The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that midfielders Marvin Chavez and Mehdi Ballouchy have received United States Permanent Residency cards and now count as domestic players on the club’s roster.
Chavez appeared in 27 games in 2012, starting 23, and notched a career high 13 assists in his first season in San Jose. The native Honduran chipped in with three goals in a season that saw San Jose wrap up its’ second MLS Supporters’ Shield with a record of 19-6-9 (66 pts.), breaking the previous club mark of 64 points in a season. Additionally, Chavez was an instrumental part of a Quakes team that shattered the club record of 55 goals in a season, set in 1997, with 72 strikes.
The speedy midfielder joined the Earthquakes in 2012 after being acquired from FC Dallas on Dec. 16, 2011 for allocation money. He has four goals and 30 caps with the Honduras National Team, including a pair of tallies in 2012.
Ballouchy appeared in six games, starting four, for San Jose before suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament on Sept. 29, 2012 in the Earthquakes’ 3-3 draw against FC Dallas. The midseason acquisition came to San Jose from New York on July 30, 2012 for a conditional 2013 SuperDraft pick and 2013 international player slot. The seven-year MLS veteran has 13 goals and 24 assists in 174 career games with three different clubs.
Ballouchy was born in Morocco, but moved to the United States with his brother as a teenager. Ballouchy was a member of the Morocco U-16 and U-17 national teams after working through the Raja Casablanca youth system. As a collegian, Ballouchy spent one season at Creighton before transferring to Santa Clara. He was named a Soccer America and NSCAA/adidas First Team All-American in 2005 while leading the Broncos to a spot in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Cam Rast.
