.S. U-20 player at the World Youth Championship in Malaysia. </p>
RSL ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO DIEGO WALSH: RSL today announced the acquisition of the rights to MF Diego Walsh via trade with the Kansas City Wizards. Walsh was acquired in exchange for a Third Round 2007 MLS Supplemental pick. Walsh, a 25-year old who stands at 6-0, 180, has spent the past two seasons with the Kansas City Wizards where he has played in 16 games with 11 starts totaling 704 minutes. Prior to the Wizards, Walsh spent the 2003 season with the Columbus Crew whom he was drafted by in the First Round (Seventh Overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft on January 17, 2003. During his first MLS campaign, the Brazilian native played in 14 games with six starts and notched one goal in 612 minutes of play.
KAMLER RETIRING & ASSUMING FRONT OFFICE POSITION: RSL DF Brian Kamler, a veteran of 10 MLS seasons and two-time MLS Cup Champion, has retired from professional soccer to join the RSL's technical staff as the team's first-ever Director of Soccer Development. Essential duties for the position include scouting opposing MLS teams in advance of League, Open Cup and other competitions; developing relationships with domestic and international clubs and federations with the express purpose of identifying talent; engaging the Utah and Rocky Mountain soccer communities with Real Salt Lake for educational and instructional opportunities; and managing the team operations budget in conjunction with Pastorino and Ellinger.
ACCESS REAL: Real fans can now receive up-to-date information on the team by signing up for the RSL Weekly Newsletter at the fans section of RealSaltLake.com.
