D.C. United today announced that the club has selected MLS veteran and Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz via the MLS allocation process. The forward will join the Black-and-Red tomorrow in Orlando, Fla. Per League and club policy, exact terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ruiz has a green card and will not occupy an international roster spot.
“We are pleased to have landed El Pescadito,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Carlos is a proven goalscorer who will provide added firepower to our attack, and we look forward to having him on board.”
“I have always like what Carlos has been about,” said D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen. “He is a monster of a competitor and hopefully he can take our attack to the next level.”
Ruiz, one of the League’s most decorated players, first featured for MLS in 2002 with the Los Angeles Galaxy, where he tallied the most regular-season goals (24) that year. Also in his debut season, Ruiz was named League MVP and helped the Galaxy capture the MLS Cup. Additionally, Ruiz set a postseason points record (18) in 2002 and was subsequently named MLS Cup MVP after notching the game-winner in sudden-death overtime against the New England Revolution. In 2003, Ruiz again led the League in goals (15) on the season and was selected as an MLS All-Star and named the MVP after his performance in the All-Star Game. Within the League, Ruiz has also featured for FC Dallas, Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union. In 2011, Ruiz left the Union for Mexican side Veracruz where he scored 10 goals in 23 appearances through the 2011-2012 season.
In total, the captain of Guatemala’s National Team has appeared in 169 MLS matches (150 starts), collecting 88 goals (tied for 9th all-time) and 17 assists while logging over 13,000 minutes of play. Ruiz has also made 104 appearances for his country and has tallied 55 goals in the process (an impressive five goals in World Cup Qualifying last fall), most recently knocking in a goal against the U.S. Men’s National Team in FIFA World Cup qualifying on Oct. 16, 2012.
Name: Carlos Ruiz
Height: 5-9
Weight: 180 lbs.
Position: Forward
Birthdate: September 15, 1979
Age: 33
Birthplace: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Previous Club: Veracruz (Mexico)
Acquired: Selected via MLS allocation process on February 20, 2013.
