By Kevin Koczwara
The New England Revolution announced today that the club signed French forward Saër Sène on a free transfer from Germany’s Bayern Munich. Sène played for Munich’s reserve squad since 2009, Bayern Munich II, which competes in the lower levels of Germany’s professional system. He will be formally added to the team’s roster upon receipt of his U.S. P-1 Visa and his International Transfer Certificate.
Sène, 25, made 55 appearances for Bayern Munich II from 2009 to 2011, and scored 19 goal. In 2009-10 he scored 11 goals, but missed most of the 2010-11 season because of injury, which limited him to two games. In the first half of 2011-12, he scored eight goals and added one assist in 16 matches.
Bayern Munich purchased Sène following the 2008-09 season from SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, a regional professional soccer team based in Aspach. He made 52 appearances for SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, scoring 26 goals in two seasons. He began his playing career in 2005 with FC E’tampes, a local-level training club.
“We had the chance to have Saër in camp with us in Arizona and see him interact with our players both on and off the field,” General Manager Michael Burns said in the team’s press release. “We believe he’ll play a valuable role for us this season. He’s scored goals consistently with each of his previous clubs, and we believe he has the ability to continue to do so in MLS.”
The addition of Sène gives the Revolution another forward to a squad short on attacking options. He may not be the big name fans have yearned and waited for, but he is a 25-year-old who spent much of his early career in the Bayern Munich system, a system revamped by current U.S. Men’s National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmen in 2008-09, which is a plus.
A major concern for the Revolution will be if Sène can hold up to the physical play in MLS and the demanding travel schedule. His size, 6’3″ 185 lbs, bodes well for him in a league that likes big, strong forwards who can win balls and hold up play, something the Revolution have lacked.
There are still questions over Jose “Pepe” Moreno’s deal with the team. But right now, the Revolution have added another piece to its complex puzzle. And with his age, 25, in his favor, Sène could prove to be a bargain signing — free — for the team if he pans out the be a serviceable forward in the league who can score a few goals and help set up teammates.
Kevin Koczwara can be reached at kkoczwar@gmail.com.
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