Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
The Columbus Crew aren’t finished adding to their roster just yet.
In the thick of the playoff race, the club have signed veteran centerback Emanuel Pogatetz. The 31-year-old Pogatetz joins the club as a free agent, and most recently played for FC Nurnberg in Germany.
“(He’s) a player that we’ve come to terms with and we’re going to bring him in,” Berhalter said following practice on Monday, adding that it’s a deal that had been in the works for a long time. “We think he’s a great addition to the roster.”
The 31-year-old brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level in Germany, England, and for the Austrian National Team, where he’s made more than 60 appearances. Pogatetz is best remembered for his spells with Middlesborough in the English Premier League (2005-2010) and Hannover (2010-2012).
A post on Pogatetz’s website states that he’s signed a two and a half year contract with an option for the 2017 season, and he’ll be the fifth-highest paid defender in MLS, though those numbers have not been disclosed.
A report on SI.com states that the Crew beat out an undisclosed Bundesliga club for Pogatetz’s signature.
Pogatetz comes in as a replacement for Costa Rican international Giancarlo Gonzalez, who completed a record-transfer move to Italian side Palermo late last month, just six months after signing with the Crew.
“He’s a different profile than Giancarlo,” Berhalter said. “With Giancarlo, you knew you were getting the potential for a sale, because of his age, but this guy I think is more of a person who can affect the culture of the club with his experience, his attitute, and his mentality.”
Pogatetz is expected to be available to make his Crew debut on Sept. 20, according to the report, when the Crew host the surging New England Revolution. Pogatetz’s last competitive match was a June 3 friendly match between Austria and the Czech Republic, which Austria won, 2-1. Pogatetz played the full 90 minutes at centerback.
“That’s the good part about it,” Berhalter said about Pogatetz needing time to gain fitness. “We’re comfortable now with how our backs have been playing and we realize this is a strong addition to the team. But we realize it will take a couple of weeks to get fully fit, probably more than that, but he’s a guy that will make an impact this season for sure.”
MLS clubs have until 5 p.m. pm Sept. 15 to make roster moves before the rosters are locked in place until the end of the season.
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What do you think of this report? Do you like the signing? Think Pogatetz can fit in well alongside Michael Parkhurst? Do you believe the Crew have what it takes to make it to the playoffs?
Share your thoughts below.
Remember last Tuesday when another team that desperately needs a CB was 48 hrs away from a signing, well, we are still waiting. Mr Paul Bravo, take notice how other teams can get things done.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2014/09/colorado-rapids-closing-foreign-signing
5million $$$ for Gonzalez. Great move Crew
so the starting centerback for Austria now plays for the Crew? MLS is on the way UP
Don’t know about him being the starting centerback for Austria. Austria played Sweden in the Euro-16 qualifier today and Pogatetz was not even on the bench. His national team career might be over.
And he’s on the market because his team got relegated and he made it through the window unscathed.
So hes making between 350k-450k if my math is right
really? he[d leave Bundesliga for that?
All MLS attackers be warned. Pogatetz will destroy all shins and ankles that get in his way. He has no problem hacking, whacking, and frustrating the crap out of you. Pogatetz is a flash from the past and not your “modern” CB. He’s one of those guys you’d hate to play against but you’d die to have on your team. He leaves it all on the field. Not my style of player. I tend to not like the brute nature of his game but there is no question the man can defend with a successful vengeance.
i think all MLS attackers are used to that kind of treatment..
He’ll be right at home in MLS in that case
He could be a pretty decent signing… assuming he doesn’t turn white as a sheet and shriek “Keyser Soze!!! when he sees Thierry Henry. Somebody has prepared him for this, yes?
Thais some funny stuff Doughnuts! He is a good defender and he can probably hack it for 2.5 years. We shall see.
great pickup.
Very good pickup for the Crew, should provide some good veteran presence and an improvement to the club.