Union Omaha’s ritualistic Tuesday announcements brought with it an additional surprise: not one player signing, but two. Defenders Junior “El Buffalo” Palacios and Stefan Mueller were both announced as new signings to the 2023 Union Omaha roster.
Junior Palacios joins the club as a right back, with possible appearances as a center back and defensive midfielder. Having signed with the Owls, this will be his first professional experience playing with a club outside of the state of Florida. He’s had stops at the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NPSL), Boca Raton FC (NPSL), Florida Soccer Soldiers (UPSL), and Miami FC (USL Championship). With over 52 combined appearances among the clubs listed, not including US Open action, Palacios is proving himself to be a battler with plenty left in the tank.
When you watch his highlight video below, Palacios is predominantly seen playing at right back, though he does show necessary skills to play in the middle of the field. The Colombian has good instincts when he has the ball at his feet – composure, guarding the ball from pressure, and a good first touch. Playing primarily as a right back, when he advances up the field, he’s not a strict to-the-corner attacker. The film shows that he’s more than willing to move the ball inside, claim ground in the middle of the field, and even go at defenders. Another aspect to look out for in the film is his ability to scan the field while the ball is at his feet. He doesn’t stare at the ground or the defender’s feet, he has his chin up, scans the field, and looks for opportunities to combine with his teammates. He has a balanced arsenal of good decision making, too. He has good instincts for when it’s good to pass, dribble, create with teammates, and likes to serve low, driven ground passes up the field to attackers. He doesn’t waste a lot of time looking back or to his side to settle the ball and swing the ball across the backline. He wants to drive the ball up the field and include his teammates every step of the way.
In Union Omaha’s press release, Head Coach Dominic Casciato mentioned a long-standing eagerness to work with Palacios. “Junior is an experienced player that’s been on my radar for a couple of years now,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He can play a number of different positions along the backline and in the midfield, which will prove invaluable over the course of our season. I’m sure our fans will love his mentality, and I’m looking forward to adding his leadership, will to win and quality to our team this season.”
General Manager Peter Marlette included his own satisfaction with the signing. “Junior is an athletic, versatile player with good experience in USL Championship,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “We’re expecting him to make a big impact in League One no matter what position he lines up in for us.”
Palacios included his own quote in the press release. “I’m very happy to come to a club like Union Omaha,” Palacios said. “From the players to the coaching staff and the front office, we are committed to working hard and bringing joy to our fans.”
East coast native Stefan Mueller was also signed by Union Omaha on Tuesday. The New Yorker has had experience playing in the New York Cosmos Academy, leading Temple University’s backline, developing more in Germany, playing with Tormenta FC, and even appearing with Rio Grande Valley last season. After a prolific four years with Temple University, in which he took part in a stout defense known for shutouts, Mueller took his talents to the professional level, where he experienced success, as well.
In his highlight video below, you can see that his defensive fundamentals are strong, as are his instincts to advance up the field as soon as the opportunity is presented. He drops off on his one-on-one pressure because he has the ability to anticipate the ball moving to his side of the field and he has the speed to get him to where he needs to go in order to intercept the pass before the opposition can get to it. His face-to-face challenges are physical and precise, too. He’s not afraid to throw his body around, but he has the fundamentals to do so in a way that doesn’t concede fouls or cards often. When he forces turnovers, his first touch is good and sets himself up to show off his pace as he darts up the sideline. He’ll be a valuable member on offense, too. In the film, you can pick out several good crosses that land right in the middle of pressure and give his teammates an opportunity to finish the ball.
Union Omaha’s press release included the following quotes:
“Stef is a player that’s gained great experience over the last couple of years in both League One and Championship,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He’s got a great engine to support the attack, crosses well and is comfortable defending one-on-one. He’s a player that will buy into our motto of “One Means All,” and I’m keen to see him integrate into our team and the local community.”
“Stefan is a dynamic player who can get up and down the flank all game and put dangerous balls into the box,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He’s proven himself at this level already and I’m looking forward to seeing him do so with us.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to represent a club that has had so much success in such a short period of time,” Mueller said. “I can’t wait to get out there in front of some of the most passionate fans in the country and do everything I can to help bring another championship to Omaha.”
Union Omaha’s roster is now up to 15 players, with plenty more signings to come. The backline and midfield are certainly looking solid at this point, but we can all agree the club isn’t satisfied yet. Stay tuned for more news regarding your favorite club and subscribe to WGAH for more Union Omaha content. Don’t forget to like, follow, and subscribe to the social media links below. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
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