Red Bulls Welcome Dwayne De Rosario As They Take Aim At Trophy Now

Adding a five-time MLS Best XI player with three MLS Cups to his name is normally cause for celebration, but the club that acquires him has a long history of losing and disappointment in the league’s biggest market, it’s almost worthy of a parade. The New York Red Bulls have a history filled with embarrassment, but with the acquisition of Dwayne De Rosario on Friday afternoon they went from one of the top teams in the league to the clear-cut favorite to bring home the MLS Cup.

“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 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.”

New York has not won a single trophy in their club’s history despite being one of the league’s original teams in 1996 and having been given plenty of financial backing. With Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez as Designated Players, Juan Agudelo as a rising phenom and other top players such as Joel Lindpere, the club is in prime position to capture that elusive trophy in 2011.

Of course, adding a player of De Rosario’s caliber doesn’t come cheap. New York traded away Tony Tchani, one of their top young players, to acquire De Rosario. It is abundantly clear that the Red Bulls are going after a trophy this season, but they have put their future in peril to do so. In two or three years, the Red Bulls will likely have to rebuild their team all over again. Of course, if they’re rebuilding with a trophy in their trophy case, it will be worth it and De Rosario will have certainly played a major role in getting that piece of silverware.