OL Reign signed Costa Rican star Shirley Cruz on Tuesday, reuniting the crafty midfielder with her long-time coach Farid Benstiti.
Cruz was only the second Costa Rican women’s soccer player to ever play abroad, making the jump when she joined Olympique Lyonnais in 2005, where Benstiti was the manager. Together, the duo won six consecutive league titles and two UEFA Women’s Champions League championships with the club.
Benstiti left Olympique Lyonnais in 2010, but the pair were reunited in 2012 when Cruz moved to Paris Saint-Germain. The midfielder made 91 appearances during her six seasons with the club, finishing as Champions League runners-up with Benstiti as her coach twice.
“It will be a pleasure for me, playing next to great players and a coach that knows me well and knows how to bring out the best in his players,” Cruz said. “Farid is a coach with great experience — he has won in lots of leagues, in several countries. He will demand a very technical but physical style of play. I have no doubt he will bring out the best in all of us.”
Olympique Lyonnais purchased the former Seattle Reign in December, and later renamed the club OL Reign.
Cruz spent several seasons moving between leagues, winning hardware in each new league. She played one year in China, winning the Chinese FA Cup in 2018 with Jiangsu Suning, then won the Costa Rican Women’s First Division with Alajuelense.
On the international level, Cruz made her debut for the Costa Rican national team in 2002 at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. She led the team as captain in the 2015 FIFA World Cup, the country’s first-ever appearance in the tournament.
“I have worked for many years with Shirley and know she is a special player,” Benstiti said. “In addition to her quality she will bring a footballers’ mind and leadership on the pitch. I am very happy to be working with Shirley again.”
When Cruz will play for OL Reign is still unclear as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put the NWSL preseason on hold and threatens to delay the start of the regular season.