ISI Photos – Rick Osentoski
The San Antonio Scorpions have announced the signing of Major League Soccer’s all-time leading goal scorer Jeff Cunningham.
Cunningham, 35, scored 134 goals in 14 season in MLS. The Jamaican-born striker played with the Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC and FC Dallas in his MLS career and also made appearances for the United States Men’s National Team.
Cunningham most recently played for C.S.D. Communicaciones in Guatemala’s top division, making 12 appearances and scoring four goals in 2012.
“This is a great opportunity to be a part of a new organization that’s having a great run,” Cunningham said. ”I’m grateful to Coach Hankinson and the organization for this opportunity and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
The first-place Scorpions add Cunningham to help bolster their scoring production in the second half of the season as they make their run for the playoffs in their inaugural season. He will be eligible for NASL competition upon completion of the ITC transfer process.
“I have seen firsthand what Jeff Cunningham can do in Major League Soccer and I am thrilled to have him join us here in San Antonio,” Scorpions President Michael Hitchcock said. ”Having a player of his caliber and professionalism will help us a great deal in our push for the playoffs. As the leading goal scorer in MLS history, Jeff has had a very successful career so far and we can’t wait to see him continue that career as a Scorpion and score goals like he has done throughout his career.”
In 2006 and 2009, Cunningham won the MLS Golden Boot for being the league’s top goal scorer and was named to MLS Best XI team three times in his career (2002, 2006, 2009).
He is also tied with former U.S. MNT standout Brian McBride for the Crew’s all-time scoring record with 62 goals in eight seasons with Columbus.
The Scorpions currently sit in first place in the NASL standings with 32 points and have scored 26 goals in 17 games played this season, the third-highest total in the NASL this season.
“We were very fortunate to find a player that has performed at an all-star level in MLS and eventually became the all-time leading goal scorer in the league at this point in our season,” Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson said. ”He is a great addition, someone who will help us reach our goal of winning a championship for San Antonio.”
