By VINCE MADURI
Mikaël Silvestre’s tour of training stints around Cascadia is over, as the Portland Timbers confirmed Wednesday the club has signed the 35-year-old centerback to a contract.
“Mikaël will bring a tremendous amount of experience and a presence on the field and in the locker room,” Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said in a statement. “He is a quality player on both sides of the ball and his impact will certainly go a long way in helping to solidify our backline. Mikaël made a very positive impression on the players and our coaching staff during his two-week trial and we are very excited to welcome him to the Timbers organization.”
Silvestre has competed in several of the top leagues around the world with stints in Ligue 1 in France, Serie A in Italy, the Premier League in England and the Bundesliga in Germany. The defender is a legend at Old Trafford, appearing in 249 games for Manchester United between 1999 and 2008. The French international also appeared in 40 games for his country before retiring from international competition in 2006.
Here are some more MLS stories to catch you up on all the pre-season activity around the league:
DYNAMO SIGN ENGLISH WINGER ANDREW DRIVER
The Houston Dynamo announced Wednesday the club has acquired Heart of Midlothian winger Andrew Driver on a loan deal.
Driver has made 168 appearances, scoring 19 goals over seven seasons at Hearts, and comes to Houston entering in the prime of his career at 25-years-old.
“Andrew is good at taking people on, he crosses a good ball and can take set pieces,” said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. “He is a hard-working player and I think he will definitely fit in with the team. He has a good attitude on the field and is versatile. He can play on the left or right side of midfield.”
The English international adds welcome depth to a team which plays on three fronts this season.
FC DALLAS PRESIDENT DOUG QUINN STEPS DOWN
FC Dallas president and CEO Doug Quinn has stepped down from his position, the club announced Wednesday.
“After much consideration, I have decided to resign from FC Dallas to spend more time with my two beautiful daughters,” Quinn said in a statement. “I will be forever grateful to Clark and the Hunt family for giving me an opportunity to lead this great franchise, and I sincerely appreciate the hard work and dedication shown every day by the FC Dallas family.”
Quinn had spent the last three months on a personal leave of absence, citing the need to spend time with his family after he was arrested on allegations of assault following an altercation with his wife in a New York City hotel room. The now former FC Dallas president spent the last three years with the club after taking over in 2010.
JOHNNY STEELE SIGNED BY RED BULLS
The New York Red Bulls have acquired Johnny Steele, signing the midfielder after trading a conditional supplemental draft pick to Real Salt Lake for the player’s rights.
“Jonny is a player who our coaching staff is very familiar with and believe will provide depth in our midfield,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “We are pleased to have agreed to a contract with Jonny and look forward to his contribution this season.”
The 27-year-old comes to New York after appearing in 28 games for RSL last season and scoring two goals.