The Red Bulls have parted ways with defender Markus Holgersson, with both sides agreeing to tear up his contract. The big Swede still had one year left on his current deal, which paid him $199,500 last season.
“After speaking with Markus following the conclusion of our season and taking into account our salary cap situation, we mutually decided that it would be in everyone’s interest for us to part ways,” Red Bulls sporting director Andy Roxburgh said. “Markus indicated to us that he is ready to take on the next stage of his career and we want to thank him for his service to the New York Red Bulls.
“Markus, an excellent professional, has been an important part of our club and defense for the past two seasons, helping us win the Supporters’ Shield in 2013, and we are very sad to lose him. We want to wish him the best of luck.”
Holgersson signed with the Red Bulls on Jan. 12, 2012, from Helsingborgs in his native Sweeden. The towering centerback improved during his stay in MLS and became a mainstay on a back line that had constant shuffling due to injuries.
With Holgersson and Heath Pearce gone, standout centerback Jamison Olave is joined on the roster by Ibrahim Sekagya and teenager Matt Miazga at the position.
Holgersson was liked and well-respected in the Red Bull locker room, and happy in New York, both professionally and personally. But he was due to receive a sizeable bump in salary — sources say as much as 25 percent — and if he wasn’t going to start over Sekagya, then the cap-crunched Red Bulls may have felt they could get a third centerback for half of that figure.
In his debut campaign, Holgersson was named the team’s Defender of the Year, leading all Red Bulls defenders in regular-season appearances (31), starts (31) and goals (3). Last season, the 28-year-old started 32 of their 34 regular-season tilts to help lead the Red Bulls to their first hardware, the Supporters’ Shield.
Holgersson appeared in a total of four postseason matches over two MLS seasons.
Before coming to MLS, Holgersson played for Helsingborgs for three seasons (2009-2011).
Cosmos ink Dutch striker Denissen
The New York Cosmos inked Dutch striker Hans Denissen for the upcoming 2014 North American Soccer League season. He was named to the league’s Best XI all-star team last year.
“I’m so excited to be joining the New York Cosmos. This is a club not only with a great history, but a great future, too,’’ Denissen said. “Having played against the Cosmos last season, I know this is a team that prides itself on playing an attractive style of attacking soccer. I’m really looking forward to joining this group.”
The 29-year-old Denissen was a regular starter for the San Antonio Scorpions last season. He scored a dozen times in 25 appearances, tripling his goal output from 2012. Denissen was named to the NASL Team of the Week seven times and was NASL Player of the Month for June/July.
“Hans will be a great addition to our forward line next season,” head coach Giovanni Savarese said. “He is a very dynamic and smart player who will provide a different dimension to our team. We are excited to include another great professional on our club.”
Denissen – a native of Tilburg, Netherlands – signed with San Antonio in 2012 and scored four times in his debut NASL campaign. Before that, he spent nine years in Europe, starting in 2003 with his local club, Willem II Tilburg, moving on to Dutch second division clubs RBC Roosendaal and MVV, then Cypriot club Ayia Napa, Finnish club FC Haka and back to Dutch sides Emmen and Willem II.