HARRISON, NJ– Red Bull New York announced today that it has acquired five-time MLS Best XI midfielder and four-time MLS Cup winner Dwayne De Rosario from Toronto FC. In exchange, Toronto FC received midfielder Tony Tchani, midfielder/defender Danleigh Borman and their natural first round 2012 MLS SuperDraft selection.
De Rosario will travel to New York Friday night and will be available for selection for the Red Bulls’ MLS regular season match at Red Bull Arena Saturday against the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 PM (TV: MSG2 – pregame at 7:00 PM; Radio: WADO 1280 AM). Tickets are available for that match by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or CLICKING HERE.
PHOTO GALLERY: Dwayne De Rosario through the years
“Dwayne has been one of the league’s best players over the past several years and we are thrilled that he is a Red Bull,” said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. “He is one of the most dangerous players MLS has seen in the attacking third and he is a true leader both on and off the field. We had to trade Tony and Danleigh – two very talented, young players who both need more playing time with a first team in MLS to develop their potential. At the end, we think this is a massive step in our quest towards the MLS Cup title.”
De Rosario, who has one goal and one assist in two games this year, has enjoyed a successful career on the club and international level. Last season in his second year with Toronto FC, the Scarborough, Ontario native recorded a career-high in goals scored with 15 to go along with three assists in 27 games played, being named to the MLS Best XI and MLS All-Star Team for the fifth time. Over his time in Toronto, the 32-year-old amassed 27 goals and 10 assists over 57 appearances.
Prior to joining Toronto through a trade on Dec. 12, 2008, De Rosario was with the Houston Dynamo from 2006-08 and was an instrumental cog in the team’s back-to-back MLS Cup victories in 2006 and 2007. In Houston, the attacking midfielder compiled 24 goals and 11 assists over 78 games and three seasons. De Rosario scored the game-winning goal for Houston in their 2007 MLS Cup Final win over the New England Revolution, being named the match’s Most Valuable Player. In 2006, after an 11-goal, five-assist season, De Rosario was a finalist for the MLS MVP award for the second year running.
The 5-11, 178-pound midfielder started his MLS career with the San Jose Earthquakes after signing in 2001. With San Jose, De Rosario won two MLS Cups, being named the MLS Cup Final MVP in his first season for his championship-winning goal against Los Angeles in overtime. With the Earthquakes, which qualified for the playoffs in every year until moving to Houston in 2006, De Rosario notched 108 appearances, 27 goals and 31 assists in five years. In 2005, De Rosario, who was named to the MLS Best XI squad for the first time in his career, was a runner up for the MLS MVP award after leading the League with 13 assists.
On the international level, De Rosario has earned 55 caps for the Canadian National Team after making his senior squad debut when he was 20 years old. De Rosario was part of the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup winning side and has participated in four Gold Cups and three World Cup qualifying campaigns. The three-time male Canadian Player of the Year has registered 15 goals for Canada.
De Rosario, a two-time winner of the MLS Goal of the Year, started his professional career in 1997 when he signed with the Toronto Lynx of the A-League. He ten played for FSV Zwickau of the German Second Division before featuring for the A-League’s Richmond Kickers in 2000.
Tchani was drafted by the Red Bulls in the first round (2nd overall) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Virginia. The 21-year-old played in 27 matches in his rookie year, scoring one goal and three assists. Borman was in his fourth season with New York after being taken in the first round (7th overall) in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft out of the University of Rhode Island. During his time with the Red Bulls, the left-footed midfielder/defender featured in a total of 59 regular season matches, tallying four goals and two assists.
Dwayne De Rosario
Pronunciation:
DEE-row SAR-ee-oh
Position:
Midfielder
Height:
5-11
Weight:
178
Day of Birth:
May 15, 1978
Hometown:
Scarborough, Ontario
Previous Professional Club:
Toronto FC (Major League Soccer)
How Acquired:
Acquired on April 1, 2011 from Toronto FC in exchange for midfielder Tony Tchani, midfielder/defender Danleigh Borman and New York’s natural first round 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick.
