Nov. 20, 2016 – Gabriel “El Gladiador” Badilla dies

Gabriel Badilla was recruited by the Revolution to pair with Michael Parkhurst in central defense, but played only seven games in two seasons, mostly because of injury. Badilla (b. June 30, 1984 in San Jose) played most of his career with CD Saprissa, winning the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup (Badilla scored a goal in a 2-0 win over UNAM Pumas in the first leg). Badilla was in the Costa Rica lineup against Poland (2-1 loss) in the 2006 World Cup. Badilla joined the Revolution in 2008, then returned to Saprissa in ’09.

Badilla collapsed at the finish line of a marathon in Santa Ana, Costa Rica and was declared dead due to cardiorespiratory arrest.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY