Quakes obtain Gray, Kirovski for Burpo
By Jeff Carlisle · May 20, 2008
Kelly Gray returns to action for the Quakes. Photo by Michael Pimentel/isiphotos.com
The San Jose Earthquakes are set to announce on Wednesday that they have obtained defender/midfielder Kelly Gray and midfielder/forward Jovan Kirovski from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for goalkeeper Preston Burpo, a source with knowledge of the deal has told CLS.
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Gray returns to the city where he spent the last half of the 2005 season, and can play anywhere in defense as well as in the center of midfield. The Leigh High School graduate will also be reunited with manager Frank Yallop, who while coaching Los Angeles last season acquired Gray in a midseason trade with Houston.
Gray was originally drafted by Chicago in 2002, and spent parts of four seasons with the Fire before moving to San Jose. Following the franchise’s relocation to Houston, Gray spent all of 2006 and part of 2007 with the Dynamo, before being traded to Los Angeles. The Galaxy waived Gray in preseason this year, and he was subsequently claimed by Colorado, appearing in two matches for the Rapids. Gray has scored seven goals in 146 league and playoff appearances.
Kirovski has spent time as both a withdrawn striker and an attacking midfielder during his time in MLS. With Gavin Glinton and Peguero Jean Philippe out injured, and Kei Kamara set to miss time because of international commitments, Kirovski should bolster the Quakes’ attack.
Kirovski spent the bulk of his early career in Europe, playing for the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon, before returning to the U.S. in 2004 to play for Los Angeles. Kirovski was traded in 2005 to Colorado where he has scored 13 goals in 67 league and playoff appearances. A right groin injury, the acquisition of midfielder Christian Gomez, and the emergence of forward Omar Cummings have kept Kirovski on the shelf for all of 2008.
While Kamara’s expected absence with Sierra Leone helped trigger the move, international commitments also played a part in Burpo heading to Colorado. Rapids’ goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul is set to join the Senegalese national team following this weekend’s slate of games, and with the inexperienced Justin Hughes as the backup, Burpo became a very desirable commodity for Colorado.
Burpo returns to Colorado after a seven-year absence. He has also spent time with Kansas City, and played two years with Chivas USA before being claimed by the Quakes in last year’s expansion draft.
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now that is what I am talking bout , great job jeff first with quake as usual. This will help us immensley; will they be avaliable for thurs night? Now worries if not , I am stoked man and still the transfer window……..
Great info and write-up. Thanks Jeff!
Hey Jeff, do you think you could look into whether we’re paying ALL of Kirovski’s salary? If so, this becomes a slightly less palatable deal — we would have just traded Burpo and $200K cap room to Colorado for Gray (who could have come for free after getting cut by LA) and Kirovski (who hasn’t been playing at Colorado much this year, right?).
I’m working on it. Should know by the end of today.