Official: Chicago Fire sign Pavel Pardo

Posted Wednesday, July 27, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

The Chicago Fire announced the signing of former Mexican international Pavel Pardo.

The 35-year-old defensive midfielder will be added to the Fire’s roster upon receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pardo will be eligible to make his Fire debut Aug. 3 against Philadelphia at Toyota Park.

“Pavel is a very talented player who can help our team,” said interim head coach Frank Klopas. “Pavel’s international credentials and track record as a professional were defining factors in us bring him to the Fire. He will provide additional depth in the midfield as we push for a playoff spot in the second half of the MLS season.”

Pardo began his career in 1993 with Mexican Primera side Atlas. He would go on to play for Tecos, then Club America in 1999, where he started to gain a reputation as one of Mexico's best players.

Pardo appeared in 224 matches for America, scoring 24 goals, and helping the club to the 2002 Verano and 2005 Clausura championships as well as the 2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup. His play with America earned him a move to the German Bundesliga.

He signed with Vfb Stuttgart in 2006, where he appeared in 71 matches, scoring four times. The highligh of his stint in Germany was winning the 2006-07 Bundesliga title, the club’s first since 1992. He returned to Club America following the 2009 Bundesliga season.

Internationally, Pardo is the second-most capped player in Mexican national team history, with 148 appearances for el Tricolor. He appeared in seven matches for Mexico during the 1998 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, helping the side to Round of 16 appearances in both tournaments.

Pardo's signing coincided with the release of midfielder Bratislav Ristic, as the Fire needed to clear an international space for the Mexican midfielder.