This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Facing the daunting challenge of replacing a playoff hero, Alvaro Saborio promptly enjoyed one of the best seasons in Real Salt Lake history.
Now, he's being rewarded for it.
The Costa Rican international was named the newcomer of the year in Major League Soccer on Wednesday, becoming the second RSL player to win one of the league's postseason awards. Jamison Olave was named defensive player of the year last week, and Jason Kreis is one of three finalists for the coach of the year award that will be announced Thursday.
"I'm happy for all of the team," Saborio said.
The 28-year-old Saborio scored 12 league goals in his first season replacing striker Yura Movsisyan, who left RSL for Randers FC in Denmark after leading its stunning charge to the MLS Cup championship last season. He also added six goals in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, which RSL negotiated while compiling the best regular-season league record (15-4-11) in its history.
But Saborio slumped a bit near the finish, enduring nagging knee and groin injuries that slowed him during RSL's first-round playoff loss to FC Dallas. He's expected to have surgery to repair the knee injury - which caused the groin injury, he said - on Thursday.
Still, Saborio beat out New York's Thierry Henry and Joel Lindpere for the fourth annual award, and said he's comfortable with RSL and wants to return next season. His loan deal from FC Sion in Switzerland expires at the end of the month, though, and his contract stipulates a $1 million buyout.
Team officials will attempt to negotiate that down, which seems plausible given that Saborio does not want to return to FC Sion, and that Sion could lose him for nothing when his contract expires next spring.
However, RSL probably can't risk allowing Saborio to leave even for a few months and attempting to re-sign him once he's out of contract. It needs him for the Champions League quarterfinals in February, for one thing - especially if fellow forward Robbie Findley does not return - and surely would encounter serious and expensive competition for Saborio on the open market.
Meanwhile, Saborio intends to return home to Costa Rica next week - he's expected to need three weeks to recover from the surgery - and hopes to be back for training camp in January.
"I'm happy here," he said. "I feel comfortable. We will see" how the negotiations proceed. "Hopefully I will stay next year and score more goals."