A timeline of the events based on public statements from all parties involved in the Dwayne DeRosario to Celtic Saga.
Created by mlsrumors on Dec 29, 2010
Last updated: 11/26/11 at 11:29 AM
Dwayne DeRosario in an interview with ESPN which was run on Scotlands STV talks about the details of Toronto FC blocking his move to Celtic.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/282301-mls-top-player-reveals-celtic-move-collapse/
DeRosario talked in detail about what went on during the Celtic saga and Toronto FC's role in blocking his transfer.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/282301-mls-top-player-reveals-celtic-move-collapse/
After a season which started with controversy and after playing for 3 different teams having been traded twice, Dwayne DeRosario won the 2011 MLS MVP Award
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7251699
After a year which began with a controversial loan/transfer saga and the continued drama of being traded by Toronto and Red Bull New York, Dwayne DeRosario wins the MLS Most Valuable Player Award.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/awards/2011/mvp
In a shock trade that came out of nowhere DC United traded Dax McCarty to Red Bull New York in exchange for De Ro.
http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/06/dc-united-acquires-five-time-mls-all-star-dwayne-de-rosario?r=DL
Many thought it was an April Fools Day joke when it was announced De Ro was traded to Red Bull New York. But it was no joke at all. De Ro left the Toronto club. Red Bull New York even put together this hype video for NY Red Bulls fans.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2011/04/01/2421793/report-torontos-dwayne-derosario-traded-to-new-york
In an article written by Toronto Star writer Cathal Kelly it appears DeRo might not play unless he receives a pay increase.
http://www.thestar.com/article/928745--kelly-no-raise-no-play-tfc-captain-warns
As the last player to speak during Toronto FC's pre-season Media Day Dwayne DeRosario speaks to the Toronto media for the first time since the saga began yet he confirms that his situation remains the same. He is still an unsettled player.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/14424/2011/01/live-toronto-fcs-dwayne-derosario-addresses-toronto-media-for-first-time-since-celtic-saga-video/
Scotland's STV reported that Toronto FC rejected a short term loan deal offered by Celtic
http://www.mls-rumors.net/14040/2011/01/report-rejected-toronto-fc-says-no-to-dero-celtic-on-short-term-loan/
"Celtic target Dwayne De Rosario has played in a closed-doors game against Hibs. The Toronto FC midfielder will train in Scotland for the rest of the week in a bid to show he's good enough."
http://www.scotsman.com/division-1/The-Rumour-Mill-a-football.6682727.jp
"Celtic target Dwayne De Rosario has played in a closed-doors game against Hibs. The Toronto FC midfielder will train in Scotland for the rest of the week in a bid to show he's good enough."
http://www.scotsman.com/division-1/The-Rumour-Mill-a-football.6682727.jp
“He’s the captain of the club. I think he’s the spiritual leader of the club. I think he’s an extremely talented player. The one thing that we’ve got to do is have a dialogue with every single player and find out what makes them tick. I think it would be prudent to start with the captain because, from what I’ve seen from the other side looking in, he’s an inspirational guy.”
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/01/06/toronto-fc-spinning-as-fast-as-it-can-with-de-rosario-situation/
http://torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/console.jsp?catid=2&id=2704
Goal.com publishes "The Saga Of A Scrappy Player From Canada
How Dwayne De Rosario became known as DeRo."
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1589/canada/2011/01/05/2291810/the-saga-of-a-scrappy-player-from-canada
Jason De Vos's misguided " It's All About Market Value" article gets wide attention in Scotland on the Scottish Evening Times web site.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/dwayne-de-rosario-worth-is-fantasy-football-1.1077896
The CBC's Jason De Vos writes an article comparing De Rosario's salary to other players in MLS and uses his goal scoring tally as the prime criteria of judging him. He compares De Ro to San Jose's Chris Wondolowski who by Wondolowski's own admission, had a fluke of a year.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/jasondevos/2010/12/de-rosario-its-all-about-market-value.html
Celtic boss Neil Lennon will also continue to monitor Dwayne De Rosario after his club, Toronto FC, and Major League Soccer claimed they had not authorised the Canada international to train with the Parkhead club.
