Chivas USA sign former Galaxy defender Umana
The move was expected as 100 Percent Soccer blog readers knew, with Chivas USA Coach Martin Vásquez pleased with the showing of the 27-year-old Costa Rican central defender in camp.
"Michael has impressed us throughout preseason, and we're excited to have him join the team for 2010," Vásquez said. "He is a versatile, talented and experienced defender who is going to be an important part of our success this season."
Umana made six starts for the Galaxy in 15 appearances for Steve Sampson's 2005 MLS championship-winning side; he did not appear in the MLS Cup final that year.
Chivas USA needed central defenders after the loss of Shavar Thomas and the potential retirement of 40-something former Mexican international Claudio Suarez.
From the Chivas USA press release:
Umaña has made 40 appearances with the Costa Rican National Team, including playing 90 minutes in all three matches the team played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He also played the bulk of Costa Rica's matches in 2010 World Cup Qualifying, has played in three Gold Cups with the squad, and was a part of Costa Rica's Olympic Team in 2004. Umaña joins the Red-and-White after playing for Liberia Mia in Costa Rica for the past three years. Prior clubs in Costa Rica include CS Herediano, Brujas, and AD Carmelita, which was Umaña's first professional team, joining in 1999 as a 17-year-old.
Updated:
Meanwhile, former Chivas USA and currnet Galaxy striker Alecko Eskandarian, who hasn't played since suffering (yet another) concussion last season, Tweeted this today:
"As some of you have already heard i haven't been medically cleared to play pro soccer and am forced to step away from the game at this time."
Which is probably the closest thing you can get to a retirement without actually saying you've retired.
If this is the last we've seen of Esky on a soccer field,the eight-year MLS veteran will be missed.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I salute Alecko. Enjoyed watching him play throughout his career and I thank him for some wonderful memories even in his interupted time in LA. I hope he recovers fully and stays in the game to teach others it's essence. Thank you and good luck.
SU, I agree totally.
Once Umana settles in, I would *love* to know his impressions of the differences between Chivas USA and the Galaxy under Sampson.
Me too on Eskandarian.
That July goal against New York gave us a tantalizing look at what might have been for the Galaxy with him up top. A gifted and exciting player, a career ended too soon.
On the Alecko issue i'm dissapointed about him not being able to return he did look like a real goalscorer. Ironic that the final blow come in a friendly game.
With Alecko gone who will the Galaxy get goals from? Buddle was at his horrible worst last season, and Gordon is just not good enough to play at the MLS level.
What are the MLS rules about bringing in another player?
One name i was considering was Kevin Phillips, currently in the EPL with Birmingham but he has said in the past he does not want to play at EPL level. He is a proven goalscorer in the Englich Championship and could certainly finish off some of those Beckham crosses.