Omar Bravo signed by Chivas of Guadalajara : Returns for the third time

Photo by FutnSoccer

Mexican striker, Omar Bravo Tordecillas, was signed by C.D. Chivas de Guadalajara in the Cancun Liga MX players draft.  Bravo played the past two seasons with city rivals Club Atlas.  At his 33 years, the striker obtained a second wind in his career and was productive in leading Atlas out of relegation and into the playoffs.  For the ‘rojinegros’, Bravo scored 7 goals, and was an important figure in the team’s counter-attack sytem.  Bravo, who was contract was owned by Cruz Azul, was part of a deal which sent Xavier Baez to the cementeros.

Omar Bravo returns to Chivas for the third time in his career.  The player from Sinaloa gave birth to his career in Chivas, where he eventually became one of Chivas’s all-time leading scorers with 108 goals.  The striker hit the peak of his career in 2008, when after scoring dozens of goals for Chivas, and having a good performance in the 2006 World Cup lead to his move to Spain’s Deportivo La Coruña.  Since that moment, Bravo was stagnant, he seemed to lose his scoring instinct, as well as the quickness that once allowed him to play in any position on offense.  After playing in La Liga, Bravo played for Tigres, Chivas,  Sporting Kansas City, Cruz Azul, and Atlas.

What does Omar Bravo’s signing mean for Chivas?

The signing of Bravo means many things, but the first thing that one takes from this is that Chivas is, and will be having a difficult time finding players at the draft in Cancun.  Signing Bravo shows that Chivas will not go after other top Mexican strikers like Oribe Peralta, Javier Orozco, or Aldo De Nigris.  Moreover, it does not mean the team is done looking for offensive players as someone like Angel Reyna is still in the market and would make Chivas into one of the top offenses in the Liga MX.

What’s next for Chivas?

Chivas now has three veteran strikers who are all in their 30s: Omar Bravo, Miguel Sabah, and Rafael Marquez Lugo.  Presumably, Marquez Lugo will be an every day starter, while Bravo and Sabah will compete for the vacant striker position.  Also, Chivas already confirmed the signing of defender Nestor Vidrio.  This means that if Chivas does not sign Angel Reyna, the club may be done shopping; that’s if goalkeeper Luis Michel and Hector Reynoso are not part of a trade.