Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports
By DAN KARELL
After spending a few days training to stay fit with Stabæk, A.J. Soares has reportedly joined up with another Norwegian club in a bid to earn a contract.
According to a report in Norwegian publication Aftenbladet, Soares is jetting off to La Manga in Murcia, Spain, for a trial with Viking FK. The 26-year-old center back, who holds an Italian passport, is expected to arrive at the club’s warm-weather training camp on Friday.
“This is a player we have checked very carefully, and it will surprise me if he is not good enough for us,” Viking sporting director Arne Larsen Økland told Aftenbladet.
Viking head coach Kjell Jonevret said in the report that he reached out to former New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe for a scouting report on Soares.
“We’ll see (if he signs), but it will be interesting to talk to him and see him in action,” Jonevret said. “I’ve talked a bit with Hans Backe, who knows football and feedback is that he certainly is worth taking a look at. My impression is that he is a technically good player who wants to play soccer.”
Playing in the Eliteserien, Norway’s 16-team first division, Viking finished in 10th place in 2014. The 2015 season begins on April 6.
Soares, a free agent since his contract with the New England Revolution expired in December, nearly joined Italian side Hellas Verona but the deal apparently fell apart at the 11th hour.
Soares made 119 appearances in all competitions for the Revolution, forming a strong partnership the last two years with Revolution center back Jose Goncalves.
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What do you think of this report? Do you see Soares signing in Norway? Do you see this helping him break into the U.S. Men’s National Team?
Share your thoughts below.
AJ Soares: he wants to play soccer.
And Norway is better than MLS? As for the same money… check out the taxes in Norway
Have you seen the women in Boston, versus Norway? The taxes are worth it.
I guess he wants to try something new but this is definitely a step down in standard from mls.
The MLS players need to realize they do have free agency options since they work in a global market for their skills. I don’t see a need for it within the MLS.
Not everyone is going to want to move to Norway to do the same job for probably around the same salary. Why shouldn’t they have the option of signing with whichever club in mls wants their services? Because bob Kraft wants to save a few bucks?
Wrong , Its not that Bob Kraft wants to save money Its the league. The league makes an offer and if the player doesn’t like , then You take it or you can do as you wish then.
By that (il)logic, we’re all free agents. So you’re free to leave anytime as well.
What happened with his deal to hellas Verona?
Last “report” I saw on SBI simply said the deal fell through. I don’t recall any specific reasoning given.
I believe the GM wanted Soares but the coach didn’t so the deal never materialized.
Wow my phone aurocorrected the heck out of that.
Since when is the top division in Norway not called the Tippelgian?
Tippeligaen and Eliteserien are basically synonymous. While I am not an expert Norwegian culture, I believe Tippaligaen is the “branded: version… rather like saying “Premier League” as opposed to “English top division”
More like saying “Barclays Premier League.” “Tippeligaen” refers to the league’s sponsor, the government-run lottery. “Eliteserien” is like Premier League or Serie A or (in some countries) “First Division.”
I’ve always known it as such due to FIFA.
Ha pretty sure you’re not alone there
Since when is the tip division in Norway called the Tippelgian?