Re: DJ Countess? Soon, this BigSoccer moderator will figure out how to use that newfangled private message feature!
Re: DJ Countess? Probably more of the other way around. I was an equipment manager with the U-20 team and can say that DJ was one of the nicest and most genuine guys on the team. I know he enjoyed Argentina and had even mentioned how cool it would be to play there so I bet he'll be comfortable in Chile. Please keep me posted about DJ's progress and if anyone has an email for him, let me know as I would like to catch up with him. By the way, I met my wife in Argentina on a U-20 trip.
Re: DJ Countess? Any truth to the rumor that while trialing in Europe, DJ was trying to meet up with women who were of royalty? Something about thinking it would be cool to have a wife that was refered to as Countess Countess.
Re: DJ Countess? http://www.australosorno.cl/prontus4_nots/site/artic/20070217/pags/20070217004752.html Looks like it's Osorno (the second division team) ... this piece talks about their new arrivals Countess and Argentinian defender Federico Carvalho.
Re: DJ Countess? So, would it be possible to merge this thread with Chase Hilgenbrink's and call it "Yanks in Chile"? -- Anyway, I did some research and I came up with a few names of Americans that had played in Chile before Countess and Hilgenbrink. Generally speaking, it is of mixed success. -Kurt Dasbash (sp?): signed for Puerto Montt on '93, and based on what I was able to find out he scored a few goals in the Copa Chile (this tourney does not exist anymore, though it was similar to the Carling Cup in England as this one included the top two---professional---divisions). My brother told me that he remembers the guy came from some team in Connecticut. -Jon Ben McKnight: signed for Regional Atacama for the 2nd half of the '96 season. This team was probably one of the worst, statiscally speaking, to ever play in the top flight. I remember he had come from the Richmond Kickers (A-League) did not have much of an impact, then again, the team pretty much sucked. -Mac Cozier: signed for Deportes Antofagasta in '98, I believe (someone correct me if I am wrong?). Back then, they were in the 2nd div. According to Sam's Army, he was there the whole season. http://www.sams-army.com/index.php?Mlist=player&Pid=30 I also remember reading he played for the Charleston Battery afterward, and on his player bio it said he had been amongst the top scorers while with Antofagasta (though I highly doubt that). -Jesus Ledezma: Mexican-American who played for two 2nd. div. teams while in Chile (Deportes Ovalle and Melipilla). If he was able to sign for a 2nd one, it means he probably wasn't that bad. All I remember about him is that he came from J'ville Cyclones (then, A-League). -Jonny Walker: probably the most succesful of all the Americans that have graced our fields. Signed for U. Catolica in '98 and went on loan to Huachipato for about two seasons, till 2000 when he was recalled by UC. Had a pretty good career there and then went onto Colo-Colo (my country's biggest club), for whom he was able to play in the Copa Libertadores (South American CL). -Chase Hilgenbrink: signed originally for Huachipato in '05 but went on loan to Naval (team from the same city, though it plays in the 2nd div.) Had a pretty decent season there, but left for Nublense in '06. While with Nublense, the team won promotion to the 1st div. and there he is now. On "American Soccer" (GolTV), they claimed he was named to the league's best 11, though based on my sources, that was not the sace (his form would probably suggest a honorable mention, though). From what I understand he didn't play pro in the States (right?), though he played D1 college ball for Clemson U (no?). -J. Caleb Norkus: signed for Union Espanola in '05, and while there the team won the Opening Championship (Apertura). He was generally the 1st forward off the bench. IIRC, he played in the German 3rd. div, as well, and he also was on camp with DCU at some point. I also think he played for the Richmond Kickers. Last I heard, he was playing for the PR Islanders. -And now, DJ Countess. I hope you guys enjoy this! Metro
Re: DJ Countess? What's the pay scale in Chile? It is the richest South American nation in PPP/capita but its total size works against it in signing better level players.
Re: DJ Countess? I wouldn't be able to provide you with exact figures, BUT Giovanny Hernandez (Colombian int. who just signed for Colo-Colo) earns US $15,000 a month, which translates to about $8 mill. Chilean pesos. I would say if you play in the 1st div., you earn very good money (in other words, you have nothing to worry about; specially as a foreigner). If you play in the 2nd div., however, you probably earn just enough to get by, though I think as a foreigner he probably earns good money. I think salary-wise, we're probably 3rd behind Bra/Arg, though don't quote me on that. The best paid played in the 2nd. div currently earns about $1 mill. pesos (I think that's a little more than US $2,000). Metro
Re: DJ Countess? You're correct. I had looked into Argentina's numbers some while ago and that must have been during their last economic crisis, from which Argentina seems to have recovered quite nicely (CIA has them at $15K/ in PPP, Chile is ~ $12.5K). Ah, Geovanni Hernandes is a playmaker, correct? A smallish #10? So he gets $180K/Y or ~ $360K in PPP. That's better than MLS.
Re: DJ Countess? Is salary for Chilean soccer players actually paid on time and without need to get a lawyer (from what little I know about Chile, it wouldn't surprise me that it was an exception to this problem that plagues Latin American soccer in some countries)? Do all clubs in the Chilean first division have the same pay scale as Colo Colo, University of Catolica etc.?
