FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution announced today the signing of Serbian forward Ilija Stolica and Brazilian forward/midfielder Roberto Linck to Major League Soccer contracts to play for the Revolution.
Stolica’s signing is pending the receipt of his U.S. P-1 Visa, and he will occupy one of the team’s international roster spots. Linck’s signing will be finalized upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. A U.S. permanent resident, he will be considered a domestic player on the Revolution’s roster. Per league and club rules, terms of the deals were not released.
“Our goal during this transfer window has been to bring in attacking players,” Revolution Vice President of Player Personnel Michael Burns said. “With Ilija, we’re getting a proven, veteran player who we’re expecting to come in and make contributions right away. Roberto is a younger player who we’re optimistic can help us during the second half of the season, as well.”
Stolica, 31, comes to the Revolution from Montenegro’s FC Budocnost where he has played since January of this season. He played the 2005-2008 seasons in Belgium at Sint Truidense and R.A.E.C. Mons, before playing the second half of the 2008-09 season at OFI Crete of Greece.
The former Serbian Under-21 and Olympic team member began his career with Serbia’s FK Zemun, starting with the club’s youth teams in 1985 and debuting with the first team in 1995. After three seasons, he transferred to Spain’s EU Lleida for one season. Stolica returned to Serbia in 1999 to play two seasons at FK Partizan, before making a return engagement at FK Zemun through January 2003. He also played for two seasons each at FK Metalurg Donetsk (Ukraine) and OFK Beograd (Serbia) before his move to Belgium.
Linck, 21, joins the Revolution from Romania’s CSM Râmnicu Vâlcea, where he has played the 2010 season. Previously, he played with the Chicago Storm of the U.S. (Indoor) Xtreme Soccer League.
Linck, who has also gone by the name “Betu,” played collegiately at Irvine Valley College in California. Before coming to the United States in 2002, he played in Gremio Football Porto Alegrense’s (Gremio) youth development program while growing up in Brazil.
The Revolution (4-9-2, 14 pts.) returns to MLS regular-season action on Saturday, July 31, when the team travels to Chester, Pa., to face the expansion Philadelphia Union at PPL Park. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., with Comcast SportsNet New England televising the game, and 98.5 The Sports Hub carrying the game on the radio.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution (MLS) – Signed F Ilija Stolica and F/M Roberto Linck
ROBERTO “BETU” LINCK
Jersey Number: No. 22
Pronunciation: ro-BER-to BET-too LINK
Position: Forward/Midfielder
D.O.B.: July 31, 1988 (Cachoeira do Sul, Brazil)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 163 lbs.
Hometown: Cachoeira do Sul, Brazil
Nationality: Brazil
Roster Status: Senior Roster (U.S. Permanent Resident)
College: Irvine Valley College (Calif.)
Last Club: CSM Râmnicu Vâlcea (ROU)
Youth Club: Inter FC
Acquired: Signed by the Revolution on July 30, 2010
ILIJA STOLICA
Jersey Number: No. 9
Pronunciation: EEL-ee-uh STOLL-ic-ka
Position: Forward
D.O.B.: July 7, 1979 (Belgrade, Serbia)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 lbs.
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Nationality: Serbia
Roster Status: International
Last Club: FC Budocnost (MNE)
Acquired: Signed by the Revolution as an International on July 30, 2010
