The deal between Comunicaciones and Jeff Cunningham has been finalized with the former Columbus Crew player signing a one-year contract Friday afternoon.
The MLS’ all-time leading scorer with 134 goals is looking to help a young squad and said heading to Guatemala is a positive move.
“It is a good change. The league is very competitive, and I am at a good club, and I am looking forward to the challenge,” Cunningham said “It is going to be interesting to see how well I settle in, and the goals are going to come, but I am confident I will have success here.”
The forward will get his first chance to make an impact for Los Cremas on Wednesday when they face rivals Municipal. The two clubs are the biggest and most successful in Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala, combining for more than 50 Guatemalan domestic league championships.
When Cunningham makes his debut, he will be the first American to play for the Guatemala City-based club. The move to continue to play football is something Cunningham was looking to do after the Columbus Crew declined his 2012 contract option, and he was not selected in the MLS re-entry draft.
The American’s agent, Eddie Rock, helped set up the deal with Comunicaciones.
“My agent presented me with this chance, and it is one of the bigger clubs in the league,” Cunningham said. “From everything I have heard and read the club is moving in the right direction with new ownership, and, for me, at this point of career and stage of my life I am at, it is suits me.”
Los Cremas will be the sixth different club for which Cunningham has played, and the young squad will welcome his experience. The former USMNT player plans on being a leader and a role model for his new teammates.
“At this point in my career, (I want) to be a good veteran and a good professional, and hopefully I can influence some of the younger players and possibly help them to improve as a player,” he said of his role as an experienced player. “Just be a veteran presence around the club and whatever the manager ask me to be
“I want to be a player that teammates can come to and ask anything of.”
The Comunicaciones players will have an excellent role model in Cunningham and should reap the benefits of having a class act like the 2006 and 2009 MLS Golden Boot winner to look up to, but that’s not the only reason the club is bringing in the striker. Cunningham is also coming to Guatemala to win, and he wants to help his new club win a championship.
“As long as football is still my job, that is the goal. The goal is to win trophies, so I will continue to strive to do that until I am not able to play this game any more, he said. “So that will always be first and foremost. Any other accolades that come along is great, but to win is first and foremost.”