Major League Soccer

Sanneh leaves D.C. United for Germany; Mutiny gets Sequeira.

HERNDON, Va. (Thursday, January 14, 1999) -- D.C. United was dealt a serious blow today when it was announced that midfielder Tony Sanneh will sign a deal Friday to join Hertha BSC Berlin of the German Bundsliga.

Terms of the contract were not announced other than it extends through June 2000 with a club option for another year. The Washington Times quoted Sanneh’s agent Boro Sucevic saying with incentive bonuses, the deal could be worth as much as $2 million and included a rent-free luxury apartment and a new Mercedes.

"Tony will certainly be missed," United president and general manager Kevin Payne said. "Aside from the goals he’s scored in some significant instances, he’s also been a key player contributing in a number of other ways." In fact, Tony played for the Minnesota Thunder in 1996, prior to being drafted by DC United. Tony was a five year veteran of the Minnesota Thunder, having played only 1 year for Milwaukee, in 1994. He played for Minnesota from 1990-1994, and 1996 prior to his move to MLS.

Sanneh, 27, joined United in the middle of the Major League Soccer 1996 inaugural season as an unknown and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best players. He played in 98 games, including outside competition, contributing 21 goals and 32 assists, including the game-winning tally in MLS Cup ’97. Previously, he played 5 seasons for the third division Minnesota Thunder and spent one additional season with the Milwaukee Rampage.

At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Sanneh made about $50,000 in 1998 and could have possibly doubled his salary for the upcoming season, but there was no way MLS, which holds all player contracts, could bid against a Hertha with the league salary cap set at $1.7 million per team.

He also caught the eye of then-United States national team coach Steve Sampson and has earned three caps and will receive a thorough look from Bruce Arena, who left United to take over the national team.

"I’m disappointed because it’s a sad day not only for us, but for Major League Soccer," new D.C. coach Thomas Rongen said. "It’s difficult to see top quality young players leave this country to play elsewhere."

The Tampa Bay Mutiny was assigned high-scoring Costa Rican forward Alejandro Sequeira, 23, who signed a multiyear contract with MLS.

"I have seen Sequeira play once and (coach) Tim (Hankinson) has seen him twice," said Mutiny president and general manager Nick Sakiewicz, "and we both came away with the same conclusion: that this is a young, big-time player who can make quite an impact on our team and MLS. He has an outstanding track record in Costa Rica and is only beginning to reach his potential as a player. I will be very surprised if he isn't one of the best players in our league this year."

A star on the Costa Rican national youth and under-23 teams as well as Saprissa, Sequeira was recently called in for his first Costa Rican national team training camp and is expected to be a fixture with his country's national side. He is listed on the roster for qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

A native of San Jose, Costa Rica, Sequeira, who is 5-11 and 183 pounds, has spent all but one of his nine seasons with Saprissa, beginning as a 15-year-old in 1990. He has been a member of three national champion teams at Saprissa (1993-94; 1994-95 and 1997-98) and two CONCACAF champion teams (1992-93, 1995-96).

"He can play both as a forward or an attacking midfielder and is comfortable in both positions," Hankinson said. "He can score equally well with either foot and has an outstanding ability to head the ball. And, like our Mauricio Ramos, he loves to go to goal. He'll be a handful for defenders and will certainly help our attack."

Chicago Fire defender C.J. Brown has signed a multiyear contract with the defending MLS and U.S. Open Cup champion. The top pick in the 1998 supplemental draft, Brown established himself as a solid man marker and a threat to score off corner kicks, which he did twice. He also earned his first national team cap and is currently training with the U.S. in Florida.

The Columbus Crew and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Columbus announced today a five-year partnership with extension rights of up to 10 years. The multi-year deal will begin this spring and give Pepsi the pouring rights for its various beverages at the new 22,500-seat Columbus Crew Stadium set to open May 15.