The Houston Dynamo have re-signed Honduran internationals Boniek García and Maynor Figueroa and El Salvador midfielder Darwin Cerén to new contracts, the club announced today.
“We are pleased to announce that Boniek, Maynor and Darwin will be returning for the 2020 season. All three are excellent players who bring veteran leadership to the locker room and are great role models for our younger players to learn from,” Dynamo Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan. “Boniek was outstanding last year and knows what it means to represent the Dynamo and the city of Houston. Maynor immediately earned the respect of everyone in our Club when he joined us last year and brings a level of professionalism that every team needs. Darwin’s versatility and team-first attitude make him an important piece of our team on and off the field.”
García returns for his ninth season with the Dynamo in 2020. El Presidente finished his 2019 campaign with career highs in games played, started and minutes played in a single season. The midfielder appeared in 32 games and made 30 starts for the club last season, adding an assist on Memo Rodriguez’s equalizer against D.C. United on May 18. The two-time World Cup veteran reached 200 regular season appearances on Sept. 29 at Real Salt Lake, Houston’s final road match of the regular season.
Figueroa started in 25 regular season games for the Dynamo in 2019. The center back signed with the Dynamo on Jan. 30 and finished with three assists in his first season with the Club. The Honduran captain has earned more than 150 international caps for his country, which includes appearances at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup. Figueroa recently led Los Catrachos to an unbeaten run in group play at the inaugural Concacaf Nations League. The defender spent almost a decade in the English Premier League and made more than 230 appearances with Wigan Athletic and Hull City.
Cerén is a five-year MLS veteran who played in 13 games for the Dynamo last season. The midfielder scored a goal in Houston’s visit to New England in June and earned his 100th league appearance in Houston's 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact on March 9. The El Salvador international has earned more than 50 caps for his country and appeared in 37 games for the Dynamo since joining the club in a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes ahead of the 2018 season.
García, Figueroa and Cerén each hold a Green Card and do not occupy an International roster slot. With the addition of the three veterans, the Dynamo now have 23 players under contract for the 2020 season.
HOUSTON DYNAMO PLAYERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT (23)
GOALKEEPERS:
26 Michael Nelson
DEFENDERS:
2 Alejandro Fuenmayor , 3 Adam Lundkvist , 6 Kiki Struna , 15 Maynor Figueroa , 18 Jose Bizama , 28 Erik McCue, 29 Sam Junqua, Victor Cabrera, Zarek Valentin
MIDFIELDERS:
8 Memo Rodriguez , 10 Tomás Martínez, 11 Tommy McNamara, 12 Niko Hansen, 22 Matias Vera, 24 Darwin Cerén, 27 Boniek García
FORWARDS:
9 Mauro Manotas, 13 Christian Ramirez, 17 Alberth Elis, 19 Michael Salazar, 21 Ronaldo Peña, 23 Darwin Quintero
TRANSACTION: The Houston Dynamo re-sign MF Darwin Cerén, DF Maynor Figueroa and MF Boniek García.
