New York's Kenny Cooper returns to FC Dallas in a trade

Kenny Cooper is returning to the place where he launched his successful Major League Soccer career.

The towering striker has rejoined FC Dallas in a trade with the New York Red Bulls in exchange for allocation money. Cooper is the second striker acquired by the team on Monday as it also traded for Eric Hassali earlier in the day.

Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh admitted that the move to trade the club's leading scorer was done in order to free up salary cap space.

“Due to salary cap restrictions and in order to balance our squad now and in the future, we have very reluctantly traded Kenny. The allocation money combined with the salary cap relief that we obtained will be vital for us to strengthen the squad in specific areas,” Roxburgh said in a written statement. “Kenny, who is a great professional as well as an excellent person to work with, has been a very good member of our roster and we wish him every success with the next phase of his playing career. Kenny and MLS have been very supportive during this difficult process.”

Acquired on Jan. 12, 2012 from the Portland Timbers, Cooper led New York with 18 goals and added three assists in 33 regular season appearances last year. Cooper previously spent three seasons with FC Dallas from 2006-09 and averaged just over 13 goals a season before departing the club to join 1860 Munchen. Cooper's move to Dallas marks the sixth time that he has changed clubs having also played for Oldham, Plymouth and Portland. Cooper is also a former youth product of Manchester United.