Forward Madison has signed striker Abdou Mbacke Thiam for the 2022 season, the club announced Tuesday.
Mbacke Thiam, 29, hails from Senegal and scored 46 goals and added 18 assists in 77 appearances for UConn. He earned all-conference honors all four years and was named to the United Soccer All-East Region First Team.
He’s spent the three seasons since as a substitute for Louisville City FC in USL Championship, scoring three goals in 33 league appearances. He also scored what proved to be the winner in City’s 3-0 win over Reading United in the 2019 US Open Cup.
“I want to have my name written in the history of (Forward Madison) by winning collective and individual titles. I want to bring a championship trophy to Madison,” Mbacke Thiam said in a club-issued statement. “I want the Madison fans to know that I am a proud Senegalese who loves to score goals. If you see me around, please always feel free to say hi! I can’t wait to get to know this incredible fan base.”
Mbacke Thiam is the first new signing announced by Forward Madison under new head coach Matt Glaeser, and the first pure striker announced for the 2022 season. Goal-scoring was one of the team’s struggles in 2021; the Mingos’ 32 goals were second-to-last, ahead only of North Carolina’s 30. Glaeser identified bringing in a pure goal scoring threat as one of his top priorities.
The club has also announced the return of midfielders Aaron Molloy, Christian Enriquez, Justin Sukow and Derek Gebhard, along with defender Cyrus Rad and goalkeeper Phil Breno.
