Gonzalo Segares isn't going anywhere after all.
The Chicago Fire announced on Thursday they have re-signed the Costa Rican defender to a multi-year deal, locking down the left of their backline for 2013 and beyond.
“We’re pleased that Gonzalo will remain a member of the club,” Fire president of soccer operations Javier Leon said in a statement. “He has been a tremendous asset to the Fire backline for nearly a decade and has been key to our defensive stability.”
Segares has played 178 regular-season games over eight seasons for the Fire, scoring 11 goals and adding 13 assists. He started all 31 games in which he appeared in 2012 and finished with three goals and one assist.
He was a mainstay in the Fire backline that held opponents to just 41 goals, tied for second best in the Eastern Conference.
“I’m very happy to continue on as a Fire player,” Segares said in a statement. “Chicago is my second home and the Fire have been a big part of my life for a long time. I look forward to more success with the club in the future.”
Having amassed 207 competitive appearances for the Fire, the veteran defender became just the seventh player in club history to surpass the 200 mark with his appearance in a 3-1 win over the Montreal Impact on Sept. 15.
