Posted on February 20, 2012
Canadian international midfielder Dwayne De Rosario got one potential headache and distraction out of the way on Monday when he signed a contract renewal with D.C. United for the 2012 Major League Soccer season.
De Ro enjoyed the finest season of his career last year, recording 16 goals and 11 assists en route to being named MLS MVP. As per club and MLS policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Dwayne proved last year that is he is the best player in Major League Soccer and we are pleased to have signed him to a deal that will see his stay in DC extended beyond 2012,”
United general manager Dave Kasper said in a press release. “He is the centerpiece of our team – both on the field and in the locker room – and we are thrilled he’ll be wearing our colors for years to come.”
De Rosario, 33, obviously was happy to get this out of the way before the season kicks off next month.
“It’s nice to be with an organization that has the same goals and ambitions as I,” he said in a statement. “D.C. United has a very rich history and one that we want to relive in the near future – hopefully we can start this year. It’s a great feeling to be associated with the United family. Ever since I came here, the organization and the fans have accepted me as part of the family, and I want to keep this family growing all across the DC area and relive those special moments.”
If you need a little background on De Ro’s accomplishments from last year, here is a short recap:
De Ro captured the MLS Golden Boot with goals. This scoring mark was a single season high for the Canadian, who was pivotal in United’s post-season push after joining the team after a June 27 trade with the Red Bulls that sent Dax McCarty north. In 18 games (17 starts) with United, De Rosario recorded 13 goals and seven assists, earning him D.C.’s MVP, Golden Boot and Fans’ Choice award. He became the first player in team history to record two regular season hat-tricks in the same season, including the fastest hat trick in MLS history against Real Salt Lake on Aug. 6. De Rosario is the only player in D.C. United history to claim three MLS player of the week awards (Week 20, Week 21 and Week 28) in one season, and he is the only player in MLS history to score for three teams in the same season.
De Rosario began last year in Toronto before being traded to the Red Bulls on April 1, recording two goals for the Canadian club. De Rosario recorded two goals and four assists in 13 league games (12 starts) before being dealt to United. He scored against all of his former clubs that he played against for United, including the game-winning goal at Red Bull Arena on July 9, a brace at San Jose on July 30 and the hat-trick against Toronto FC on Aug. 6.
De Ro, who has played for San Jose, Houston, Toronto, the Red Bulls and United in his 11-year career, has performed in 274 games (228 starts), scored 93 goals and registered 63 assists. His 93 regular-season goals are seventh most in league history.
He has won four MLS Cups (2001, 2003, 2006, 2007), two MLS Cup MVPs (2001, 2007), earned five All-Star nods (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and, on six occasions, been named to the MLS Best XI team (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011).
United’s 17th MLS season begins when it takes on Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Photo: Dwyane De Rosario’s MVP performance last season earned him a new contract. Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: Canada, North America
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