Feb. 13, 2009
STORM PICKUPS
Club adds Clay, Osmanovic

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – The Chicago Storm have added a pair of physical left-sided players with the signing of Carlos Clay and Alen Osmanovic.

Clay has been with top-level Brazilian clubs Santos and Flamengo in a career that also has taken him to Spain, Italy and the United States. The 29-year-old trained for a time with the Storm last season and played with the Chicago Fire Premier team.

“He’s got a wealth of experience, and even though he’s new to indoor game, soccer’s soccer in my opinion,” said Storm Head Coach Steve Morris. “He has all the characteristics to adapt quickly to the indoor game – he’s physical, fast, strong, athletic. He’s got a great left foot, defends well and also has the ability to come forward out of the back. He’s got a lot of pieces, now it’s just a matter of adjusting to his new teammates.”

Defender is his most natural position, Morris said, though he could be used elsewhere if needed.

Morris coached Osmanovic in Milwaukee in his last season there as an assistant coach.

“As a 19-year-old, he certainly showed he was capable of playing in this league at high level,” Morris said. “He’s a strong, physical type player with the ability to play a number of positions.

“What I like is how he competes, and a great deal of indoor soccer is about that. It’s the 1-v-1 battles, or the mentality of grinding it out when things aren’t easy,” Morris added.

In three seasons and 75 games with the Wave, Osmanovic recorded 21 goals, eight assists and 42 shot blocks. Initially, Osmanovic will fill a role in the back, though he is more naturally a midfielder or second forward.