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MLS New York Red Bulls

MetroStars Acquire an Allocation and Draft Pick from Real Salt Lake in Exchange for Eddie Pope

February 1, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


SECAUCUS, NJ (Tuesday, February 1, 2005) The MetroStars announced today that they have traded defender Eddie Pope to Real Salt Lake in exchange for an allocation and either Real Salt Lakes highest ranked second round pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft or a swap of first round picks in Fridays 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. The Red and Black have until 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 3, 2005 to notify Real Salt Lake of this decision.

Its never easy making difficult decisions like this, said MetroStars President and General Manager Nick Sakiewicz. In the end we had to do what was best for our team and our club. We all wish Eddie the best in his future career both representing our country with the U.S. National Team and with Real Salt Lake.

Pope, 31, came to the MetroStars on December 23, 2002 in a trade that saw the Metros acquire Jaime Moreno and Richie Williams in exchange for Mike Petke, an allocation and a first-round pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. Pope had previously spent seven seasons with D.C. United. In the two seasons with the MetroStars he played in 42 MLS games for the club and tallied two assists.

A perennial anchor of the U.S. central defense, Pope turned in one of the standout performances on the U.S. backline in the 2002 World Cup. He started six of 10 final round qualifiers in the 2002 World Cup run. He was also a key member of the 1998 World Cup side, starting two matches in France.

In 2004, Pope appeared in nine games with the National Team, starting all nine. Pope scored the game-winning goal against Mexico on April 28, 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX. Out of his nine appearances with the National squad, five of them were World Cup qualifiers.

TRANSACTION: MetroStars acquire an allocation and either Real Salt Lakes highest ranked second round pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft or a swap of first round picks in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft from Real Salt Lake in exchange for defender Eddie Pope.

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