SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has acquired Honduran international midfielder Marvin Chavez from FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money.
Nicknamed “El Hijo del Viento” (The Son of the Wind) the speedy midfielder joins San Jose following three solid seasons with FC Dallas. He started his MLS career on Aug. 19, 2009, arriving on loan from Honduran first division outfit CD Marathon and made 54 appearances while with FC Dallas.
Chavez, 28, posted a breakout 2011 campaign, scoring six goals and notching four assists while starting 30 of his 31 games. He helped FC Dallas to the fourth-best record in Major League Soccer with 52 points and a spot in the playoffs for the second straight season. Additionally, he scored the game-winner against Pumas UNAM in CONCACAF Champions League play on Aug. 17 in Mexico City, the first-ever win by an MLS club in Mexico. He has scored eight goals and notched six assists in his MLS career, along with notching one goal and two assists in the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs to help lead FC Dallas to the MLS Cup Final.
“Marvin is one of the most exciting players in MLS,” said Earthquakes General Manager John Doyle. “I can’t wait to see him in an Earthquakes uniform.”
On the international stage, Chavez has 23 caps for the Honduran National Team. His first major international tournament came in 2009 at the CONCACAF Gold Cup where he started three games, including two against the United States in Los Catrachos’ run to the semifinals. More recently, Chavez played in four games as Honduras won the 2011 Copa Centroamericana with a 2-1 result against Costa Rica on Jan. 23. In the tournament, Chavez scored a goal in a 2-0 win against El Salvador.
Before arriving in America, Chavez played two seasons with CD Marathon in 2008-09. He tallied 11 goals and 11 assists during that time and scored the game winner against D.C. United to propel his side into the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
"Marvin is a player who has shown well in our league," said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop. "He has a lot of pace, is a great dribbler of the ball and is a very versatile player. He should fit in nicely with our team."
Prior to joining CD Marathon, the pacey winger had 23 goals and 17 assists while suiting up for his hometown club, CD Victoria, of the Honduran top division from 2005-08. In his second year with the club, Chavez helped Los Lecheros to fourth in the Copa Interclubes UNCAF, an international club tournament between the seven nations of Central America.
Transaction: Earthquakes acquire M Marvin Chavez from FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money.
Marvin Chavez
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Weight: 145
Born: Nov. 3, 1983
Hometown: La Ceiba, Honduras
Place of Birth: La Ceiba, Honduras
College: None
