Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

As new Montreal Impact head coach Frank Klopas begins to put together his squad for the 2014 MLS season, he knows that he has at least 21 players signed on for next year.

The Impact announced on Thursday that they have exercised the contract options of 15 players to add to the six already signed for next year. Among those who had their options exercised include starters Patrice Bernier, Justin Mapp, Matteo Ferrari, and Felipe Martins. The six players who were already signed for next season are Marco Di Vaio, Hassoun Camara, Jeb Brovsky, Adrian Lopez, Hernan Bernardello, and former first overall draft pick Andrew Wenger.

Next year’s Impact squad will be without their captain from the last two seasons, Davy Arnaud, goalkeeper Brad Stuver, defenders Alessandro Nesta and Nelson Rivas, and midfielders Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Maxi Rodriguez, and Paolo DelPiccolo. Daniele Paponi, Andres Romero, and Andrea Pisanu aren’t included in the press release, meaning the Impact likely decided not to extend their loan agreements.

On Wednesday, the Impact announced that former Chicago Fire player and head coach Frank Klopas would become the team’s next head coach and director of player personnel, replacing Marco Schallibaum after just one season. Schallibaum led the Impact to an impressive start in the first third of the season but the team stuttered down the stretch, barely making the playoffs before being trounced at the Houston Dynamo in embarrassing fashion, with both Di Vaio and Romero earning red cards.

MLS rules allow teams to sign up to 30 players to their rosters, leaving the Impact plenty of room to maneuver this offseason.

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What do you think of the news? Agree with bringing back veterans such as Ferrari and Bernier? Think they should have gone a different direction? Think this current squad can still compete for a playoff spot?

Share your thoughts below.