MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes Sign Canadian Midfielder Antonio Ribeiro

Published on June 12, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the team has signed Canadian national team midfielder Antonio Ribeiro. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. He will count as an international on the Earthquakes senior roster.

"Antonio has a good engine and covers a lot of ground," said general manager of soccer operations John Doyle. "He is a good ball-winner and Frank (Yallop) knows him well so we are happy to bring him to San Jose."

The 5-9 midfielder made his Canadian national team debut in June of 2007 against Venezuela after making a number of appearances for youth national teams. Ribeiro was also selected to compete for the Canadian men's national team in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Portuguese native made his professional debut in 2000 with the Montreal Impact, making 11 appearances and one start that year. Ribiero had a total of 119 appearances, 62 games started, 10 goals and nine assists as a member of the Montreal Impact from 2000-2001, 2003-2008. In the playoffs, Ribeiro had a total of 14 appearances and two goals. Ribiero also participated in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2008 and played four matches. Overall, he helped the Impact to one A-League (now USL First Division) Championship in 2004, three Voyageurs Cups, a trophy awarded to the top team in home-and-home matchups between Canadian teams in the USL First Division throughout the season and two regular season titles (2005, 2006). In his last season with the Impact in 2008, he helped the team win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship to help the team reach the CONCACAF Champions League.

His best season with the Impact came in 2004 when he recorded 28 appearances, 18 starts, one goal and two assists, while helping the team to secure the franchise's first double, the USL First Division Championship as well the Voyageurs Cup,. In 2005, Ribeiro scored the winning goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps to clinch the regular season title for the Impact and secure their third straight Voyageurs Cup.

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