FRISCO, Texas - During Black History Month, we take a look back at some former FC Dallas and Dallas Burn players who've helped shape soccer in North Texas. From Homegrowns to international players, they've each helped create the rich history of the sport across the state.
#13 – Brian Haynes, MF
Brian Haynes was an original draft pick of the Dallas Burn, selected No. 33 in the 1996 MLS Draft. He amassed 77 games played with eight goals scored. Haynes was part of the team that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 1997. He was also featured for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team, earning 21 caps. After his playing career, Haynes transitioned to coaching by serving six seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Burn and FC Dallas. He has had many other coaching roles and has recently returned home to work in the FC Dallas Academy.
#14 – Atiba Harris, D
Atiba Harris appeared in 125 MLS matches in two separate stints with an FC Dallas uniform, scoring 11 goals and adding 13 assists. The St. Kitts and Nevis’ first term with FCD coincided with Dallas’ run to the 2010 MLS Cup appearance. During his second tenure with, Harris helped the club earn the 2016 Supporters’ Shield, the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and a berth in the Knockout Round of CONCACAF Champions’ League in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
#3 – Ugo Ihemelu, D
Born in Nigeria, Ugo Ihemelu grew up in Cedar Hill, TX and played collegiate soccer at Southern Methodist University. He was acquired by FC Dallas in a trade with the Colorado Rapids in 2009 and started 71 of 73 matches played, including playoff games and the 2010 MLS Cup. Ihemelu is currently an educator with Uplift Education.
#31 – Scott Sealy, F
Scott Sealy played the final season of his career with FC Dallas, scoring two goals for the team in 16 appearances in 2012. He was also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Team. Sealy makes his home in the Dallas-area and helps develop youth soccer players. His son, Dante Sealy, signed with FC Dallas in 2019 and has played for several U.S. Youth National Teams.
#10 – Dante Washington, F
Dante Washington was a participant in the first-ever trade in Major League Soccer with the Dallas Burn acquiring him from the Columbus Crew in 1996. He scored 28 goals in 99 games for the Burn from 1996-1999. In 1997, Dante Washington earned the FC Dallas Golden Boot after scoring 12 goals that season. Washington is currently a front office executive with Columbus Crew SC. Washington was also part of the team that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 1997.
#2 – Eric Dade, D
Eric Dade was a versatile defender with the Dallas Burn, making 111 starts in 126 appearances from 1997-2001. He was part of the club’s first ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in 1997. He also played professional indoor soccer for several teams, including the Dallas Sidekicks. Dade has coached at multiple levels of the sport and is currently serving as Executive Director of Coaching for the Western New York Flash.
#7 – Eddie Johnson, F
Eddie Johnson was drafted by the Dallas Burn in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft and played 87 games for the club, scoring 24 goals, before having an extended career in MLS and Europe. Johnson was a U.S. National Team player throughout his career and competed in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Johnson currently works as a skills-development coach in Florida.
#2 – Chris Gbandi, D
Chris Gbandi was the 2002 MLS SuperDraft No. 1 Overall Pick from UConn after winning the Hermann Trophy in 2000. He appeared in 111 games for the Dallas Burn and FC Dallas from 2002-2007 before moving on to Europe. The 2006 FC Dallas Defender of the Year award winner is now the head coach of the men’s soccer team at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
#11 – Ali Curtis, F
Ali Curtis played for a short time with the Dallas Burn in 2003, appearing in eight matches and scoring one goal. Another former Hermann Trophy winner, the Duke graduate is currently the General Manager and Vice President of Soccer Operations for Toronto FC.
#2 – Cory Gibbs, D
Cory Gibbs played the 2004 season with the Dallas Burn, starting in 21 matches. He was also capped 19 times by the USMNT. He represented Dallas at the 2004 MLS All-Star Game and named 2004 FC Dallas Defender of the Year. He has an extended career in Europe before returning to MLS. He is currently a Sr. Vice President with Wasserman Media Group.
#25 – Dominic Oduro, F
Originally from Ghana, Dominic Oduro was selected No. 22 overall by FC Dallas in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He played 72 games throughout three seasons with the club, scoring nine goals. Known for his speed and dangerous attacking skills, he is on a very distinguished list one of the fastest players ever in team history.
#1 – Shaka Hislop, GK
Shaka Hislop was featured in 12 matches in 2006/2007 before retiring with FC Dallas after a long career in England. He recorded 36 saves in MLS league play during that time. Hislop earned 26 caps for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team and was a member of the 2006 FIFA World Cup team. He is currently a commentator on ESPN FC.
#9 – Jeff Cunningham, F
Jeff Cunningham played for FC Dallas from 2008-2010, scoring 33 goals in 69 games. In 2009, Cunningham was named to the MLS Best XI and won the MLS Golden Boot for most goals in a season (17). He was also named FC Dallas MVP in 2009 and won the FC Dallas Golden Boot award in 2009 and 2010. Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, he attained U.S. citizenship in 2001 and was featured 14 times for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
#14 – Atiba Harris, D
Atiba Harris appeared in 125 MLS matches in two separate stints with an FC Dallas uniform, scoring 11 goals and adding 13 assists. The St. Kitts and Nevis’ first term with FCD coincided with Dallas’ run to the 2010 MLS Cup appearance. During his second tenure with, Harris helped the club earn the 2016 Supporters’ Shield, the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and a berth in the Knockout Round of CONCACAF Champions’ League in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
#3 – Ugo Ihemelu, D
Born in Nigeria, Ugo Ihemelu grew up in Cedar Hill, TX and played collegiate soccer at Southern Methodist University. He was acquired by FC Dallas in a trade with the Colorado Rapids in 2009 and started 71 of 73 matches played, including playoff games and the 2010 MLS Cup. Ihemelu is currently an educator with Uplift Education.
