The Red Bulls re-signed fullback Roy Miller and keeper Luis Robles to new contracts Monday. Miller had been out of contract, and Robles was inking an extension.
“With one of our goals being to create long-term continuity within our roster, we are very pleased to have signed Roy and Luis to new contracts,” sporting director Andy Roxburgh in a statement. “Both were important players for our team in 2013, and we are happy to keep them in New York.”
Miller is the longest continuously tenured Red Bull, having been in New York since January 2010, when he arrived from Norwegian team Rosenborg. After a horrible start to this past season, when he was benched by coach Mike Petke, Miller came on strong. He had 17 appearances, but an Achilles injury in late August sidelined him for most of the remainder of the season.
Miller has 96 appearances in his four-year MLS career, and has made 44 appearances for the Costa Rica national team. He’s expected to miss time for the World Cup next summer, prompting the Red Bulls to acquire left winger/left back Bobby Convey last week.
“Roy has shown that he is a very capable left fullback, exhibiting top-level defending and attacking qualities,” Roxburgh said. “He is also a hard-working professional and a very good character to have around the club. We are pleased to come to terms with him on a new contract.”
The 29-year-old Robles was the only Red Bulls to play every minute of the regular season. In his first full MLS season, he had 11 clean sheets and a 1.21 goals-against average to help the Red Bulls win their first Supporters’ Shield with the best record in the league. Robles was tied for first in MLS in wins (17), third in saves (103) and fourth in shutouts.
“Luis demonstrated to us and the rest of the league that he was one of the top goalkeepers in Major League Soccer in 2013,” Roxburgh said.
Robles finished the season ranked 17th in MLS in the overall Castrol rankings, third-best on the Red Bulls behind Tim Cahill (No. 13) and Thierry Henry (No. 16), and third-highest among keepers behind Donovan Ricketts (No. 1)Â and Nick Rimando (No. 7).