Atlanta sign Antonio de la Torre

[François]

The Atlanta Silverbacks announced today the signing of Antonio de la Torre.

De la Torre spent the 2004 season with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer (MLS). The defender from Guadalajara, Mexico, played in 28 games for the Rapids last season, anchoring the right-back position and tallying five assists as the team’s corner kick specialist. Prior to his arrival in MLS, “Toño” played for various clubs in the Mexican league, among them Atlas, Necaxa, Jaguares, and Irapuato, which he helped win the second division title to secure promotion to Mexico’s top-flight. His debut in the first division was with Atlante in 2001 against legendary club América.

The 28-year old played on various Mexican all-star teams and wore his country’s tri-colors at the Under-17 level. De la Torre spoke of his arrival to the Red-and-Black gorillas: “I’m happy to come to the Silverbacks, where I want to give 100% on the field with my new teammates. Coming to Atlanta is a challenge in my career—playing in a new league where I’ll continue trying to reach the highest level.”


De la Torre comes from a family with a great soccer history. His father Antonio was a Mexican league star in the ‘70s with clubs like Pumas, América and Puebla and was a member of Mexico’s National Team in the 1978 World Cup. In addition, his uncle Eduardo “Yayo” de la Torre is currently the head coach at Santos. Antonio, junior, speaks both Spanish and English fluently and is married with two daughters

The 5’10”, 160 lb. right back joined the squad during last week’s friendly in South Florida against the Trinidad & Tobago National Team. “I want to invite all football fans,” said de la Torre, “to support the Silverbacks. Together with the new members of the squad, like myself and Chilean [Rodrigo Ríos] and veterans like Adilson [de Lima] and Andrés [Murriagui], we’ll be giving Atlanta a great show. We want everyone to come out, not only to our matches, but to our training sessions, so they’ll feel like they’re part of the club.”

The gorilla squad continues its preparations for the 2005 USL First Division season. The Silverbacks will open with three road games, traveling to Virginia to face the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, 16 April and the Virginia Beach Mariners the next day. Atlanta will then travel to the Charleston Battery on Saturday, 23 April before opening the home schedule with a return leg against the Black-and Gold on Saturday, April 30.

[Y]

Top players from Paraguay, Chile and now Mexico have been signed recently...

[Vicenç]

The Atlanta Silverbacks announced today the signing of Antonio de la Torre.
The 5’10”, 160 lb. right back joined the squad during last week’s friendly in South Florida against the Trinidad & Tobago National Team.

They are playing against Trinidad & Tobago and we're playing against Trois-Riviere... Great!!!
I have nothing against T-R but, I hope we will have a some better friendly ahead.

[François]

The Atlanta Silverbacks announced today the signing of Antonio de la Torre.
The 5’10”, 160 lb. right back joined the squad during last week’s friendly in South Florida against the Trinidad & Tobago National Team.

They are playing against Trinidad & Tobago and we're playing against Trois-Riviere... Great!!!
I have nothing against T-R but, I hope we will have a some better friendly ahead.

We should find out tomorrow. The Impact are suppose to announce 3 pre-season games...

[Y]

One will be against Sporting Poutine - to make sure we both win in Toronto...