Orange County Blues announce return of captain Didier Crettenand

One of the standouts of 2015 is returning for an encore. The Orange County Blues announced on Monday that midfielder Didier Crettenand is back for the 2016 season. In his first season with the Blues, Crettenand recorded seven goals and three assists.

"I'm very happy to be back in Orange County. I'm excited to keep working with the technical staff and to improve upon the success we had as a team last season," remarked Crettenand in a team statement.

This is fantastic news for the campaign ahead. Had he not been out a few matches due to an injury, the native of Switzerland would almost certainly been named to USL All-League team. In the first quarter of the season, we here at The Goat Parade pegged him to be an early candidate for USL MVP, especially after game-changing goals like this one against the then-defending champions, Sacramento Republic FC.

OC Blues head coach and general manager Oliver Wyss is certainly happy to have his countryman back. "We are pleased to have Didier back with the OC Blues. His vast experience and quality on the ball, especially in the final third, are big assets for our team."

Orange County start their preseason trip to Casa Grande, Ariz. tonight in a scrimmage vs NASL side Indy Eleven. Stay tuned for a full report here on The Goat Parade.

How big is Crettenand's return? Tell us what you think in the comments!