Indy Eleven Acquires Jamaican International Midfielder Dane Richards Via Loan from MLS' Red Bulls
July 10, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, July 10, 2015) - Indy Eleven Professional Soccer made its first move of the summer transfer period earlier today with the acquisition of Jamaican international midfielder Dane Richards from Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls. Financial terms of the Fall Season-long loan agreement - which will become official upon receipt of his international transfer certificate from U.S. Soccer - will not be released, per club policy.
Richards will join the Indy Eleven camp early next week and could make his debut as early as next Sunday's match at Ottawa Fury FC.
"We are thrilled to have Dane join Indy Eleven. He brings a great deal of technical ability, speed and experience to the team," said Indy Eleven President and General Manager Peter Wilt. "Indy Eleven fans should be excited for Dane's arrival. We anticipate additional roster moves this month that will bolster the squad as we get further into the Fall Season."
Richards joins Indy Eleven from the Red Bulls, the MLS squad with whom he began his career with back in 2007. The 31-year-old Jamaican started one of his 12 appearances during the 2015 MLS season upon his return to the Red Bulls, bringing his career MLS totals between stints with New York (2007-12, 2015) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2012) to 24 goals and 27 assists in 171 games played (142 starts). His totals of 11,598 minutes played; 159 appearances and 133 starts all rank second in New York Red Bulls club history.
The 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year finalist left the ranks of MLS in 2013 to join English Championship side Burnley, where he played one match before going on loan to Norwegian club FK Bodø/Glimt, for whom he'd score nine goals in 50 appearances during the club's 2013-14 campaigns.
"We were looking to improve the attacking area of our team and, between his MLS and international experience, we think Dane is an excellent fit for that role," said Indy Eleven Interim Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations Tim Regan, who was a teammate of Richards on the Red Bulls during the 2007 MLS season. "He has the ability and willingness to take people and can create scoring chances for himself and his teammates."
Richards also brings vast international experience to the Circle City, having made 45 appearances for the Jamaican Men's National Team. He broke into the "Reggae Boyz" side as an 18-year-old in 2002, and featured heavily in the 2008 Caribbean Championship, the 2009 Gold Cup and 2010 World Cup Qualifying. He helped Jamaica to back-to-back Caribbean Championship titles in 2008 and 2010, scoring three goals and winning the tournament's golden boot in 2010. Richards holds a U.S. Green Card and will therefore not count against the team's seven allocated international player slots on the roster.
Indy Eleven will continue Fall Season action tomorrow, Saturday, July 11, when it returns to IUPUI's Carroll Stadium to welcome the Carolina RailHawks (7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, live on WISH-TV 8, ESPN3.com and Exitos Radio 1590 AM). Tickets on "All Things Eleven" Night at "The Mike" on Saturday remain available and can be purchased online at www.IndyEleven.com, and a special $11 ticket & corndog combo is also available while supplies last at http://corndogs.indyeleven.com. Tickets will also be available at the Carroll Stadium box office on the day of the match, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Dane Richards
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 153 lbs.
Born: Dec. 14, 1983 in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Hometown: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Nationality: Jamaican (holds U.S. Green Card)
Last Club: New York Red Bulls (2015)
Previous Clubs: New York Red Bulls (MLS; 2007-2012, 2015), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS, 2012), Burnley [English Championship (Second Div.), 2013], FK Bodø/Glimt [Norwegian Tippeligaen (First Div.) & 1. Divisjon (Second Div.), 2013-14)
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North American Soccer League Stories from July 10, 2015
- NASL Fall Season Action Rolls on with Full Slate of Saturday Matches - NASL
- Silverbacks Set for Fall Season Home Opener - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Indy Eleven Acquires Jamaican International Midfielder Dane Richards Via Loan from MLS' Red Bulls - Indy Eleven
- Preview: Silverbacks Host Armada for Match Day 13 - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Match Preview: Fury FC Look to Extend Unbeaten Streak in Minnesota - Ottawa Fury FC
- Minnesota United Return Home Seeking First Fall Win - Minnesota United FC
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