The Atlanta Silverbacks have signed Honduran midfielder DANILO TURCIOS, pending USSF and ITC approval, the club announced Monday.
The 33-year-old attacking midfielder comes to the Silverbacks from Honduran giants C.D. Olimpia, where Silverbacks Head Coach Alex Pineda Chacón starred for 10 seasons during his playing career.
“It’s a rare opportunity for any club to be able to bring in a player with as much quality and international experience as Danilo,” Chácon said. “I’m very familiar with him on and off the field, and I can tell you that he’ll be an incredible addition to our team in many different ways.”
Turcios brings extensive international experience to the Silverbacks, appearing 85 times for the Honduran national team, including a pair of 2010 FIFA World Cup games. He has also represented Honduras in the Olympics, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Copa America.
A native of Sonaguera, Turcios began his professional career in 1996 with Universidad of the Honduran first division. After four seasons, he moved to fellow Honduran side Motagua in 2000. In 2001, Turcios took his career to Uruguay, where he would spend the next three seasons with first division clubs C.D. Maldonado, Defensor Sporting, and Peñarol.
Turcios moved on to the Mexican first division in 2004, signing with Estudiantes Tecos, the current club of former Silverbacks defender Mario Pérez. After one season with the Guadalajara-based club, he returned home to Honduras to play with C.D. Olimpia. Outside of a one-season stint with Guatemalan side Comunicaciones in 2006, Turcios was a regular fixture in C.D. Olimpia’s lineup from 2005-2012.
As an attacking midfielder, the Honduran is known as a playmaker, with strong distribution skills and finishing abilities. With 85 appearances for his country, he holds more international experience than any other player in the NASL in 2012.
Turcios is expected to join the team in early March, shortly after preseason training camp begins in Atlanta.
