SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, August 9, 2017) – Real Monarchs SLC announced Wednesday that the club has signed Costa Rica National Team FW Diego Calvo and Argentine FW Juan Ignacio Mare, pending league and federation approval and receipt of visas and ITCs.
Calvo comes to the Monarchs after spending his eight-year professional career playing in Costa Rica, Norway and Sweden.
“Diego is a dynamic attacking player with a great resume,” Real Monarchs General Manager Elliot Fall said. “He fits the profile of the type of player we believe can improve our team and we think that we have the type of environment that will allow him to thrive.”
The 26-year-old winger has international experience playing with Costa Rica in 2014 World Cup Qualifying and was on the roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He made his international debut against the U.S. in World Cup Qualifying in Colorado on March 22, 2013 and scored his first goal for Costa Rica in the next match against Jamaica. He has one goal in 10 international appearances to his credit. Additionally, he was a fixture for Costa Rica at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.
On the club level, he started his pro career in 2010 with Alajuelense in Costa Rica, reaching CONCACAF Champions League in 2011, 2012 and in his second stint with the club in 2015. He also played during his career for Saprissa and Perez Zeledon in Costa Rica, Valerenga in Norway and IFK Goteborg in Sweden.
Mare, 22, started his professional career with Instituto in his native Argentina in 2013. Since then, he has played with Monarcas Morelia, Atlas and Puebla in Mexico, but didn’t garner first-team experience with any of the three clubs.
“He is a talented attacking player who gives us something that we don’t presently have on the roster,” Fall said.
The Monarchs hold the best record in the USL at 15-3-3 (48 points). After previously setting a league record with a nine-game winning streak, the Monarchs are currently in the midst of a 10-match home unbeaten streak dating back to last season.
