RAPIDS ADD CHILEAN MIDFIELDER RAUL PALACIOS

25-Year-Old Fills Final International Player Spot for Rapids

DENVER (Thursday, May 9, 2002) The Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer added another strong piece to an already formidable midfield on Wednesday when the team completed a trade with the Chicago fire that will bring Chile National Team player Raul Palacios to INVESCO Field.

In order to acquire Palacios, the Rapids traded a second-round selection in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft to the Fire.

Palacios, 25, will fill the final senior international spot on the Colorado roster. The Chilean joins John Spencer (Scotland) and Canada's Rick Titus as senior internationals on the Rapids. Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama holds a green card and does not count against the three-player senior international limit, nor does defender Danny Jackson (England), who is classified as a transitional international.

"This guy is versatile, he can play a lot of positions," general manager Dan Counce said. "It's adding another player, basically without giving up anything. It plugs up a lot of holes. He will certainly give us more diversity in the midfield and more depth defensively."

Born in Santiago, Chile, in October 1976, Palacios has spent the majority of his professional career in the Chilean First Division, most notably with traditional powerhouse Colo Colo. His professional travels have also taken him to Spain, where he played with Racing de Ferrol.

A right-sided player who has played both midfield and defense in his career, Palacios is remembered by U.S. soccer fans as the player who set up Chile's tying goal in an eventual 2-1 loss to the United States in an international friendly played in Coquimbo, Chile, in 2000. A veteran of Chile's run through Copa America in 1999, Palacios scored an important goal in the prestigious tournament against Mexico.

Palacios, who will wear uniform #22, is expected in Denver on Friday, and could see his first MLS action on Saturday night, when the Rapids take on Kansas City in a 7:00 p.m. game at INVESCO Field.

Raul Palacios
Midfielder
Ht: 5-6
Wt: 160
DOB: October 30, 1976
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile

Transaction Line: Colorado Rapids (MLS) acquire midfielder Raul Palacios from the Chicago Fire in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft.

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