NEW YORK - Major League Soccer teams today waived a total of 49 players, kicking off the preparations for the 2006 MLS season which begins on April 1, 2006. All players waived will be available to other teams in a Waiver Draft that will be conducted on Wednesday, November 16. The 10th season of Major League Soccer concluded on Sunday, November 13 with the Los Angeles Galaxy capturing a dramatic 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution in MLS Cup 2005 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
Monday, November 14 marked the first day that teams could begin making roster changes since the roster freeze on September 15. Any player claimed off waivers on Wednesday will automatically have his contract option exercised for the 2006 season. If a player is not claimed in the waiver draft, his rights will be retained for 12 months by his previous team.
The first International Transfer Window opens on January 1, 2006 and closes on March 31, 2006. March 1, 2006 is the roster and salary budget compliance date ahead of the 2006 season. By that date, all MLS teams must be at no more than:
Following this Wednesday's Waiver Draft, teams will continue preparing for the 2006 season at the adidas MLS Player Combine (January 12-15) at The Home Depot Center and the 2006 MLS SuperDraft on January 20, 2006 held in conjunction with the NSCAA annual convention in Philadelphia, PA.
Wednesday's Waiver Draft selection process is based on the reverse order of finish from the 2005 season. The order follows:
Waiver Draft Selection Order
- Chivas USA
- Real Salt Lake
- Columbus Crew
- Kansas City Wizards
- MetroStars
- FC Dallas
- D.C. United
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Colorado Rapids
- Chicago Fire
- New England Revolution
- Los Angeles Galaxy
The list of players available for this week's Waiver Draft follows:
Chicago Fire
Andy Rosenband
Demitrius White
Chivas USA
Victor Arbelaez
Javier Barragan
Armando Begines
Milton Blanco
Hector Cuadros
Shaun Kalnasy
Isaac Romo
Colorado Rapids
Wolde Harris
Alain Nkong
Diego Serna
Columbus Crew
Stephen Armstrong
Devin Barclay
Ryan Kelly
Mark Schulte
FC Dallas
Christopher Gomez
John Pulido
D.C. United
Kenny Arena
Nana Kuffour
Tim Merritt
Jason Thompson
Kansas City Wizards
Dustin Branan
Daniel Dobson
Martin Hutton
Doug Lascody
Antti Sumiala
Los Angeles Galaxy
Michael Umana
MetroStars
Ramon Bailey
Chris Corcoran
Daniel Garipe
Eric Quill
Ryan Suarez
Michael Ueltschey
New England Revolution
Connally Edozien
Gilberto Flores
Jamie Holmes
Ricardo Phillips
Marcos Romaneiro
Luke Vercollone
Easton Wilson
Real Salt Lake
Matt Behncke
DJ Countess
Rusty Pierce
Jeff Stewart
Dante Washington
San Jose Earthquakes
Roger Levesque
Orlando Ramirez
