Chivas submits Protected Roster for 2010 Expansion draft

Published Nov. 22, 2010 4:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

November 22, 2010

CARSON, Calif. - Per Major League Soccer rules, Chivas USA today submitted its 11-player Protected Roster for the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, scheduled to take place this Wednesday, November 24. Like all 16 current MLS clubs, Chivas USA was allowed to protect only 11 players, with several other players exempt from selection by the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers. A total of 15 Chivas USA players will be available for selection.

"With two new teams entering the league next year, putting together our Protected Roster has been a difficult process," said Chivas USA Vice President of Soccer Operations Stephen Hamilton. "We've had to make tough decisions, but this is a necessary step as we welcome Vancouver and Portland into MLS. We continue to prepare for the 2011 season, and are focused on finding the right man to be our next head coach."

Per Expansion Draft Rules, each team can lose a maximum two players in the ten-round expansion draft. Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Timbers, will each select 10 players during the 10-round draft. Through the Expansion Priority Draft, Portland earned the first selection in the Expansion Draft. Generation adidas players (who will not graduate at the end of the 2010 season) and Home Grown Players are automatically protected, meaning that Blair Gavin (Generation adidas), Bryan de la Fuente (Home Grown) and Cesar Zamora (Home Grown) can not be selected.

Chivas USA's 11-player Protected Roster, in alphabetical order, is as follows:

1.   Justin Braun
2.   Yamith Cuesta
3.   DarIo Delgado
4.   Jorge Flores
5.   Ante Jazic
6.   Michael Lahoud
7.   Paulo Nagamura
8.   Zach Thornton
9.   Michael UmaNa
10.   Ben Zemanski
11.   Sal Zizzo

Players ineligible to be selected in the Expansion Draft include:

1. Bryan de la Fuente (Home Grown Player)
2. Blair Gavin (Generation adidas)
3. Cesar Zamora (Home Grown Player)

Chivas USA broke camp last week and will return to training in late January ahead of the 2011 MLS campaign. Season Seats for 2011 are now on sale, with prices remaining at the same low rates as 2010. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.