Eric Avila hasn’t played for FC Dallas in nearly two seasons, but that doesn’t mean FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman doesn’t still wish his former midfielder well. Hyndman always said the decision to trade Avila to Toronto FC during the 2011 decision was a tough call because of what high esteem he held the California native in.
But as is often the case, trading “Avi” was best for both FCD as well as for the player himself. After spending the past few seasons with TFC, Avila was traded to Chivas USA from Colorado this past off-season after the Rapids had selected him in the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
It was a good change for Avila, a native of southern California as he got to play close to home. However, after a short time with the Red-and-White, Avila is now on the move again, this time to Chivas USA’s parent club, the famed Chivas de Guadalajara of Liga MX, Mexico’s top division.
His former coach couldn’t be happier to see the affable midfielder making such a big move to an environment he’s always wanted to play in.
“I think it’s perfect. I think Avi and I have talked about that a few times. He wants to go to Mexico and play. I think Herculez Gomez kind of opened the eyes for a lot of the players. He was a player that was kind of a journeyman in the league. You follow his track record and you see Avi’s. I think what Herculez Gomez has done and it wasn’t something he’s tried to do, it was done by his fantastic play and development,” Hyndman said.
He added: “He took a different route and his different route was going to play in Mexico, where it’s not as physical of a game. It’s more of a technical game, it’s more of a fast decision making game and a tactical game. And I think he raised his level to the point where he’s now going the back way of going onto the national team,” Hyndman said. “Avi’s one of my favorite players. He made those moves and I think Chivas was another move for him. I think going to Mexico would be a brilliant move for him and I would be very excited for him.”