Hamburg goalkeeper Rost heads to New York

Posted Thursday, July 14, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

HAMBURG, Germany (AFP) - Veteran Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost is waving goodbye to the German league after 426 Bundesliga appearances and 19 years to play for Red Bull New York in the Big Apple.

The 38-year-old will join New York's France star Thierry Henry and Mexico's Rafael Marquez to play Major League Soccer (MLS) and is expected to be available for Saturday's game away at Chivas USA.

"I look forward to the challenge of the land, the language, and the league," Rost confirmed to SID, an AFP subsidiary, having not had his contract at Hamburg renewed.

Rost has a wealth of experience: he made his Bundesliga debut in 1992 and won the last of his four caps for Germany against Canada in 2003.

He also played for Werder Bremen and Schalke in the Bundesliga during his career.

"We are delighted that Frank has decided to join us in the middle of our campaign," New York's director of sport Erik Soler said with his side top of the Eastern Conference.

"He is a very experienced goalkeeper and we look forward to his contributions for the remainder of the season."

Rost is the third Bundesliga player to switch to the MLS this year after Cologne goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon was transferred to Philadelphia Union and ex-Germany midfielder Torsten Frings left Werder Bremen to join Toronto FC.

Having studied business administration, Rost is also said to be interested in gaining some experience in marketing while in New York.