#31 – Scott Sealy, F
Scott Sealy played the final season of his career with FC Dallas, scoring two goals for the team in 16 appearances in 2012. He was also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Team. Sealy makes his home in the Dallas-area and helps develop youth soccer players. His son, Dante Sealy, signed with FC Dallas in 2019 and has played for several U.S. Youth National Teams.
#23 – Kellyn Acosta, MF
Kellyn Acosta signed with FC Dallas as the 7th Homegrown Player in club history on July 12, 2012. In the five and a half seasons with FC Dallas, he scored nine goals with 12 assists in 117 MLS regular season appearances. He was part of the team that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield in 2016.
#8 – Peter Luccin, MF
Peter Luccin enjoyed a long and distinguished career in France and Spain prior to joining FC Dallas for two seasons in 2013 and 2014. He played 14 games for the club before retiring. He is currently an assistant coach on Luchi Gonzalez’s staff.
#21 – London Woodberry, D
London Woodberry became the ninth Homegrown Player for FC Dallas on Jan. 9, 2013. He played eight matches as a defender for the club before having stints with New England Revolution and Nashville SC.
#13 – Tesho Akindele, F
Tesho Akindele was drafted in the first round (No. 3 overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. He was named MLS Rookie of the Year after scoring seven goals and recording three assists in 26 matches (18 starts) during the 2014 season. He scored 24 goals in 133 appearances for FC Dallas. Akindele was also part of the team that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield in 2016.
#14 – Bryan Reynolds, D
Reynolds signed as the 17th Homegrown in club history on Nov. 22, 2016 and became the youngest to ever sign with the club at 15 years and 147 days old. He appeared in 29 matches for FC Dallas and was named Defensive Player of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year and team MVP in 2020. The Fort Worth native also appeared in 12 matches for North Texas SC in 2019 and scored his first professional goal on Aug. 27. He was part of the team that won the USL League One title during its inaugural season. Reynolds was part of the FC Dallas U-16 Academy team that won the 2015/16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Championship. He joined A.S. Roma for a franchise-record fee on Feb. 1, 2021.
#2 – Reggie Cannon, D
Reggie Cannon signed with FC Dallas as the 18th Homegrown in 2016 and appeared in 75 matches across all competitions, recording three goals and five assists. As a youth player, Cannon won two U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championships during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He was also part of the U-19 Academy team that won the 2017 Dallas Cup Gordon Jago Super Group, the only MLS Academy team in Dallas Cup history with that achievement. He now plays for Portugal first-division side Boavista FC.
##18 – Brandon Servania, MF
Brandon Servania signed as the 19th Homegrown Player in club history on Jan. 3, 2018. He scored two goals and added three assists in 30 regular season appearances for FC Dallas. Servania joined SKN St. Pölten on loan following a training stint with the club in 2021. Servania participated in two FC Bayern Munich training periods as part of the clubs’ Elite Player Development partnership.
#32 – Kris Reaves, D
FC Dallas signed defender Kris Reaves to a Homegrown contract, becoming the 20th Homegrown player and 22nd Academy product signed by the club on Jan. 10, 2018. Reaves joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2012 and was a member of the U-18 Academy team with fellow Homegrown Kellyn Acosta.
#22 – Ema Twumasi, F
FC Dallas drafted Ema Twumasi 11th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He has appeared in seven regular season matches for FC Dallas, playing 107 minutes. Twumasi made his first ever FC Dallas postseason appearance as a substitution vs Portland Timbers on Nov. 22 and scored in the eighth round of the penalty shootout to advance to the next round.
Chris Richards, D
Chris Richards signed a Homegrown contract with FC Dallas on April 12, 2018, becoming the 22nd Academy product to do so. He joined FC Bayern on loan in July 2018 before signing with the club in January 2019. He made his first team Bundesliga debut in June 2020 and is currently on loan to Hoffenheim. Richards joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2017. The versatile defender started in all three matches for the U-19s in the 2018 Dallas Cup.
#31 – Dante Sealy, F
Dante Sealy signed as the 25th Homegrown player on Feb. 26, 2019. Sealy appeared in five FC Dallas matches in 2020 after debuting for the club on Sept. 9 against Minnesota United FC on the road. He made his professional debut with North Texas SC’s in its season opener on March 30, 2019. He is the son of Scott Sealy.
#27 – Eddie Munjoma, D
FC Dallas signed Eddie Munjoma as FC Dallas' 27th Homegrown on January 13, 2020. He started in five USL League One matches for North Texas SC this season, played 429 minutes. Munjoma made his North Texas SC debut on Oct. 7, 2020 vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. He scored two goals and added one assist during the 2020 season.
#28 – Nkosi Tafari, D
Selected with the 14th overall pick (1st round) in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Nkosi Burgess started in six matches for USL League One's North Texas SC in 2020. In the 540 minutes he appeared, Burgess scored his first professional goal vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Oct. 7.
#46 – Justin Che, D
Justin Che signed as the league-leading 30th Homegrown in club history on Oct. 2, 2020. He made his professional debut on July 25, 2020 with North Texas Soccer Club. Che was named to the 2020 USL League One All-League First Team and was nominated for the league’s Young Player of the Year award. Currently on loan with FC Bayern Munich, he is the second FC Dallas Homegrown to join FC Bayern on loan.
#2 - Eddie Munjoma
Eddie Munjoma joined the FC Dallas Academy in 2011 and led the FC Dallas U-16 Academy team to the 2015 US Soccer Development Academy National Championship.
