The New York Red Bulls have named their new captain, announcing on Wednesday that midfielder Sacha Kljestan will take the armband for the 2017 season.
Kljestan takes over as captain from midfielder Dax McCarty, who was traded from the Red Bulls to the Chicago Fire in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money earlier this offseason.
The 31-year-old US international has been excellent since joining the Red Bulls from Belgian club Anderlecht prior to the 2015 season, recording eight goals and 14 assists in 2015 before notching six strikes and 20 assists in 2016. He was named an MLS MVP finalist, an MLS All-Star and an MLS Best XI selection last year.
“It’s definitely an honor to be named captain of this club,” Kljestan told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “I am excited about the chance to lead the group.”
Kljestan missed the first few weeks of New York’s preseason while with the US national team at their annual winter camp. He re-joined the Red Bulls following the recent birth of his second child.
Kljestan captained New York several times over the last couple of years when McCarty was out. His first game as full-time captain will be next Wednesday, when New York hosts Vancouver in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series (8 pm ET, UDN).
