Houston Dynamo’s seemingly annual fight against mediocrity has been boosted with the signing of defender Marlon Hairston from Colorado Rapids for a reported $175,000 in TAM.
The 24-year-old right-back penned a four-year contract to try to help the Texas side sure up their defence and provide an attacking threat going forward for the 2019 season.
Houston Dynamo General Manager Matt Jordan had this to say about the signing of Marlon Hairston:
“Marlon is a young and talented player who at just 24 years old has already played close to 100 league matches and has valuable playoff, and Champions League experience,” said Dynamo senior vice president and general manager Matt Jordan in a media release. “We are confident that his quality as a player and his ability to play a variety of positions, combined with his strong mentality, will be important as we face a demanding 2019 schedule.”
THE HISTORY
Born in Jackson Mississippi, Hairston started his soccer career in College between 2012 and 2013 for the Louisville Cardinals.
Established as a regular starter during the 2012/13 campaigns, he was a mainstay in central defence over the rest of his time at the club, producing six goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.
In September 2014, Sakho joined Colorado Rapids during the MLS Super Draft.
On April 2, 2015, Hairston was loaned to USL side Charlotte Independence. May 12, 2015, Hairston earned USL Player of the Week after scoring a goal and picking up an assist in a 3-0 win over the Richmond Kickers. Towards the end of the 2015 season, Hairston was called up to the Rapids and started the last three games of the year, all at right back, a change from 2014, when he played in the midfield.
In 2016 Hairston was permanently moved up to the Rapids from the Charlotte Independence, but only played in two of the first eleven games for the team. However, on July 16 he came on as a substitute against Sporting Kansas City and scored the game-winning goal, the Rapids taking the game 1-0. In his next 4 games he scored 2 and got 2 assists. He was rewarded for his strong performances by being named to the MLS Team of the Week for Week 22. Hairston helped the Rapids qualify for the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs. Hairston made 4 appearences as the Rapids reached the Conference Finals before losing to the Seattle Sounders, the eventual champions.
THE PROSPECTS
When fully fit, Hairston looks assured of a starting berth at BBVA Compass Stadium, with Tomas Martinez and Darwin Ceren, along with another new arrival, Tommy McNamara, vying for the spot alongside the American.
However, both Ceren and McNamara are versatile enough to offer alternatives at full-back and even in holding midfield roles, with the former, in particular, expected to continue in the starting line-up.
It will be interesting to see how Marlon Hairston and Tommy McNamara can slot into the Houston Dynamo midfield over the course of the preseason. Houston Dynamo predominately play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Cabezas and Boniek the two defensive midfielders with Martinez as the attacking midfielder alongside Elis and Quioto on both flanks.
Hairston can play as a right back and a Winger, so therefore I see him vying for a spot alongside Wenger for the right back role and Elis for the winger slot. It should make for interesting viewing for the Texas Club over preseason.
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