SECAUCUS, N.J.(Tuesday, July 6, 1999) - The MetroStars of Major League Soccer have added a pair of players to the roster, midfielder Sasa Curcic and defender Mohammad Khakpour, it was officially announced today by vice president and general manager Charlie Stillitano.
Curcic, a 27-year-old attacking central midfielder, joins the club from Crystal Palace of the English First Division. A native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the 5-foot-9, 150-pound Curcic has represented his national team 20 times.
Khakpour is a solid central defender from Iran. The 30-year-old was one of only five Iranian players to play every minute of the 1998 World Cup, and is viewed as the anchor of his team's defense. A physical player with a booming shot and a composed temperament, Khakpour played his most recent club soccer at Bahman Teheran in Iran.
"It's a pleasure to welcome a pair of hard-working professionals like Curcic and Khakpour to our club," Stillitano said of the newest MetroStars. "There's no doubt that these two will strengthen our squad, both on the field and off, with their experience and dedication to the game."
Curcic (pronounced KUR-sich) began his professional career with OFK in Yugoslavia, playing 17 games in 1991 and 32 in 1992. In 1993 he moved to one of the most storied Yugoslavian clubs, and the club MetroStars Head Coach Bora Milutinovic played for, Partizan Belgrade. He remained at Partizan for more than two years, moving to England's Bolton Wanderers midway through the 1995 season. After a productive season at Bolton, he became Aston Villa's record signing at the beginning of the 1996 campaign when he commanded a four million-pound transfer fee.
He moved from Villa to Crystal Palace in 1998, and made his debut at the London club on March 28, 1998 against Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park. A creative player with excellent vision and passing skills, he played perhaps his best game at Palace against Derby in 1998, assisting on two goals and scoring the third in a 3-1 win.
"Curcic is an enormous talent with great vision and skill, and his ability to attack from the midfield and create scoring opportunities for others will be welcomed," Stillitano said of the Serbian.
Khakpour (pronounced HARK-poor), a 5-foot-10, 165-pound native of Teheran, made his national team debut for Iran in a 2-0 loss to China in August 1989, and has since appeared for the team 43 times. His playing career has brought him to Turkey, with Vanspor, and to Singapore, where he won a championship with Gaylang. He began his professional career with a pair ofIranian clubs, Pirouzi and Pas.
Khakpour will begin training with the MetroStars shortly, and needs only a work visa to be able to slide right into a starting position with the club. "Khakpour will provide maturity and stability for our back line. He's a seasoned veteran with a great knowledge of the game, and we think he's the complete defender," added Stillitano about the newest MetroStars defender.
Both players should be available to play for the MetroStars in their next home game, on July 24 against the Miami Fusion. Curcic and Khakpour become the second and third international players on the MetroStars roster, joining Ecuadorian forward Eduardo Hurtado. MLS
regulations permit a team to carry a maximum of four international players on their roster, leaving the MetroStars with room for one additional foreign player.
Player Bios:
Sasa Curcic - Pronounced: SA-suh KUR-sich
Position: Midfielder
Ht: 5-9
Wt: 155
Date of Birth: February 14, 1972
Birthplace: Belgrade, Yugoslavia
International Honors: 20 appearances for Yugoslavia
Previous Clubs:
OFK - Yugoslavia - 1991-93
Partizan Belgrade - Yugoslavia - 1993-95
Bolton Wanderers - England - 1995-96
Aston Villa - England - 1996-98
Crystal Palace - England - 1998-99
Mohammad Khakpour - Pronounced: HARK-poor
Position: Defender
Ht: 5-10
Wt: 165
Date of Birth: February 20, 1969
Birthplace: Teheran, Iran
International Honors: 43 appearances for Iran
Previous Clubs:
Pas - Iran
Pirouzi - Iran
Gaylang - Singapore
Vanspor - Turkey
Bahman - Iran
Courtesy of MetroStars