Meet the New Guys: Marko Maric

Previous Club: Lillestrøm SK, Norweigan Eliteserien.

Acquired by: Undisclosed transfer fee from parent club, TSG Hoffenheim in the German league Bundesliga

Position: Goalkeeper

The need for a first class goalkeeper is the need regardless of the club or league, but new manager Tab Ramos called Marko Marić, a recent transfer to the Houston Dynamo, just that in an interview on Soccer Matters, a program hosted by Glenn Davis.

Houston always seems to have a quality keeper between the sticks, even if they sometimes fall under the radar. After the great early years with Pat Onstad, the Dynamo featured two-time All-Star Tally Hall, and then Tyler Deric and Joe Willis – both of whom were excellent shot stoppers in their own right.

Following the trade of Joe Willis to acquire reinforcements at right back in the form of Zarek Valentin, after A.J. DeLaGarza moved on to Inter Miami, along with the departure of Tyler Deric, the need for goalkeepers in Houston was running high.

In addition to Marić, the Dynamo did sign Cody Cropper, an experienced MLS goalkeeper with US youth national team experience under Tab Ramos, who should put pressure on Marić to perform well week in and week out.

What does he bring to the Dynamo?

Marić himself cited the great German goalkeeper and often sweeper-keeper Manuel Neuer as an influence in his play. That style certainly lends itself to the kind of possession based and pressing force that Tab Ramos wants to deploy here in Houston. Ramos spoke highly of Marić’s skill with his feet on Soccer Matters also noting that him being left footed could help quickly let loose Alberth Elis on the break with a diagonal ball.

In the world of modern soccer, the demand for goalkeepers to not only be excellent shot stoppers is in demand, but goalkeepers are also being asked to contribute on the other end as well with their distribution. If Marić can live up to the kind of praise he’s receiving from his manager, we may have a very solid number one option in goal.

Aided by a defense featuring quality distributing center backs in Maynor Figueroa and Kiki Struna, and service to the forwards and attacking midfielders could make the Dynamo a very dangerous team on the counter attack. It is still early with a limited sample size by the Croatian keeper for fans to see thus far, but early signs have been encouraging.

How do you think Marko Marić will far in goal for Houston? Let us know in the comments below.