Amanda DaCosta, shown here with the Boston Breakers in 2012, is headed back to the club after being traded by the Red Stars. (Photo Copyright: Meg Linehan)
Amanda DaCosta is headed back to Boston to play for her old coach, Matt Beard.
The Breakers announced on Thursday that they acquired the 27-year-old midfielder from the Chicago Red Stars in a trade. Boston in return sent its natural third- and fourth-round picks (No. 28 and No. 38 overall) in the 2017 NWSL College Draft to Chicago.
DaCosta played for the Breakers in 2012 in WPSL Elite, the season between WPS’ demise and the start of the NWSL. She moved to Liverpool in 2013 and 2014, joining Beard en route to back-to-back FA WSL titles after the team finished bottom of the table in 2012.
“Amanda is a great person, and she will be a great addition to our roster. During our time at Liverpool she was a key player for me,” Beard said. “Technically, she is very gifted and she is a clever soccer player.”
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Beard took over as Breakers coach last in September 2015. Boston finished last in his first season in charge, compiling a 3-2-15 (11 pts..) record. It marked the second straight year Boston finished bottom of the table.
Beard has begun bringing in reinforcements, marked by the trade to bring back DaCosta – who started only eight times in 2016 in a crowded Chicago midfield – and the addition of Norwegian forward Emilie Haavi earlier this week.
DaCosta, who was born in Katonah, N.Y., but has Portuguese roots, began playing for the Portugal national team in 2015 and is now cap-tied after helping the squad qualify for Euro 2017. She will likely miss time next season to compete in the continental tournament. She competed for the U.S. at the youth international level.
