Houston Dynamo: Mauro Manotas worthy of contract extension
By Daniel Garza
The Houston Dynamo have secured the services of Mauro Manotas for three more seasons. The center-forward deserves every penny he receives.
When Maruo Manotas arrived in 2015, the Houston Dynamo were excited to see what this young striker could give the club. It took him a few seasons to get going but the result in the last two years has been terrific.
In 2017, Manotas scored 11 goals in 37 appearances, a clear sign that he was slowly figuring out this whole center-forward business. He then followed that up with 25 goals in 37 appearances in 2018.
As a result, the news of his three-year contract extension does not come as surprise.
Manotas has become one of the top strikers in Major League Soccer and will likely be near the top of the Golden Boot race in 2019 once more. He finished tied for fourth in 2018 in the Golden Boot race. The only players ahead of Manotas were Josef Martinez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bradley Wright-Phillips, all three of which are already MLS legends. Manotas is holding high company indeed.
That's using your head, Mauro Manotas.
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 19, 2018
A fifth overall @opencup goal for the Colombian & his first in #USOC2018 makes it 1-0 over @MNUFC. pic.twitter.com/qDp2ZzL9EM
The Dynamo have not just signed a goalscorer, though. They have found a striker who can help lead the club to titles.
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Manotas proved this during their 2018 U.S. Open Cup run. He scored six goals in four matches for the Dynamo during the competition, including a brace against the Philadelphia Union in the cup final. There is a special quality in certain players that allows them to perform at their best just when it matters most. Manotas has it.
As the Dynamo enter another big year, they will count on the Colombian striker to produce a similar mark in 2019. Plus, their participation in the CONCACAF Champions League will give him another competition to prove himself in. He will undoubtedly play a massive role in how far they can progress.
A run at the MLS playoffs will no doubt be a major goal for the Dynamo, who failed to make it in 2018. After bolstering their roster in the offseason, the Texas club have put themselves in a good position to qualify. But their chances will live and die by the goalscoring presence of Manotas and a dangerous attack. Manotas has playoff experience already. He scored a playoff goal in 2017. And the Dynamo now need him to get them back to the table.
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Moreover, now that Manotas will be with the Dynamo through the 2021 season, the club can focus on continuing to build their roster around their star player. Things are looking up for the Houston Dynamo. Manotas is here to stay.