Top Stories

Chivas USA complete capture of “Bofo” Bautista

AdolfoBautistaChivasdeGuadalajara1- (AFP)

By DAN KARELL

One of Mexican soccer’s most colorful characters has moved north of the border.

Former Chivas de Guadalajara and Mexico National Team forward Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista has signed a contract with Chivas USA, marking the first time the 34-year-old will play his club soccer outside of Mexico. Bautista will be added to the squad pending the receipt of his international transfer certificate (ITC).

Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

While Bautista may have lost a step or two at this age, there’s no doubt he brings experience and a goal-scoring resume with him to StubHub Center. In his 16-year professional career, Bautista has played more than 300 league matches and scored 85 goals in Liga MX for Estudiantes Tecos, Morelia, Pachuca, Chivas de Guadalajara, Chiapas, and Atletico San Luis in the Mexican second division.

While at Chivas de Guadalajara, Bofo helped lead the club to an Apertura league title in 2006 and a second-place finish in the 2010 Copa Libertadores. Bofo scored one of Chivas’ goals in the finals, though they fell, 5-3 on aggregate, to Internacional of Brazil.

Perhaps worrying for Chivas USA is that Bautista hasn’t played regularly since the 2010/2011 season. He didn’t play an official match during the 2012 calendar year and first half of 2013, and Bautista failed to score in 12 appearances in the recent Apertura season for Atletico San Luis.

——–

What do you think of this news? Excitied about this signing? Do you think he can have an impact in MLS?

Comments

  1. “While Bautista may have lost a step or two at this age, there’s no doubt he brings experience and a goal-scoring resume with him to StubHub Center”

    Yep, he can sit in the locker room and tells stores about the great goals he scored back in the days when he scored goals.

    Sorry, but MLS is certainly close enough skill-wise in week-in, week-out competition that if he can’t score there, he won’t score here.

    This reminds me of an early-days MLS signing of some washed up has-been cashing out on a retirement contract.

    No, I don’t think many will pay good money to watch him play more than once or twice

    Reply
  2. He’s terrible, or at least he will be if he ever gets on the field. Feel bad for him but at the same time he’s lucky anyone is willing to sign him at this point.

    Reply
  3. You guys are hilarious, Chivas has been after this guys for years, and they finally get the big “name” player they wanted, and it’s not good enough for you. Yes, he’s a shadow of his former self, but he’s still a potential attendance boost. I’m not doing back-flips at this signing, and I’m sure his stay will be brief, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little interested in seeing what the guy can do in MLS (and I’m fully aware that it could be a big fat nothing.)
    And where do you get off acting like DC is suddenly world-beater for bringing in a bunch of MLS-lifers. Sorry, EJ just doesn’t do it for me, and he’s obviously a head-case.

    Reply
    • And I haven’t read anywhere about him being a DP, so we can at least assume, for the moment, that they aren’t overpaying him.

      Reply
    • 4 goals in 4 seasons, the Union’s Hoppenot scored more than that! Don’t give me the story that the Mexican league is much better than MLS, Herc Gomez scored more in Mexico than he did in MLS. He has scored 35 goals in 101 games in Mexico and 24 goals in 141 games in MLS.

      Reply
      • Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored more goals for Chicago Fire than the second division Irapuato team he played for, so by your logic MLS is worse than Mexico’s second division.

  4. Bahaha. TFC, of the same ilk as Chivas USA until recently, making big moves…meanwhile Chivas do this. How long til the franchise is moved?

    Reply
  5. Sounders = Dempsey
    Toronto FC = Defoe and Bradley
    Union = Edu
    Chivas USA = Bofo

    Yeah, one of these doesn’t fit. Let me guess, he’s their new designated player bwahahahahahaha

    Chivas is a disgrace to the MLS.

    Reply
  6. Was anyone else terrified when they saw the words “Chivas USA” and “capture” in the same sentence? Couldn’t help but think “Oh my god they’ve finally resorted to kidnapping people to play for them.”

    Reply
  7. Considering the lack of success for Mexican players in MLS (with Blanco being the exception), im anticipating that this signing will only help chivas la get crushed by Toronto and dc united next season

    Reply
  8. Awesome move for Chivas.
    It was either him or another player of the same quality who is younger and takes up less cap space.
    I’d like to say their obsession is similar to the Raiders obsession with speed that makes them a laughing stock, but that would be insulting to Oakland.

    Reply
  9. Absolutely ideal Chivas USA player. Carlos Bocanegra must be looking around for his copy of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased.

    Reply
  10. They should make a move for Edgar Pacheco. He was doing good and even got called up to the senior Mexico side, then Tigres bought him and he never played. He just needs a little consistent playing time.

    Reply
  11. I agree that this signing does not look good for chivas usa. Hope they sign a dp forward to help cubo torres and mauro rosales

    Reply
  12. So, essentially this is a move for a striker who hasn’t scored a goal at any level in over 2 years, has played very little, and is 34. This is another example of how messed up Chivas USA is. With all the signings announced by the league in the past week or so, this has to be the most useless of all. If he is coming as a DP, it would be an even sicker joke.

    Reply
    • “OK…so Seattle goes big with Clint, Toronto goes HUGE with one of the better scorers in the EPL with several years left in his legs and one of the best USMNT talents playing on one of the best clubs in Europe in his prime. KC has It seems now all of the other clubs are trying to quickly keep up and bring in bigger and better talent and are not too worried about the cost which means we might need to get to some big names first AND fast! We have been a joke in the league for years and even our sister club in Mexico is not doing so well. The other LA team has always had some of the bigger names in the league and has all 3 DP slots. We need to think outside the box here to get some resepect!! So lets find a new talent!” —- “ummm….well I don’t know about talent, but I have a tip we can get a striker who would be one of the older players in the league if we add him, hasn’t really played a match in two years and been ages since he has scored, BUT he is a very colorful character…we just need to pay him more than everyone else on the team. However, I think there is something about him which could really become part of our culture and send a signal to the soccer fans out there about our team brand and what we are all about and how we value the level of play in MLS compared to the Mexican game.” —- “BRILLIANT! Pull that trigger”

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Tony in Quakeland Cancel reply