The Atlanta Silverbacks’ solid finish to the 2012 USL Pro season has given the offseason a feeling of anticipation and expectation for what 2013 might bring.
Over the last nine games of the 2013 regular season, no other team in the league was better than the Silverbacks, who had only one loss in those nine games.
During the offseason, coach Brian Haynes was given a contract extension, fans decided to keep the Silverbacks name, but the logo has changed. Many of the key players who were on the roster for last year’s finish are expected to be back for another season.
Franklin McIntosh, who has been part of Atlanta soccer for 16 years, has been added as an assistant coach.
Defender Chris Klute, who joined Atlanta on loan from the MLS Colorado Rapids late in the season, will not be back. Neither will forward Matt Horth, who scored 18 goals in 49 appearances with the Silverbacks. He has signed an Major Soccer League contract with the New England Revolution.
Among the returning Silverbacks are midfielder Pablo Cruz and forward Jahbari Willis. The club also signed defender Mark Bloom, who played last season with the Charlotte Eagles. Bloom played collegiate soccer at Berry College.
A key addition was the signing of Richie Menjivar, who was born in Panorama City, CA. Hecomes on loan from Salvadoran club Turin FC. He represented the U.S. at the U-18 level in 2008, before being called into El Salvador’s Olympic qualifying squad in 2012.
He went 90 minutes in the 3-3 draw with the U.S. in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. It was a result that knocked the U.S. out of a shot at the London Olympics.
During the offseason, the Silverbacks and goalkeeper Daniel Illyes parted ways. Illyes, who played in 22 of the team’s 28 games in ’12, was anxious to return to his native Hungary where he has a goalkeeper academy. The Silverbacks return two other goalkeepers, Joe Nasco and Eric Ati.
Finally, the Silverbacks took a big organizational step forward in appointing former interim head coach Eric Wynalda, 46, as the team’s technical director. He will focus on player development and scouting.
“I’m thrilled to continue my relationship with the Silverbacks,” said Wynalda, “and I’m just excited to try and help the club achieve the success on the field that they’ve been striving for.
“I know how serious the organization is abut winning a NASL championship and also making a run in the U.S. Open Cup.”
The Silverbacks will open the spring portion of the NASL regular season at home on April 13 against Fort Lauderdale. After the summer break, the fall home season resumes for Atlanta on August 10 against the Carolina RailHawks.