"I think it was an administrative problem but that has been resolved so he can carry on"
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/ready-freddie-1.1077186
DeRo and Freddie Ljungberg sat in the stands watching Celtic's 1-0 win over Motherwell as his paperwork is sorted out by MLS and Toronto FC.
http://www.mls-rumors.net
Later Wednesday Toronto FC interim GM, Earl Cochrane confirmed that the paperwork for DeRo's trial at Celtic was being worked out with the Scottish club:
“We talked with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell this morning and he indicated that Celtic had been told by both the player and his agent that they had permission,” a league source said. “When we are told that by a club like Celtic we are inclined to not move towards a legal action and instead work with them to secure the proper paperwork,” the league source said.
De Rosario will not be permitted to train with Celtic until an agreement is in place that satisfies both TFC and MLS.
http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2010/12/paperwork-progress
Early in the wee hours of Wednesday morning (Toronto time) an interview he did with The Sun appeared. While DeRo didn't address the unfolding saga of his trial at Celtic DeRo talked about the neighborhood where he grew up with tales of gun violence: “Scarborough is like every other poor community. It can either make you or break you – and there are more ways to break you than make you.”
“I didn’t stick around to see if people were dead when they were shot, but I’ve been at places where suddenly there’s stuff being shot up and you’re diving over pool tables. That’s as scary a situation as you can imagine.”
http://www.mls-rumors.net/13375/2010/12/report-dero-says-hood-of-scarborough-scarier-than-south-central-la/
Hours later DeRo's agent chimed in that DeRo is not on trial at Celtic and would not need a trial: “One thing that has to be stressed here is that Dwayne is NOT on trial at Celtic as has been stated in some quarters.
“There has not been a better player in the MLS over the last five years than De Rosario and at 32 he has no need to go on trial to prove himself.
“This was a chance to train with a top club like Celtic and see how they operate, one Dwayne was desperate to take.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/13369/2010/12/report-deros-agent-dave-baldwin-dwayne-is-not-on-trial-at-celtic/
In the late afternoon Toronto FC interim GM Earl Cochran finally admitted that the club had been contacted about the trip:
"I was contacted a little more than a month ago by Dwayne (De Rosario) and his representative - asking if we would entertain a loan or training stint. We said we would but would need assurances and final sign off on it - that an agreement would need to be in place that we were comfortable with."
"Dwayne's agent contacted me and asked if we would let Dwayne train with a club and we said we would, but again would have to have something official in place that would provide us with some assurances that should Dwayne get hurt we would be covered. They understood that completely."
http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2010/12/toronto-fc-statement-de-rosario
After hearing the statement that Toronto FC was unaware DeRo's trip to Scotland prior to that morning, DeRo's brother Mark tells the Toronto Star: “They were very much aware,” he told the Star. “My brother would not just jump on a plane on Boxing Day and go over on a whim.”
Mark said he’s known about Dwayne’s plan for a trial with Celtic for at least three weeks.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/13352/2010/12/report-liars-deros-bro-says-tfc-knew-of-celtic-trip/
Following the publication of several stories with photos of Dwayne DeRosario apparently on trial at Celtic Toronto FC interim GM Earl Cochrane stated:
"We were unaware of Dwayne's plan to train with Celtic and we will contact them to understand the situation," "Obviously, if there is interest in a short-term loan arrangement by either him or Celtic, they will need to approach us and the league formally, and we will consider based on what is in TFC's best interest."
