Ante Jazic Announces Contract Option Picked up by Chivas USA

Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic announced this afternoon on twitter that his option for 2013 has been picked up by the club:

Option picked up for another year.Can't wait to start next season!

— Ante Jazic (@AnteJazic) November 28, 2012

Jazic has been with Chivas USA since 2009, and is one of the team's longest-tenured players at this point. He led the team in assists in 2011 and started 27 games for the Goats in 2012 as the primary left back. Although Jorge Villafana earned the remaining minutes at left back in Jazic's stead, Jazic still looked to be the best option on the roster at that position over the course of the season. Added to that is the fact that Jazic played an integral part in Canada's CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign this year, starting nearly all of his country's matches in 2012.

Of course, Jazic is not getting any younger, and he will be 37 at the start of the 2013 season. He wasn't quite as dominant in 2012 as in 2011, but the drop was not significant, and full back is one of the hardest positions to successfully fill in MLS. Hopefully the team will find a long-term successor to Jazic next season, but it will be good to see the veteran return to the club in 2013.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!