MLS notes

Columbus gets Kotschau from Rapids in trade for Glen.

A veteran of eight MLS seasons, Ritchie Kotschau was traded to his fourth league team. -- Colorado Rapids web site photo --

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Tuesday, November 29, 2005) -- The Columbus Crew became veteran defender Ritchie Kotschau's fourth Major League Soccer team when he was acquired today from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for striker Cornell Glen.

Kotschau, who turned 30 last Tuesday, has played in Major League Soccer for eight seasons. The Chicago Fire made him the second overall pick in the 1998 draft and he helped the club win the MLS Cup title in his rookie year.

Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo "and I are on a different agenda," Kotschau said in a Columbus press release "He wants things done a certain way and for some reason I'm not that fit for him. I am looking forward to a fresh start and coming in and helping the team out."

Kotschau moved to the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2000 and was then traded to Colorado during the 2001 season. He has played in 198 regular-season games, starting 179 and recording nine goals and 15 assists for 33 points. Five of his goals were game-winners while he assisted four other winning goals.

Kotschau made his first and only appearance for the United States men in March, but has also represented his country at the under-23, U-20 and U-18 levels. He has played in 14 MLS playoff games, starting 11, with one goal and one assist.

"The addition of Ritchie gives us an experienced left-sided defender who also has the ability to play as an outside back or in the center of the defense," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said in the team's release. "We are very excited to add Ritchie to our roster."

Glen, 24, who has been in MLS for two years, will be joining his fourth club. He was with the MetroStars in 2004, playing in 16 games and contributing six goals and two assists. He was traded that offseason to the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), but never played for the team before he was traded to Columbus April 26.

For the Crew, the Trinidad & Tobago international played in 22 games, starting 13, recording four goals and four assists. He has appeared 42 times for his nation, scoring 12 goals

Prior to coming to MLS, Glen played professionally for San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad & Tobago.

"This trade allows us to acquire an exciting striker in Cornell Glen, who we expect will provide a more diverse attacking option for the Black-and-Blue in 2006." Rapids general manager and chief operating officer Charlie Wright said in a team release.

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