Forget England, Union star Sebastien Le Toux has been traded within the MLS.
Just days after returning from a fruitless trial with Barclays Premier Leagues Bolton Wanderers, the Union simply had no room for their leading scorer, as they traded him to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday for allocation money.
Just got traded to Vancouver! Le Toux said on his official Twitter, @SebastienLeToux. Saddest day for me in my Philadelphia Union story.... Still can't believe it.
For Union coach Peter Nowak, the move was all business.
Feelings are not included in my job description, Nowak said. I have to ensure the team is good and they have a goal set up in front of them. Its my job to make sure that the team will have a future. I have to see the overall picture and how the pieces fall into place.
Nowak added that the move was made to create space and had nothing to do with Le Touxs position or a specific formation the coach was trying to implement.
We have a commitment, said the coach. This is about the team. If you want to have a competitive sustainable advantage, you have to create room. We have to be secure for the future and have a group that can develop over a couple of years.
Its not about one player, its about the team.
Shortly after the Le Toux trade was finalized and made official, the Union purchased the full rights to midfielder Roger Torres from America De Cali. It was a re-investment of the teams future, something Nowak wanted to accomplish by moving Le Touxs money and getting some back in return. Nowak also mentioned extending the contracts of current players with the extra payroll.
I believe that we have to understand that the soccer part is completely different than other sports in the US. Soccer is different, Nowak said, alluding to the fact that international teams often lose top players. We made it no secret that were looking to build a franchise around the entire team. A championship team isnt about having the best players, its about having the best team. Thats our philosophy.
A fan favorite and productive striker, Le Toux was a Union original, picked up in the teams inaugural 2009 expansion draft from the Seattle Sounders. From there, the 28-year-old scored 25 goals and 20 assists in 62 games over two seasons, pacing the Union in nearly all on-field records.
His success made him the face of the franchise. Always spending extra time with fans, Le Toux was an integral part of carrying the unknown expansion franchise into the Philadelphia main stream.
From the beginning, he was very recognized and associated with our franchise, thats no secret, said Nowak. He represented our club in a good way, theres no question.
The shocking move comes just one day after the Union lost goaltender and captain Faryd Mondragon, who dissolved his contract with the Union to return to his hometown club in Colombia, Deportivo Cali (see story). But as Colombia takes, it also gives.
The Union are rumored to be in the process of acquiring striker Lionard Pajoy out of Colombian first division club Itagui Ditaires. Pajoy would join Danny Mwanga, Jack McInerney, Josue Martinez and first-round draft pick Chandler Hoffman up front for the Union.
Were going to work toward finding the right guys and providing competition up front, said Nowak. Well let them figure out what to do, help them develop and get ready for the season. Its too early to see who will take control. I dont work in hypothetical world. Im sure they will fulfill the responsibilities and develop.
Le Toux will return to PPL Park on March 31 when the Union host the Whitecaps.
E-mail Ryan Bright at ryanbright13@gmail.com