by Rod Hughes

Since we reported the story, we have an obligation to update it for you soccer fans: Luis Marin has changed his mind and will stay another year with the Maccabi Netanya club in Israel. Moreover, since he accepted an offer from Costa Rica’s Liberia Mia First Division club, he has reached a preliminary agreement to pay Liberia’s owner, Mario Sotela, a penalty for breaking the new contract.

Marin called his decision to leave the Israeli club “hasty” and said the club officials and especially head coach Lothar Matthaeus persuaded him to stay on. Asked if they gave him a raise, he replied, “Yes, there was an adjustment on the salary part but it wasn’t for this… Although Liberia offered me a good contract, it wasn’t the best decision for me at this moment.” He said that the main factors were a chance to play under the guidence of Matthaeus and to be able to play soccer in the EUFA league.

He added that the club and fans had treated him very well in Israel. Marin is a former Alajuela and Carmelita player and is only one of many Costa Rica soccer stars to have signed with clubs abroad/