Abel Xavier has left Middlesbrough and "is now being strongly linked with a move to America". He's certainly a colourful character who MLS fans would take to if he does venture across The Pond. He's certainly tighten up TFC's defence.
Yeah, Abel Xavier has been known to be a little bombastic, but those days are over. While he had a good season with Middlesborough, contract talks fell apart. He has played all over Europe (Portugal, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, England) and I wouldn't be surprised to see him coming to the MLS - perhaps Toronto, who knows...
Portuguese, 34 years old, defender (full back). Here are some stats: http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=706&pn=Abel_Luis_Da_Silva_Xavier
Yes, looks like it: (http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2004/mar08a.htm) (Monday, March 8, 2004) -- United States striker Clint Mathis and defender Steve Cherundolo will have a new coach at Hannover 96. After dropping its third straight German Bundesliga match, 1-0 to host Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hannover fired coach Ralf Rangnick yesterday. A replacement is expected to be named during the week. On Saturday, Hannover central defender Abel Xavier allowed Gladbach's Igor Demo to head home a free kick in the 25th minute.
i dunno man... 34 years old, steroid user, pron eto injury, hasn't been capped nationally for 5 years and switches teams every year - waiting until the last minute to make his decision? sounds like a problem to me... although i'm sure he would bring some good experience, jacek bak seems far superior to him. especially if we had to use the dp spot to mak ethis happen. if he came here for $150k like dichio, why not give him a shot?
our defense will be fine since Reda is on the bench.....Keep in mind we are an EXPANSION tea....no need to bring in "colourful" overpaid additions... Pozniak will be back in shortly.... the problem with TFC is basically the whole Coaching side of it...as well as Canada Soccer. you have Scots and brits running the whole show from the top down....TFC decided to go with a 'experienced' coach in Mo....last i checked Mo did nothing to impress in New York..... the Scottish and the Brittish game is soo predictable hence why they haven't won any major championships since who knows when... now you're gunna say Man U and Chelsea and Liverpool.....WRONG! Man U didn't play a typical english way when they won championsleague back then....and they certainly dont play it now.. with Ronaldo and Giggs running all over the park.... Chelsea and Liverpool...dont even have english coaches so thats a mute point , Livepool plays closer to the english way ..more direct soccer now that Luis Garcia is out of the lineup...and Chelsea....tahts a whole different story. we as canadians...need some pop in out game...its frankly boring....the kids growing up (some now U-20) grew up with Italian, Portuguese, and Latin American coaches.....they get to the international teams.....coached by englishmen and scottishmen, their creative ability cant be shown or they are passedover (i.e. hargreaves, fernandes) .... we need better international coaches here in Canada and TFC shoulda hired an experienced foriengner.....and forget about the UK and all their players and coaches.....other than the UK leagues...the players are Worthless.... now lemme here it.....
Looks like Xavier is off to join Golden Balls at LA http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6656623.stm