Austin FC signs experienced forward Maxi Urruti

Austin FC signed experienced Argentine striker Maxi Urruti as a free agent, with a contract valid until 2023. Thus, the 2015 MLS Cup champion will bring all his experience to Q2 Stadium. 

The player born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, who will turn 31 in February, has not felt the passing of the years as he still has the same hunger for goals with which he arrived in Major League Soccer in 2013. 

He has accumulated 238 regular-season games since his arrival and has registered brutal numbers since setting foot on North American soil. 

With over 60 goals and 37 assists, the player has donned the colors of Toronto FC, Portland Timbers, CF Dallas, CF Montréal, and Houston Dynamo FC. 

The player began his professional career in his native Argentina with Newell's Old Boys, where he played 63 games and scored 13 goals. 

The club made the star's arrival official on Tuesday, December 28, as an overdue Christmas present for the Texan fans, and the player did not hold back his excitement upon his arrival at his new club. 

“I’m very excited for these new beginnings with Austin FC,” said Urruti. “I’m happy to wear these colors and can’t wait to celebrate with all the fans at Q2 Stadium. Vamos Verde y Negro!”

With nine years of experience in Major League Soccer, Maxi Urruti (whose last name is pronounced "Urr-oo-tee"), comes from Argentina's factory of legendary soccer players. 

Urruti comes from the youth system of Newell's Old Boys, a system famous in that country because Diego Maradona, Marcelo Bielsa, and Mauricio Pochettino trained there. 

"Maxi is a winner with a proven track record of scoring goals and creating chances," said Claudio Reyna, Austin FC's sporting director in a club statement. 

The sports director also stated: "He will help us be more dynamic in the attacking third and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to Austin."

Urruti's track record, the envy of anyone in MLS

Urruti has winning DNA and that can be seen when you look back at his achievements in Major League Soccer. 

He was first with the Portland Timbers in his first two seasons in which he scored 10 goals. There he made his mark in the league as he was instrumental in winning the MLS Cup.

In that final, the Portland Timbers defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 to win their first championship title in their history.

In addition, the Timbers qualified for the group stage of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.

After that, Urruti moved to FC Dallas and played in 90 games, scoring 29 goals and 20 assists. 

From there he went on to continue his winning ways at CF Montréal where he scored 9 goals and provided 8 assists and later moved to the Houston Dynamo where he started 25 games and scored 7 goals. 

The addition of Urruti will allow Austin to have another center forward alongside Moussa Djitte and Danny Hoesen.

Another factor to consider is that Urruti has a green card, so he will not take up an international player slot, allowing his club to bring in more talent from abroad.