D.C. United announced today the club has signed last year’s Volkswagen MLS MVP, Dwayne De Rosario, to a new contract. The 33-year old midfielder put together the finest season of his career in 2011, notching 16 goals and 11 assists en route to being honored with the League’s top individual award. Per club and League policy, exact 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,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “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.”
Dwayne De Rosario #7
2011 Volkswagen MLS MVP
2011 Budweiser Golden Boot
4-time MLS Cup winner
2-time MLS Cup MVP
6-time MLS Best XI
6-time MLS All-Star
MLS Goal of the Year: '04 & '05
Full bio
Buy a #7 De Rosario jersey
“It’s nice to be with an organization that has the same goals and ambitions as I,” said De Rosario. “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.”
Compiling his finest professional campaign in an accomplished 11-season MLS career, De Rosario captured the 2011 Budweiser Golden Boot with 16 League goals. This scoring mark was a single season record for the Canadian, who was pivotal to D.C. United’s postseason push after joining the Black-and-Red on 6/27 in a trade with New York that sent Dax McCarty in the opposite direction. In 18 games (17 starts) with United, De Rosario recorded 13 goals and seven assists, earning him the club’s Volkswagen 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 August 6. De Rosario is the only player in D.C. United history to claim three 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 campaign.
De Rosario began 2011 in Toronto before being traded to the New York Red Bulls on April 1, recording two goals for the Reds. In New York, De Rosario logged two goals and four assists in 13 League games (12 starts) before being dealt to United at mid-season. Interestingly, De Rosario scored against all of his former clubs that he played against with the Black-and-Red, including the match-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 August 6.
Over an 11-year career that has seen De Rosario play for San Jose, Houston, Toronto, New York and DC, the Canadian has played in 274 games (228 stats), scored 93 goals, and tallied 63 assists. His 93 regular season goals are seventh most in League history. In addition to last season’s MVP and Golden Boot award, 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 squad (2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011).
D.C. United’s 17th MLS season begins on Saturday, March 10 when D.C. United takes on Sporting Kansas City. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
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