U.S. national team forward Frank Klopas will play for the Kansas City Wiz in 1996, MLS announced Dec. 18.
Klopas, 29, joins U.S. teammate Mike Sorber as the first two players on the Wiz roster.
Since his first appearance for the U.S. in 1987, Klopas has scored 13 goals in 45 games, and is the fourth all-time leading scorer for the national team.
He was an important contributor to the U.S. fourth-place finish at the 1995 Cope America in Uruguay, as he notched the gamewinning goal in the 3-0 victory over Argentina, and the gamewinning penalty kick in the shootout win over Mexico.
“Frank is a very versatile player that we can line up almost anywhere,” said Kansas City coach Ron Newman. “I’m delighted that we were able to get him. He has an excellent international pedigree and has succeeded at every professional level. He’ll make everyone on our team a better player.”
Born in Athens, Greece, Klopas moved to the U.S. as a youngster, and began his professional career at the tender age of 17, when he signed with the NASL’s Chicago Sting in 1984. Although a broken leg forced him to miss the entire outdoor season, he played for the Sting in the MISL from 1984 to 1988, making an appearance in the 1987 All-Star Game.
Klopas started two of the three U.S. games at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and then joined AEK Athens at the end of the year. he spent five years with AEK Athens before returning to the U.S. to concentrate on making the 1994 World Cup team. After the 1994 World Cup, he played a final season in Greece with Apollon before signing with MLS. He played 10 games without scoring a goal for Apollon, which earned a spot in this season’s UEFA Cup.
“Since I signed with MLS, my first choice right from the beginning was to play in Kansas City,” said Klopas. “It’s near my hometown [Chicago], and I always enjoyed my trips here when I was playing indoors against the Comets. Then I found out Ron Newman was the coach, and I couldn’t believe it. I’ve always wanted to play for Ron… [He] is so well respected among the players; everyone knows he always gets the most out of his teams… This is definitely going to be a memorable season for me.”