Clint out of RSL!

[Thow]

I told Soccer Prime I'd let you guys know the next time I heard something juicy, and I think this one qualifies!

I've just been told Real has traded Clint Mathis to Colorado in exchange for Jeff Cunningham. Don't know whether it's been announced yet, but I'm told the two teams have agreed on the deal.

Interestingly, I recently turned down an offer from the Rapids on FIFA 2006, which would've sent Mathis to Colorado for 6,800 units!

[rslfutbolfan]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Thanks for sharing this. I think its true. 😉

[prk166]

Sounds juicy but why would CO sell their leading scorer? Kirovski isn't going to rack up goals left and right like that. In fact, it seemed like even when Nkong returned Clavijo was more interested in having Kirovski in an attacking kind midfield type role than Nkong.

[montgjules]

I've just heard this confirmed and the press release has already gone out!

Bye bye Cletus... :'(

[montgjules]

Press release from the FO:

REAL SALT LAKE ACQUIRES ALL-STAR FORWARD JEFF CUNNINGHAM FROM THE COLORADO RAPIDS FOR MIDFIELDER CLINT MATHIS

SALT LAKE CITY (Monday, December 12, 2005) – Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger continue to retool for the 2006 season with the announcement today that the team has acquired eight-year MLS veteran FW Jeff Cunningham in exchange for MF Clint Mathis.

“RSL looks forward to welcoming one of MLS’ most lethal goal scorers into the lineup. Jeff’s speed and guile will invigorate our attack – and all of our attacking players should benefit from the energy he brings,” Pastorino said.

Cunningham ranks seventh all-time in MLS history in goals (74) and shots (472); and second all-time in Game-Winning Goals (24) behind teammate Jason Kreis (30). Cunningham finished fourth in MLS during the 2005 season with 12 goals (and three assists) in 26 appearances for the Rapids. He also tallied one goal in the post-season. He was traded to Colorado from the Columbus Crew in exchange for the Rapid’s First Round Pick in 2006 MLS SuperDraft on January 14.

In 2005, the 29-year old was selected to the Sierra Mist MLS All-Stars for the first time in his career. He scored two goals against Fulham FC in the 4-1 win over the English Premier League squad on July 30 after coming on as a second half substitute for New England Revolution MF Clint Dempsey in the 68th minute. He was also named to the MLS Select Team that lost 5-0 to Real Madrid on August 23 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, appearing for 45 minutes.

The Montego Bay, Jamaica native established himself as one of MLS' fastest and most dangerous strikers during his seven year career with the Crew. He is tied with Brian McBride as the all-time leading goal scorer in Crew history with 62 goals. He ranks second in Crew history with 43 assists in 182 games played. He also scored three goals and recorded five assists in 16 postseason games with Columbus.


Cunningham moved from Jamaica to the United States at the age of 14 and became a U.S. citizen on November 13, 2001. He was part of the U.S. Men’s National Team that participated in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France and participated in World Cup Qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago on

August 17. He has earned a total of nine caps in five years. He is expected to report into RSL’s Training Camp on February 1, 2006, when the team begins its 2006 Preseason Training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Mathis was a mainstay in the midfield for RSL where he played in 27 games, all starts, tallying three goals and four assists for the expansion club. He joined RSL on January 6 making his return to the MLS after spending one year with Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Thow

I told Soccer Prime I'd let you guys know the next time I heard something juicy, and I think this one qualifies!

I've just been told Real has traded Clint Mathis to Colorado in exchange for Jeff Cunningham. Don't know whether it's been announced yet, but I'm told the two teams have agreed on the deal.

Interestingly, I recently turned down an offer from the Rapids on FIFA 2006, which would've sent Mathis to Colorado for 6,800 units!

I think you may be on to something there Thow!
When I heard this last Thursday from a reliable source I was told that RSL was negotiating for Cunningham. Mathis went to cRapids and Colorado reportedly took all of Cleetus' salary.
Hmmmmm!

[rabble-rabble]

Tough year for Clint. Effort was there a lot of the time, but he just never really got on track and the mid-year suspension came when he was just starting to gather momentum. I'll never forget that amazing laser beam of a shot he had against FC Dallas.

I wish him the best and hope he does well in the coming years (except when he visits Salt Lake of course)

[Deuce]

I wish he would have gone somewhere further East though. Now we will see him 4 times next season and i am sure that he will try to make a point.

I worry about the RMC with him on there team... although they won it last season when he was on our team so maybe we will be lucky enough to shut him down.

[clarette]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

I just had this vision of the Crapids playing a 4-5-1 with Cleetus and Jovan Kirovski in the midfield...

[Jose Luis Luviano]

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20051212&content_id=49399&vkey=pr_rsl&fext=.jsp&team=rsl

New RSL Theme Song...."I Don't Like Reggae; I Love It"