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Capital acquisition D.C. United picks up U.S. World Cup veteran StewartPosted: Wednesday January 15, 2003 5:47 PMUpdated: Wednesday January 15, 2003 7:01 PM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- United States World Cup veteran Earnie Stewart is about to find out what American life is like for the first time since his childhood. D.C. United on Wednesday announced the acquisition of Stewart, 33, who will make his Major League Soccer debut for United in 2003 after playing professionally in Holland for the past 14 seasons. Terms of Stewart's contract with MLS have not been released. The player allocation represents one of two held by United for the 2003 season, including one acquired by United in the mid-December trade that sent Eddie Pope and Jaime Moreno to the MetroStars. According to the Washington Post, D.C. is also close to signing Bulgarian defender Galin Ivanov. "We are extremely pleased with the signing of Earnie Stewart," said United technical director Dave Kasper. "His experience with several clubs in the Dutch first division and at three World Cups with the national team will be a tremendous asset to our organization." Stewart has spent the last seven seasons with NAC Breda, but the club was unable to re-sign the dual Dutch/U.S. citizen to a contract after suffering financial difficulties in 2002. NAC Breda granted a free transfer to Stewart in December, allowing him the opportunity to end his professional career in America's top-flight league. "My wife and I truly believe that the Washington, D.C. area is a great place for our family to be," added Stewart. "We look forward to seeing what the American lifestyle is like. I am very excited to make this move to a class organization like D.C. United and Major League Soccer. "Coming to MLS is something I've always wanted to do," Stewart said. "The United States is my home, even though I've been away since my youth." Stewart, a Dutch-born U.S. international, has established himself as one of the most productive and professional Americans ever to play in Europe. The versatile attacker's 111 goals scored during his professional career in Holland stands as the record for most goals by an international-based U.S. player.
"Since the U.S. performance at the World Cup last summer, Europeans have taken notice of American soccer and MLS after ignoring us for years," Stewart said. "I've always felt that MLS would be a great league -- some took a wait-and-see attitude early on, and decided in year four or five that MLS was real -- but I knew from the beginning that it would be a great league and I would come home. Here I am." Stewart started his professional career with Dutch second division club V.V. Venlo in 1989, signing a contract at the age of 17. After two seasons with Venlo, the 5-9, 145-pound attacker signed with Wilhem II, where he would notch 49 goals in 170 games spanning six seasons. Stewart then proved himself in the Dutch Honor Division after signing with NAC Breda in 1996, where he would score 46 goals, including his 100th as a professional, and help the club to a league championship in the 1999-2000 season. Stewart's international career for the U.S. national team began on Dec. 19, 1990. He has been a constant fixture on the U.S. roster, earning 84 caps over the past 13 years. Stewart is the U.S. all-time leader in minutes played in the World Cup with 695 and is one of only five players in the history of the national team to play in three World Cups. Stewart's 11 caps in the World Cup ties him with Cobi Jones for the most by any U.S. player. Despite the youth of American soccer taking center stage in a quarterfinal finish at 2002 World Cup, it was the veteran leadership of Stewart that allowed the American side to reach the tournament. Despite his club commitment overseas, Stewart led the U.S. in goals (8), points (18), games played (15) and minutes played (1300) during the squad's 16-game run through the CONCACAF region qualifying tournament. Stewart's nine career goals, during CONCACAF qualifying, is also a national team record. Stewart will join United for training the first week of February.
His World Cup teammates Joe-Max Moore and Frankie Hejduk have also reportedly expressed interest in returning to MLS for the 2003 season.
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