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Helder Filipe Da Costa Soares And Philippe Billy Join The Impact

January 27, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL) - Montreal Impact News Release


MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact announced Wednesday the signing of Portuguese midfielder Helder Filipe Da Costa Soares, as well as French midfielder/right winger Philippe Billy. Both players have come to terms with the club for the next two seasons.

Helder Filipe Da Costa Soares, an offensive midfielder whose announcement was originally slated during training camp kickoff Monday, is an offensive midfielder who will turn 28 on February 10. He played second division in Portugal during the last 10 years and had been selected to the Portuguese Under-20 National Team. Before joining the Impact, he played with CD Feirense and played his last match December 10, 2009 against Portimonense. He also played with SC Freamunde, from 2000 to 2004, and from 2006 to 2009, as well as with FC Vizela, from 2003 to 2006.

Philippe Billy is a midfielder/right winger born in Nantes who turned 28 on January 13. Billy has played a total of 24 matches with Stade Brestois 29, in French Ligue 2, during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons. He also wore the colours of Serie A and B US Lecce in Italy during four seasons (2001 to 2004, 2005-2006). Billy also played 36 matches during the 2004-2005 season in the Belgian First Division with RAEC Mons and 25 games in the French National Championship with Stade Lavallois MFC, in 2006-2007. In 1998, he was also selected to the French Under-17 National team and won the following year the Four-nation tournament with the French Under-18 National team.

"We are adding to our lineup two players who will have an important role and I'm confident that they will both make our team better," declared Impact technical director Nick De Santis. "These are two players with an excellent level and who have been immersed in European soccer culture. Both players have shown great motivation and a desire to live a new experience in North America with the Impact."

"During our stay in Portugal, last November, we did a lot of scouting and Filipe impressed us," explained De Santis. "We were looking for a player who could manage the midfield and who was able to generate attack. Billy is also a quality player who has a very professional attitude and who always gives his maximum for his team. The sports manager of Fiorentina, who was at the time with US Lecce, had many good things to say on his behalf."

"I think that both players will succeed in integrating themselves well with our style of play, which favours ball possession," declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "Both are talented players who have been key elements in their respective clubs."

Both players will attend their first training session with the Impact today, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, at the Bell Sports Complex, in Brossard.

Helder Filipe Da Costa Soares will wear number 8 during the 2010 season, while Philippe Billy will inherit number 21. Midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo will from now on wear number 11, while newcomer Tyler Hemming will play with number 6.

With the addition of these two new players, the Impact has now six foreign players on its lineup, the four others being Peter Byers, Cédric Joqueviel, Leonardo Di Lorenzo and Stefano Pesoli, and a total of 20 players under contract.

Season tickets for the 2010 campaign are currently on sale. Packages, which start at $180 in the supporters section and $250 in the Bronze category, are available by contacting the Montreal Impact at 514-328-3668 or at impactmontreal.com.

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