The San Jose Clash announced the signing of two foreign players — Mexican Daniel Guzman and Hungarian Istvan Urbanyi — on April 5.
“We’re confident that these are the final two pieces to a championship puzzle, that the Clash now has the kind of team it takes to compete for MLS Cup ’97,” said Clash GM Peter Bridgwater.
Guzman, one of the top scorers in the Mexican First Division over the past decade, was signed by MLS and allocated to San Jose. Guzman has made 20 or so appearances for the Mexican national team and has scored over 100 goals in league games for Mexican clubs Tecos, Atlante, Santos, Chivas, and Puebla (where he currently plays).
“Daniel is a true box player — a player who’s at his best inside the penalty area — which is something we were missing last season,” said Clash coach Laurie Calloway. “Having a player like Daniel, someone the defense has to be concerned about in the box, opens things up for a player like Eric Wynalda, attacking from the angles. It makes us a much better offensive team.”
Guzman is expected to join San Jose at the conclusion of the Mexican season in May.
Urbanyi, 29, is captain of Hungarian club Kispest Honved and became friends with Clash midfielder Christopher Sullivan when the two were teammates at Raba ETO in 1989. He attended a Clash tryout session in January and the MLS player combine in Florida.
“He was clearly one of the best players at the combine, but no team was ready in January to commit one of their international slots because noone knew who else might be coming in.” said Calloway. “He’s a talented, versatile player with a tremendously powerful shot that he can use from about 25 or 30 yards.”
Urbanyi is expected to join the Clash this week, and he should be available for the team’s April 12 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.