Minnesota United Signs Veteran Brazilian Midfielder Ibson
February 23, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Monday, February 23rd, 2015) -- Minnesota United announced today it has added Brazilian central midfielder Ibson to the 2015 roster. He has played with several of the biggest clubs across Europe and Brazil including Porto, Spartak Moscow, and Corinthians.
"We're getting a player who has played for some of the best clubs in the world and is going to bring a lot of professionalism and strength to the roster right away," said Minnesota United Head Coach Manny Lagos. "With the experience he brings and the levels that he's played at, we're excited to have him on our roster-we know he is going to make us better and add a lot of quality to the team."
The 31-year-old specializes in the attacking role in midfield, getting forward to take advantage of short clearances and to crash the net along with the forwards. As his career has progressed, Ibson had been adapting to a more defensive role.
After training with the youth squads of Flamengo in Brazil, Ibson joined the senior team in 2003. He was joined by fellow Loon Juliano Vicentini the following season, where the midfielder made 44 appearances and scored six goals for the club.
During the 2004-2005 season he transferred to Portuguese giants FC Porto, becoming a featured part of the lineup in league play. He made his first UEFA Champions League appearances with the club, and through 2007, made a total of 56 appearances while scoring twice.
Ibson was loaned back to Flamengo on a three-year deal. At the time Flamengo was sitting in a relegation spot, but Ibson helped spur the team to complete an incredible comeback and finish third in the league. For his performance, Ibson was selected to the Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year. He was a regular starter and put up a career high 15 goals in a season in 2008. His total scoring tally reached 22 by the time he left the club in 2009.
The midfielder made the long journey to Russia where he joined Spartak Moscow late in the 2009 season. Ibson had a spectacular 2010 season, which included two goals in the UEFA Champions League against Slovakian side MK ilina.
Ibson finally returned to Brazil in 2011, and over the next three years, played for Brazilian giants Santos FC, Corinthians, and once again returned to Flamengo.
Ibson will once again return to Brazil this spring, but this time he is traveling as part of the Minnesota United roster. The team will be heading to Brazil as part of a preseason trip in March, then return to begin the NASL Spring Season.
"I'm very happy to be here with Minnesota United. I've been following the team and am excited to get started," said Ibson. "I am a midfield player, the kind of player who is box to box. I work defensively, but also help offensively-I'm happy to be here, and I'll give 100 percent every day to honor this jersey."
Current Minnesota United roster:
Goalkeepers: Andrew Fontein, Mitch Hildebrandt
Defenders: Tiago Calvano, Justin Davis, Cristiano Dias, Brent Kallman, Brian Kallman, Tyler Polak, Kevin Venegas
Midfielders: Miguel Ibarra, Greg Jordan, Daniel Mendes, Aaron Pitchkolan, Jonny Steele, Juliano Vicentini, Jamie Watson, Kalif Alhassan, Ibson
Forwards: Pablo Campos, Christian Ramirez, J.C. Banks
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North American Soccer League Stories from February 23, 2015
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- Rowdies Add Four Young Prospects to 2015 Roster - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Minnesota United Signs Veteran Brazilian Midfielder Ibson - Minnesota United FC
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