AMSTERDAM — Former Chicago Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic was picked up by the Colorado Rapids in the recent Re-Entry Process, but he will not be returning to MLS when his contract runs out at the end of the year. Instead, he has opted to join Swedish second-flight side Hammarby and their new coach Gregg Berhalter.
The 24-year-old Bosnian-American, who made 50 appearances in three seasons with the Fire, signed a two-year pre-deal with the Bajen on Friday afternoon. With the squad experiencing great turnover this offseason, Berhalter, the longtime US international who retired last month after winning the MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy, will expect Husidic to be among his main cogs in central midfield.
"We have quite a few players with expiring contracts," Hammarby press officer Love Gustafsson told MLSsoccer.com. "Because of this, we are looking at new players for almost every position."
Husidic will join the Stockholm side's preseason preparations shortly into the new year. A disappointing 11th-place finish last season, Hammarby will kick off their 2012 Superettan schedule on April 12 when American Ryan Miller and Halmstads BK visit.
Greg Seltzer covers American Exports for MLSsoccer.com.
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