Kenny Cooper on the way to Germany

I was in the woods of Northern Minnesota this weekend, out of the loop as far as the scene goes, save checking the Blackberry occasionally. As I scanned the MLS scores from yesterday I was surprised to see that FC Dallas had crushed KC to the tune of 6-0. I was even more surprised to see the name Cunningham on the score sheet four times but no Kenny Cooper. Mr. Cooper wasn't on the score sheet because he is on his way to the German second division to play for TSV 1860 Munich. You'll probably have the odd pundit who wonders why a player of Cooper's MLS pedigree would accept a move to a second division European club but when you sit down and think about it it makes sense.

Unlike players such as Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu who've transferred to high profile European clubs and received very little first team football opportunity, Cooper will most likely get a solid amount of first team playing time. His style also seems like a perfect fit for the Bundesliga. Although the club has struggled in recent years they have a history of top flight German football and Cooper will get to ply his trade at a major market German club that shares Allianz Arena with Bayern Munchen. A couple of good possibilities could come out of this. Obviously the club could compete for promotion and Cooper could find himself in the Bundesliga next season. Or, a strong showing by Cooper could give him the opportunity to transfer to a first division club. I've always liked Kenny Cooper and I think he'll be a success over there. He'll play against some solid and organized competition as well, something that will be a positive for his US National Team aspiration. It's a good situation all around and a relative bargain for 1860 Munich, who paid a million up front on a transfer that could net a nice tidy 3 million for FC Dallas.

I guess I'll have a reason to follow the German second division this year.