Sporting Kansas City has signed 31-year-old Chilean goalkeeper Luis Marin, the club announced on Thursday. Marin will occupy an international roster spot on the team's roster for the 2015 season pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
“Luis [Marin] is a goalkeeper with a wealth of experience and leadership,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “He knows our team and the tasks that lie ahead for him and he is raring to go to take the challenges head-on.”
WATCH:Check out highlights from Marin's career
“I am excited to join Sporting Kansas City and take the next step in my career," Marin said. "I'm going to do everything I can to help this team win another championship."
Marin was selected to Chile’s 23-player roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa by head coach Marcelo Bielsa and has eight international appearances in his career for Chile, currently the No. 14 ranked national team in the world. He made his international debut in March 2010 and last captained Chile in February 2012.
Most recently, Marin has played for 17-time Chilean champions Universidad de Chile in the Primera Division since arriving on loan in the summer of 2013. The club claimed the 2014-15 Apertura championship earlier this month to qualify for the 2015 Copa Libertadores group stage.
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Marin started three matches in the 2014 Copa Libertadores -- securing victories in both legs of the first stage against Paraguay’s Guarani, as well as a win over Peru’s Real Garcilaso in the second stage – and also made two starts in the 2013 Copa Sudamericana.
His 12-year career in Chile began as a reserve with Audax Italiano from 2003-2006. Audax Italiano finished runners-up in the 2006 Clausura and Marin moved to Lota Schwager as the team’s starting goalkeeper for the 2007 campaign.
Union Espanola acquired Marin for three years from 2008-2010, during which time the club finished in first place in the 2009 Torneo Apertura standings and reached the round of 16 in the 2009 Copa Sudamericana.
In 2011, Marin was recruited to O’Higgins FC and became captain for the club. He led O’Higgins FC to a berth in the 2012 Copa Sudamericana as runners-up in the 2012 Apertura and started both matches in the first stage.
Marin is the fifth addition to Sporting Kansas City's roster for the 2015 season, along with defender Jalil Anibaba, midfielder Bernardo Añor, midfielder James Marcelin and forward Krisztian Nemeth. Additionally, the club re-signed forward Dom Dwyer on Wednesday.
VITALS
Luis Marin (muh-REEN)
Position: Goalkeeper
Number: 1
Born: 5/18/83
Height: 6-2
Weight: 196
Hometown: Valparaíso, Chile
Birthplace: Valparaíso, Chile
Citizenship: Chile
Twitter: @Luis1Marin
Facebook: Click Here
Website: Click Here
