CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA today announced the acquisition of Honduran national team captain and 2004 Major League Soccer MVP Amado Guevara, one of the most exciting and talented attacking midfielders in MLS, in a trade with the New York Red Bulls. The 30-year-old native of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who holds a U.S. green card, is Chivas USA's first acquisition ahead of the 2007 MLS season, set to kick off in April. In exchange, New York received Chivas USA's Designated Player slot, plus a third-round pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.
"Chivas USA is pleased to welcome a player of Amado Guevara's quality to our team for the upcoming campaign and beyond," said Chivas USA President and Co-Owner Antonio Cué. "Amado plays the type of entertaining soccer that people have come to expect from Chivas USA. We look forward to sharing more exciting news with our fans as Chivas USA continues to build towards the 2007 season."
Nicknamed 'El Lobo', Guevara has been an MLS standout since his league debut in 2003, as well as mainstay of the Honduran national team since 1994. In 2001, he captained Honduras to a surprise third-place finish in the Copa América, earning tournament MVP honors. In 2004, just his second season in MLS, Guevara was named MLS season MVP and co-scoring champion after recording 10 goals and 10 assists for the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls). He came back even stronger in 2005, recording 11 goals and 11 assists. In March 2006, Guevara received his U.S. green card, meaning he does not count against MLS's per-team foreign-player limits.
A four-year veteran of MLS, Guevara has also played professionally in Europe, Mexico and Central America. His clubs include Honduran sides Olimpia, where he made his professional debut in 1993, and Motagua (1993-1994; 1996-2000; 2002), where he won four league championships, in the Apertura 1997, Clausura 1998, Apertura 1999 and Clausura 2000 seasons. Guevara has also played for Spain's Real Valladolid (1995-96); Mexican clubs Tigres UANL (2000-2001) and Zacatepec (2001-2002); and Saprissa (2002-2003) of Costa Rica. From 2003-2006, Guevara played for the MetroStars/New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, where he was coached for three seasons by Chivas USA Head Coach Bob Bradley.
In four seasons in New Jersey (2003-2006), Guevara proved himself to be one of the most gifted midfielders in MLS. A three-time MLS All-Star (2003, 2004, 2005), Guevara was named to MLS's Best XI in 2004, the same year in which he was named MLS MVP and co-scoring leader, tying New England's Pat Noonan on 30 points (10 goals, 10 assists). In all, Guevara has logged 9,004 minutes in 103 MLS regular-season games (100 starts), in which he has registered an impressive 32 goals and 36 assists. He has also played in 8 playoff games (8 starts), logging 720 minutes and recording 2 goals and 1 assist.
Since his international debut for Honduras on May 5, 1994 against Peru, Guevara has scored 12 goals in 92 appearances for the 'catrachos', making him Honduras' current all-time caps leader. In 2001, Guevara was named MVP of the Copa América, after captaining Honduras to a surprise third-place finish in the prestigious South American tournament, scoring three goals and defeating Brazil 2-0 in the quarterfinals before falling to hosts Colombia in the semis.
Born on May 2, 1976 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Guevara is married and has two children.
Chivas USA, Major League Soccer's Mexican-owned, Los Angeles-based franchise, is preparing for its third season in MLS, starting in April 2007. For 2007 season tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1, or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