Re: DJ Countess? 1. Most teams now are run as private enterprises, so the answer is no you don't need a lawyer. My team, though---Wanderers--has been running into financial trouble, but it has been able to pay the players' salaries (a bit late, but still). If you play for a big club, you have nothing to worry about; and if you're a foreign player in the 1st div., you're probably amongst the 1st people to get your paycheck, anywhow. 2. No, not at all clubs in Chile have the same pay scale as CC, UC, or UdeCh. That's like asking if all the teams in the EPL pay as much as Chelsea or Man U do. The bigger teams can afford to pay more, and the smaller teams can afford to pay the less. I am pretty sure Countess is not in Chile for the money, though. Metro
Re: DJ Countess? This article came out today and it talks about the teams' budgets in the Chilean 1st. div. It says Colo-Colo has the best paid players (obviously), and in terms of salaries the team spends $120 mill. pesos monthly (517.948 CLP = 1 USD). -- http://www.terra.cl/deportes/index.cfm?accion=futbolnacional&id=745404 Ranking COLO COLO LIDERA A LOS PLANTELES MÁS CAROS DEL FÚTBOL CHILENO El cuadro popular gasta en su equipo 120 millones de pesos, aventajando por mucho a sus más cercanos perseguidores, que son O’Higgins y Everton. En el reverso de la medalla está Melipilla, Lota Schwager y Wanderers, las instituciones más austeras del país. (TERRA.cl) SANTIAGO, febrero 18.- Definitivamente Colo Colo no sólo muestra todo su poder dentro de la cancha, donde lidera sin grandes sobresaltos el torneo nacional. También exhibe su hegemonía en el plano financiero, al tener la planilla más alta del balompié criollo. En efecto, según una ranking que publicó el diario El Mercurio, el cuadro popular es que el más gasta en ese ítem, al cancelar 120 millones en sus “estrellas". Lo siguen, no muy de cerca, los elencos de O’Higgins y Everton, mientras que la UC y la “U” recién aparecen en la casilla quinta y sexta, respectivamente. El caso inverso de la medalla la viven tres cuadros de provincia. Melipilla, Lota Schwager y Wanderers hicieron de la austeridad su modo de existir, para luego no pasar zozobras. --- Metro
Re: DJ Countess? Yea, oftentimes the deal may include a car and/or apt., as well, and once again this is specially true with foreigners (in order to entice them to come to our league). I know it may sound like a little compared to MLS, but since it may include a car/apt., it's not too bad. One can def. make a very good living, plus players that have "outside" sponsorship deals (shoes, shirts, etc..) generally keep the money to themselves instead of the team handling the image rights, etc... And the level of competition is not bad, either. Metro
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) Como Estan Haciendo los Wanders? I haven't heard a thing from them since I left Chile with my wife about 3 years ago. They were my fav. tema while I was in Chile for 4 years. My wife is a Colo-Colo fan so we argue about it all the time seeing that they always beat up on my team.
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) I think this is a terrific experience for both players. But just recently, wasn't there a major player strike, or lockout, over back wages? Go La "U"!!!!
Re: DJ Countess? For what it's worth, I believe Dasbach originally (i.e., youth/high school) came from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland area (i.e., just a few miles outside of Washington, D.C.).
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) Hi! Sorry I wasn't able to update Countess's and Chase's situation. Last week, Chase started for Nublense @ Huachipato (1-1, played as a CB). Today, Nublense plays at home to Palestino. Countess has yet to make his debut (though today his team, Pto. Montt visit my team Wanderers; based on the projected line ups that I read about, he's not pencilled in to start). I also believe another Chilean team signed yet another American GK. The team is Municipal Iquique (formerly known as Dep. Iquique). They just earned promotion to the 2nd div. this year. I got this info from my brother, but he forgot to send me the link. I will do my best to try and find it. www.terra.cl/deportes www.mercuriovalpo.cl www.estrellavalpo.cl Metro
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) Daniel Kennedy from California? http://futboliquique.blogspot.com/search?q=estados+unidos
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) Good stuff! I looked through that site yest. but couldn't find the article---props to you! This Dan Kenney spent time with the Metros two yrs. ago and was most recently with the PR Islanders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Kennedy In regards to Countess's situation: he is probably going to fight for the #1 GK spot with Carlos Arias (who was our U20 NT GK in '05 at the U20 WC in the Netherlands). Metro
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) Hi! My usual (and most reliable) source for Chilean soccer news (Terra) has yet to upload all the info about Nublense's game today. I did, however, find their website: www.losdiablosrojos.cl Here's a link to the squad section: http://www.losdiablosrojos.cl/modules.php?name=plantel2007 (they list Chase as a CB). Metro
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) No problema I just Googled the team name, found the blog, then searched for "estados unidos". My High School Spanish is coming in handy!
Re: Yanks in Chile (Countess, Hilgenbrinck) Chase started the match as Nublense got their 1st victory in the top flight this year (vs. Palestino). http://www.losdiablosrojos.cl/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=353 Metro