http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2010/12/de-ro-surprises-tfc-mls-trial
Early in the morning (Toronto time) pictures begin to surface of DeRo apparently trialing for Celtic alongside Freddie Ljungberg. Celtic Boss Neil Lennon states that will go on trial for a week.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/13313/2010/12/outgoing-hes-here-for-a-week-torontos-dero-touches-down-in-scotland-ready-for-celtic-trial/
Later in the day Toronto FC interim GM Earl states in an article penned by Duane Rollins on MLSSoccer.com that: “Dwayne is not going on trial with Celtic or any other club,” . “We have not received word from anyone and expect him to be with TFC when training camp opens next month.” and suggested that the player's agent may be responsible for the rumor.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/toronto-fc-quash-reports-dero-celtic-trial
The first report that DeRo was on his way to Scotland to trial at Celtic. Celtic manager Neil Lennon hints he might sign DeRosario: Asked if it will be a case of Ljungberg or De Rosario who gets the chance to bring experience to the squad, Lennon replied: “It could be both. There are opportunities there." Meanwhile DeRo is on a plane bound for Glasgow.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/13279/2010/12/outgoing-toronto-fcs-dwayne-derosario-to-celtic/
A source tells MLSR that a possible trade of DeRosario back to San Jose is possible. Since an anonymous rumor like this is how we first got wind of DeRo being traded to Toronto we ran the story.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/12422/2010/11/outgoing-torontos-dero-to-san-jose/
On December 28, Toronto FC interim GM Earl Cochrane stated: "“I was contacted a little more than a month ago by Dwayne and his representative—asking if we would entertain a loan or training stint,” Cochrane said. “We said we would but would need assurances and final sign off on it—that an agreement would need to be in place that we were comfortable with." That would put the date around November 22
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-contact-celtic-regarding-de-rosario
In an interview with Toronto sports radio station FAN590 DeRosario apologized somewhat but reiterated: “Definitely (my salary should be) up there. It’s too long now. Every year I’ve been showing my worth and it’s about time they come to me with something. I know of other clubs who have gone to their star players and ripped up their contracts and I think it’s only fair.”
http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand/dwayne-de-rosario-gb-20100929.mp3
Dwayne DeRosario following a goal he scored gainst San Jose celebrated by writing a check to himself. When asked about his celebration he stated: “I think I’ve shown my commitment to this team and this city and this franchise. It’s time for [the club] to show me some commitment as well.”
http://www.mls-rumors.net/11083/2010/09/report-dero-dp-goal-celebration-causes-controversy/
Dwayne De Rosario, of Toronto FC, blew a kiss after scoring a goal for the MLS Allstars in the second half of the game against Manchester United on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Houston.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/chicharito-scores-debut-man-utd-bounce-all-stars-5-2
Mista was introduced as Toronto FC's 2nd DP. He was set to earn a salary of $987,000. Twice that of DeRo.
http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2010/07/toronto-fc-signs-spanish-forward-mista
DeRo Reacting to the Julian De Guzman DP signing was asked by TV show Casino Ramo Grill Room if he had conversations with Toronto about becoming Toronto's first DP, stating he was promised DP status.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o2asnddx-s
Toronto FC announce the signing of their first Designated Player, Julian De Guzman to a 3-year deal. De Guzman would earn a guaranteed salary of $1.7 Million USD, close to 4 times that of DeRo's $443,000
http://www.torontofcfans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/JulianDeGuzman2.jpg
DeRo was inducted into the Scarborough Walk of Fame for his accomplishments in soccer.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/2754/2009/05/report-dero-inducted-into-the-scarborough-walk-of-fame/
Dwayne DeRosario is made Captain of Toronto FC after Jim Brennan's retirement
http://www.mls-rumors.net/7920/2010/04/official-preki-names-dwayne-de-rosario-captian-after-breenan-retirement/
MLSR learned from a source that De Rosario had been traded to Toronto FC. We were told at the time he would become their first DP. Hours later when the trade was announced there was no mention of DP status.
http://www.mls-rumors.net/1561/2008/12/incoming-dero-to-be-toronto-fcs-designated-player/
Update Sources