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Marcelin Makes the Move North

James Marcelin has been a target signing for Jeff Paulus long before the Canadian Premier League was even rumoured to be in development.

“Colin (Miller) and I tried to trade for him for about three straight years, and we never got him here,” smiled the FC Edmonton Head Coach and Director of Soccer Operations. “If you followed the NASL (North American Soccer League), you know just how dominant he can be.”

“To be a holding midfielder who can also play as a number eight and get forward, you know he’s got quality.”

Paulus and FC Edmonton certainly saw plenty of Marcelin during their time in the NASL, as the holding midfielder spent 2014 & 2015 with Fort Lauderdale, being named to the league’s Best XI in 2015, before joining North Carolina FC for the 2016 & 2017 campaigns. Marcelin also has Major League Soccer experience, making 33 appearances for Portland Timbers and FC Dallas in the 2011 & 2012 seasons.

Now, the two will work together as they try to lead the Eddies to a Canadian Premier League championship.

“I am looking forward to working with him and learning from him,” Marcelin said. “He is a respectful person who will help me grow not only on the field, but off of it as well, which is very important to me.”

“Playing against FC Edmonton in the NASL was always one of the most difficult matches to play, because they always had good players, worked hard every week and were very well organized.”

The Haitian international has 33 caps for his country, and scored perhaps maybe the most famous goal in that nation’s football history at the 2016 Copa America. Marcelin pounced on a rebound and beat Brazil’s keeper, Allison, scoring the first ever goal for his country against the South American giants. Despite the 7-1 final scoreline, Marcelin says he’ll never forget that moment.