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Veteran Kobayashi Heads to Legion FC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 01/21/19, 7:27PM EST

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Japanese midfielder reunited with Heaps, Soehn from time with Revolution


Veteran midfielder Daigo Kobayashi appeared in every regular-season contest for Las Vegas Lights FC in the 2018 USL Championship season. | Photo courtesy Kiel Maddox / Fresno FC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Monday the signing of midfielder Daigo Kobayashi, pending league and federation approval. The 35-year-old spent three seasons, from 2014 to 2017, with Legion FC Head Coach Tom Soehn and President/General Manager Jay Heaps playing for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.

“Daigo is the epitome of a true professional,” said President and GM Jay Heaps. “He is someone that Coach Soehn and I have worked closely with, and we expect his vast professional experience to really help not only on the field but also in the locker room as we build our team in this inaugural season.”

Kobayashi joins Legion FC after spending 2018 with fellow USL Championship team Las Vegas Lights FC, where he appeared in all 34 regular-season contests for the side, scored four goals, and added three assists. Prior to joining New England, he played with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2013, appearing in 32 games that season and adding three goals and four assists.

Before coming to North America, Kobayashi had already built up an impressive resume, making more than 300 appearances for clubs across the world. He began his career in the J1 League in Japan for Tokyo Verdy and went on to play for Japanese sides Omiya Ardija and Shimizu S-Pulse, for Stabæk Fotball in Norway, and for Iraklis Thessaloniki in Greece. 

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