Goncalves’ Future Uncertain
- Updated: October 31, 2015
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Similar to that other guy who donned the captain’s armband for the Revolution this year, center back Jose Goncalves is in no rush to make a decision about where he’ll play in 2016.
During Friday’s final media session, Goncalves, who won the MLS Defender of the Year award in 2013, said that he’ll head back to Switzerland and give serious thought about whether he wants to return for a fourth season with the Revolution.
“When the season ends, it gives me time to go home first, relax my mind with my family,” Goncalves said. “It’s very important that everybody does that. You (have to) think before saying something about making a decision. It’s very important you reflect first on yourself, and you think about what is good for you.”
What is good for Goncalves and what is good for the Revolution are two separate matters, of course. The team’s second-highest paid player was beset by spells of shaky form at times as he tried to form a partnership with former right back Andrew Farrell in the middle of the defense.
Another development that didn’t make 2015 any easier for him was when he had the armband – which he’d worn for the previous two seasons – stripped from him and given to Jermaine Jones shortly after the start of the season.
With all that has happened over the course of his third season in New England, it’s difficult to get a read on what Goncalves’ state of mind is going into the offseason.
Earlier this year, the 30-year-old defender gave an interview to a Swiss outlet in which he detailed his desire to return to Switzerland, where he played prior to joining the Revolution, after the 2015 season.
When asked about it by the local media over the summer, Goncalves skirted the issue, saying that his future was something he’d have to ponder during the offseason. However, he did confirm on Friday that he would like to play in Switzerland again before he calls it a career.
“Yes, of course,” Goncalves said. “I’m from there, my whole family is there, friends are there, and for me, it’s home. I always wanted to end my career there, but I still have many years to play for sure, and I don’t know when (that) will be.”
Although Goncalves said he’s not thinking about retirement at the present moment, he knows an important decision is looming nevertheless as he considers whether to stay in New England, or go back to Europe.
“I’m just thinking it’s time to go home right now, and relax my mind,” Goncalves said, “and just see in the next few weeks and months how my mind decides how things will go.”
In the meantime, Goncalves expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play for a team that he feels is making strides in claiming that elusive league title, even though the team’s recently-concluded campaign may have fallen short of expectations after last year’s MLS Cup run.
“I’m very happy to have been a part of this whole process this year,” Goncalves said. “I think we achieved a lot of stuff. Maybe we didn’t win a title, but we achieved a lot in terms of how to grow, how to win games, accept the losses, and move on.”
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