Jeferson, a left-footed midfielder from the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama, has joined Sporting Kansas City as a designated player of the 2011 season. The 27-year-old Jeferson will be on loan with KC for the rest of the season. He’s the third designated player in club history. He began his career with Brasiliense in 2005 and went to Esporte Clube Santo Andre the following year. He scored 13 goals in the 2008 season.
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Thierry Henry, the French soccer star who just signed with the Red Bulls, already has some friends in New York. On Wednesday night, Henry celebrated his new contract by dining at La Gazetta with Ronny Turiaf, the 6-foot-10, Martinique-born player for the French national basketball team who just joined the Knicks. Then, Henry joined Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash, a big soccer fan, at Bagatelle’s Bastille Day bash.
Major League Soccer’s summer Designated Player parade, which already has featured established European goalscorers Thierry Henry, Mista and Blaise Nkufo, took a riskier turn on Saturday in Chicago, where the Fire announced the signing of perennial Mexican underachiever Nery Castillo.
The 26-year-old represents Chicago’s second foray into Mexico, but Castillo is a far cry from Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who lent his scowl and skill to the Fire for three seasons. On the other hand, he’s a talented foreigner under 30. Rather than viewing MLS as a place to wind down, Castillo will come to Chicago hoping to re-establish himself as a player of consequence.
Castillo was born in Mexico to a Uruguayan father who was playing professionally for San Luis. He moved to Uruguay as a child and began his career with Danubio of Montevideo, where he began attracting European interest. A trial with Manchester United failed to result in a contract, but Castillo was able to secure a deal from Greek power Olympiakos when he was 16.
He remained at the club for seven years, during which which he became eligible to play for Greece. However Castillo was lured to the Mexican team by former coach Hugo Sanchez, and despite the fact that he never played there, he made his debut with El Tricolor in 2007. That same year he transferred to Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk for €20 million, beginning a series of professional missteps that would see him fall out of favor with the national side and put his career in limbo.
Castillo already was known as a bit of a hothead (like Blanco), but took that reputation one step further early in his stay at Shakhtar. He failed to score in his first seven games at the club and in the eighth after the team was awarded a penalty kick, Castillo snatched the ball from the club’s usual penalty taker and took the shot himself. It was saved, Castillo was substituted immediately and never played for the team again.
He was loaned to Manchester City in December 2007, got injured soon thereafter and returned to Shakhtar one year later. He then was loaned out again, this time to Ukraine’s Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Not much has been heard from him since.
Castillo made his reputation, at least on the positive side, largely off his performance at the 2007 Copa America. He scored an astonishing four goals as Mexico finished third, including the incredible effort against Brazil in the first round. The past three years have been underwhelming, to say the least.
Chicago is betting that he can turn it around there. If it works out, and Castillo is welcomed back into the Tricolor fold, it could be a huge boon for a league hoping to attract some younger foreign talent.
Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed star French forward Thierry Henry to a multi-year contract as its second Designated Player. Henry, a World Cup, European Championship and UEFA Champions League winner, will be available for selection for New York pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and after the July 15 international transfer window. His debut for the Red Bulls is expected to be on July 22 against English Premiership club, Tottenham Hotspur, in the Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena.
“It is without question that Thierry Henry is one of the most successful and recognizable soccer players over the past 15 years,” said Dietmar Beiersdorfer, Head of Red Bull Global Soccer. “We are thrilled that Thierry has decided to come to New York to help the Red Bulls compete for championships this year and for years to come. His international pedigree is second to none and he is a proven winner.”
“This marks an exciting new chapter in my career and life,” Henry said. “It is an honor to play for the New York Red Bulls. I am fully aware of the team’s history and my sole goal during my time here is to help win the club its first championship. Knowing Red Bull’s significant commitment to soccer locally and internationally, I am confident that my teammates and I will succeed.”
Henry will be introduced at a press conference on Thursday, July 15 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ at 1:15 PM. The press conference will be streamed live on www.newyorkredbulls.com.
The former FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Juventus FC and AS Monaco striker known for his sublime technical ability, sharp acumen and nose for goal, most recently represented France in the World Cup for a record fourth time. Henry, a member of the 1998 World Cup-winning side and leading scorer, has scored a national-record 51 goals and earned 123 caps for his country. Henry also helped France win the 2000 European Championship and the 2003 Confederations Cup.
“Thierry is not only a world class player who will undoubtedly improve our squad, but he has shown most importantly throughout his career that he is a winner,” said Erik Soler, Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director. “He has made it clear to us that he is committed in the short and long term to help in our vision of making our organization the premium franchise in Major League Soccer.”
Famous for his trademark “14” jersey, Henry most recently played for FC Barcelona, where he scored 49 goals and had a successful stint with the Catalan side. In his first season, Henry was the top scorer and led the team with 19 goals. A year later he went one better not only scoring 26 goals but being an integral part of the squad that went on to win six championships – the UEFA Champions League, La Liga Title Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup, UEFA Supercup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Prior to joining FC Barcelona, Henry played for London-based club, Arsenal FC. Henry rose to legendary status with the Gunners, becoming the club’s all-time leading goal scorer with 226 goals from 1999-07. The French marksman was the top scorer in the English Premiership (2002, 2004-06) a record four times and helped his club win the Premiership championship in 2002 and 2004. The 32-year-old also helped lead his team to three English FA Cups and he won the European Golden Boot in 2004 and 2005.
During Henry’s first season, he recorded 26 goals – an indicator of his future success with Arsenal. In the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Henry was a runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year and was the first-ever back-to-back winner of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. In 2005, Henry was given the Captain’s Armband and became the club’s all-time goal scorer with a brace against Sparta Prague on Oct. 17, snapping Ian Wright’s previous record of 185. He again was named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, becoming the only player to win the award three times.
For fans interested in purchasing tickets for the Red Bulls’ July 22 showdown versus Tottenham Hotspur, please call 1.877.RB.SOCCER or visit www.newyorkredbulls.com. The Bullshop at Red Bull Arena will be open to the general public from 10 AM to 6 PM on July 14, 15, and 16. Fans interested in purchasing Henry merchandise can enter Red Bull Arena at Gate A to gain access to the Bullshop or visit www.redbullshopusa.com to order online.
#14 Thierry Henry
Pronunciation: TYAIR-ree ahn-REE
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Weight: 183
Day of Birth: Aug. 17, 1977 in Les Ulis, France
Hometown: Paris, France
Previous Professional Club: FC Barcelona (Spanish La Liga)
Status: Designated Player
How Acquired: Signed by New York on July 14, 2010
