FC Dallas re-signs Dax McCarty

November 12, 10:39 AMFC Dallas ExaminerRobert Walker

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In the first major move of the off-season, FC Dallas signed midfielder Dax McCarty this week.  Though terms of the deal were not revealed, McCarty hinted that the signing should keep him in Dallas through at least 2010.  

"I feel like we have a lot of pieces in place to win a championship, and I want to be a part of that," said McCarty, in an interview with the U.S. Soccer blog covering the Men's National Team.  "I'm looking forward to the next couple years of getting better as a player and as a team." 

McCarty has shown steady improvement in his four years with FC Dallas since being drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 MLS Superdraft.  He scored a career-high three goals in 2009, and added six assists, and was a major factor in the team's improved play over the 2nd half of the season.

"Dax was a key member of the team this season and a vital part of the successful late-season run we had," said FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman in a team-issued press release.  "Ensuring Dax would be in a FC Dallas uniform next season was a top priority for us."

The surprising thing is that this time last year, McCarty looked to be on the outs with FC Dallas, as he and Hyndman apparently failed to see eye-to-eye regarding his role with the team.  Hyndman spent the 2008-2009 offseason trying to ship out the disgruntled midfielder, but could find no takers willing to pay what he felt McCarty was worth. 

McCarty failed to show up on time for training camp to start the 2009 preseason, and the icy relationship with Hyndman appeared to continue well into the season, as McCarty spent much of the early part of the season on the bench. 

Eventually, though, both sides came together to forge a working relationship, much to the benefit of the team as a whole.  By the end of the season, McCarty's presence in midfield proved to be as crucial as any player on the team.  He frustrated opponents with his tenacious style, frequently dispossessing oncoming attackers and quickly finding the perfect outlet for a counterattack.  A smart player on the ball, he rarely makes a bad pass.

In many ways, McCarty is the fighting heart of FC Dallas.  His ferocity can be infectious to his teammates as well, and he's the type of player whose attitude can galvanize a winning team.