Josh Wolff in talks about possible return to Wizards
By PETE GRATHOFF
The Kansas City Star
The Wizards appear poised to reach into their past to help their dormant attack this season.
Josh Wolff, who scored 27 goals from 2003-06 with the Wizards before leaving for Germany, has had discussions about returning to Kansas City’s Major League Soccer team.
“I’ve had talks with them and the league,” Wolff said today. “It’s in talks. That’s about all I can say.”
MLS director of communications Will Kuhns said the Wizards still own Wolff’s rights. That means if Wolff signs with the league, the Wizards would have the first crack at having him join their roster.
Wizards coach Curt Onalfo, who was an assistant for the U.S. national team at the 2006 World Cup, said the Wizards are always looking to upgrade their team.
“I coached Josh on the national team,” Onalfo said. “He was a guy that we tried to sign when I first took the job (after the 2006 season). He decided to go overseas. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Wolff signed with 1860 Munich, a second-division team in Germany, after the 2006 MLS season. His contract expired this spring after the season ended in Germany. Wolff’s wife, Angela, is expecting the couple’s third son in September, so Wolff has decided to return to the United States rather than seek another job in Europe.
The Wizards have a roster spot open with the departure of Eloy Colombano, who was released last week. Colombano was due to make $70,750 this year, so the Wizards appear to have cap room available.
They have struggled for goals, with just 10 this season. That’s one fewer goal than LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan has scored.
Wolff, 31, had two double-digit goal-scoring seasons with the Wizards, netting 10 in 2004 and 2005. He played in just 13 games in 2003, his first year in Kansas City. His 2006 season was cut short by extensive time with the national team.
“I certainly have the ability to continue to play and the commitment to play,” Wolff said. “And I guess it’ll be up to whoever hold the rights, which is probably Kansas City. If it happens there, it’s there, but if it’s with another team, then it’s with another team.
“Certainly there are ties with Kansas City. Curt Onalfo and Peter (Vermes, technical director), I know them fairly well, but until you put something down on paper, that doesn’t have so much relevance. I would have no problem coming back to Kansas City at all.”
The threat of relocation hung over the Wizards during much of Wolff’s time in Kansas City. However, OnGoal, LLC purchased the team from Lamar Hunt shortly before Wolff left for Germany.
“I have a lot of respect for Peter and Curt and the new owners,” Wolff said. “I speak with Davy (Arnaud) often and they rave about the owners and the new management. At least that’s something that finally got put in place. It wasn’t quite there as far as the commitment for the future.”
Even though Onalfo wanted to keep Wolff, he was eager to fulfill a dream by playing in a Europe. It didn’t disappoint.
“It was great. It was certainly a great experience,” Wolff said. “Obviously, if we could have stayed, we would have liked to. I got into a spot where I was playing outside. It was a little different position, but at the end of the day, you try to make due. But it was a great experience. The city was awesome. The team was very good. We were kind of up and down and that was kind of a downfall for us. All in all, it was a great experience.”
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