Forward Madison has signed former Greenville Triumph, North Texas SC and FC Dallas Academy defender Cesar Murillo for the 2022 season, the club announced Friday.
The 25-year-old native of El Paso, Texas joins the Flamingos after a successful 2021 campaign with Greenville Triumph in USL League One. Making 31 appearances the past two seasons with the Triumph, Murillo helped make the squad into the best defensive unit in League One statistically. In 19 appearances in 2021, including 12 starts, he posted an 80.2 percent passing accuracy.
“Cesar is a proven player at this level of play and has had winning success in the past,” Head Coach Matt Glaeser said. “He complements our style of play, we’re excited to see what he can do here in Madison.”
Murillo started his professional soccer journey in the prestigious FC Dallas Academy at 15 in 2011 and received a scholarship to play collegiate soccer at the College of Charleston. Murillo made a quick impact at Charleston, captaining the squad all four seasons. He was featured in 66 matches for the College of Charleston and was selected All-CAA Second Team in 2015.
After graduating with a degree in accounting, Murillo signed with North Texas SC in 2019 to compete in the inaugural USL League One season. An integral part of the defense, Murillo won the USL League One Championship alongside the likes of Ricardo Pepi, Bryan Reynolds and Ronaldo Damus. In 2020, Murillo signed a two-year contract with Greenville Triumph SC, where he again won the USL League One Championship in 2020.
“My personal goals for 2022 are simple,” Murillo said in a statement. “I am coming with a positive and hopeful mentality which will lead to bringing my new home, the city of Madison, the championship trophy. Of course I would love all the individual awards but my focus is on bringing that 1st place title home and all the individual awards that come after are a plus.”
Murillo joins Australian center back Mitchell Osmond as the first defensive signings annonuced for the 2022 season. Forward Madison begins its preseason February 26 in a friendly against Marquette University and opens the League One season April 2 at Chattanooga, then host Union Omaha in the home opener April 9.
