FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas has signed free agent forward Kenny Cooper Jr. to a three-year contract with club options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, the club announced today.
Cooper, 38, is in his third stint with FC Dallas having originally signed for the club on Feb. 6, 2006. Son of former Dallas Tornado goalkeeper Kenny Cooper Sr., Cooper Jr. played 90 games and scored 40 goals for FC Dallas over his four initial seasons in which he earned MLS All-Star, MLS Comeback Player of the Year and MLS Best XI honors.
“I'm back," Cooper said. "Whatever the team needs, I’m ready. I couldn’t be more excited, it’s a dream come true…for a third time. I hope to play well into my 40s and even my 50s. We have so many talented players and I think they’ll make that easy for me.”
After spells with 1860 Munich, Portland Timbers and New York Red Bulls, Cooper returned to Dallas for the 2013 season and scored six goals to bring his total FC Dallas tally to 46 MLS goals, second-most in club history. Cooper also holds a joint-FC Dallas record for most goals in a single MLS season with 18, along with Jason Kreis and current FCD Homegrown forward Jesús Ferreira.
“Having a proven goal-scorer back with the club is a great thing,” said FC Dallas Technical Director Andre Zanotta. “Kenny is always fired up and into it and we wanted to make his signing happen…again…it’s like he never left.”
A former U.S. international, Cooper joined the FC Dallas front office as its official Club Ambassador on Feb. 7, 2022. Cooper last played in MLS for the Montreal Impact during the 2015 season but has been assisting with FC Dallas first team training since returning to the club in his ambassadorial role.
“It’s an exciting moment,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. “Kenny knows a thing or two about scoring goals here. Watching him today, he’s a better finisher than he’s ever been. It’s a big moment for the club.”
Name: Kenny Cooper Jr.
Pronunciation: Ken-nee Coo-purr
Connect with Kenny: Twitter | Instagram
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: October 21, 1984 (38)
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Height: 6-3
Weight: 209
Transaction: FC Dallas signs forward Kenny Cooper to a three-year contract with club options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons as an April Fools' joke.
