FCE coach Miller sees Corea signing as part of a long-term plan By Steven Sandor Posted on July 30, 2015 4 0 837 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Dustin Corea FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller said that the team’s signing of El Salvadorean midfielder Dustin Corea is about the long-term future of the team. The team announced the signing of the left-footed attacking midfielder on Thursday. He trained with the team at Clarke Field. He was once part of the American youth set-up, as he was born in California and raised in Portland, Ore. His family still lives in Portland. But, he made the switch to El Salvador, and most recently played for that country at the Gold Cup, where he scored a goal against Costa Rica. Before coming to Edmonton, Corea played a season with El Salvadorean top-division CD FAS, where he scored five times. Because he’s got an American passport, he doesn’t count as an international on the roster “I think he will give us a variety,” Miller said of Corea. “He can play on the inside, he can play as a number 10. He can play on the right and, of course, with him being left-footed, he can play wide left as well. There’s a variety of options there. He’s a current El Salvador international and did well in the Gold Cup. He scored a goal at the Gold Cup. So he’s an established player. When players like that become available, it appealed for the price that we got him for, it’s fantastic. “I’m always thinking about the club longer term; should certain players move on and not sign with the club, we have to always think that the club is more important than any one player or even two or three players. So this is as much building for the future for the club, he’s 23, he’s young, he’s hungry to play and happy to be here.” Miller said he “might still be in the market for a defender.” FCE is currently at its maximum allowed number of international players, at seven. So, unless FCE releases a player, any defender brought in would have to have a Canadian or American passport. Corea said that he knew he was heading to Alberta before the Gold Cup kicked off. “I knew before the Gold Cup that Edmonton was interested in me. I didn’t make nothing official because you never know what could happen. I stayed quiet. I knew myself, my family, and Edmonton knew that I was interested.” And, he thinks the environment in NASL might suit him better than the super-intense El Salvadorean league. “I like places where it’s very secure, very calm and very relaxed. It seems that’s how it is here. You know, I was playing in El Salvador and it’s a little bit different over there — a bit different lifestyle… It’s very intense. You’re in the spotlight all the time. People demand so much from you. You need to perform every day that you play. That’s the difference with here than from other there. I like to play my game, but also have a little fun, as well. “It’s something new, it’s something exciting. I’ve always tried to come and play in NASL. I’ve seen Edmonton since the moment I knew they were interested in me, to see how I was. It seems like a nice city, Alberta seems real nice. I will get used to this. I wanted to leave Central America and try something new here in Canada.” Of course, his family in Portland is a lot closer to him now that’s he’s in Edmonton. It’s an easy flight to Vancouver or Seattle, then a quick connection to the Rose City. That’s a far cry than having to go from Portland to San Salvador.
