SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes bolstered their midfield today, acquiring five-time MLS All-Star and three-time MLS Best XI selection Mark Chung from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a portion of the team's allocation. Chung fills the roster spot of defender Troy Dayak, who suffered a torn left ACL on May 14, and was placed on the Quakes season-ending injury list.
A ten-year MLS veteran, Chung comes to the Quakes following the loss of four starters due to injury last week, as Brian Ching and Brian Mullan are expected to miss four-to-six weeks of the 2005 season, and Craig Waibel and Dayak are out for the remainder of the year.
"We are happy to add a very good player in Mark Chung," Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "Mark is an experienced player who has been a good player in this league for many years. I know that he is going to be a good addition to our team."
Chung, 34, has scored a total of 55 goals and registered 69 assists in his ten-year MLS career for the Kansas City Wizards, MetroStars and Rapids. Chung has one goal in 434 minutes in 2005 for Colorado.
"I am very excited to play for the Earthquakes," Chung said. "I played with Dominic on the national team before the 1994 World Cup, so I have known him and John Doyle for a long time and I am excited to play for them now. The Earthquakes have always been a good team to play against and a team that I have always wanted to play for, so I am looking forward to it."
The former U.S. National Team player was an MLS All-Star in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 and was named to the MLS Best XI team in 1997, 2002 and 2003. The dangerous outside midfielder scored a career-high 11 goals in both 2002 and 2003 for Colorado. Chung has made 24 appearances for the U.S. National Team since making his debut on February 12, 1992 against Costa Rica, scoring two goals for the U.S. in his career.
"Mark Chung's left foot alone is worth the price of admission," Earthquakes President & General Manager Alexi Lalas said. "Add the rest of his body and mind and it's the deal of the century. We can't wait to get him into an Earthquakes uniform."
The University of South Florida product's 260 MLS regular season appearances ranks third on the MLS all-time list behind only Steve Ralston and Chris Henderson, and his 249 career starts is also third on the MLS all-time list. Chung has appeared in 24 MLS Cup Playoff matches, scoring four goals and registering four assists.
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) - Earthquakes acquire M Mark Chung from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a portion of an allocation. Earthquakes place D Troy Dayak on season-ending injury list.
