ST. LOUIS – Former Saint Louis University men's soccer standouts Tim Ream and Vedad Ibisevic have made moves recently, giving the Billikens a presence in two of the top soccer leagues in the world and bolstering the program's reputation of sending players to the next level.
Ream, who has spent the past two years with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, has joined Bolton of the English Premier League and will become the first native St. Louisan to play in the Premiership. The transfer fee of $3.2 million is the highest for an MLS defender and is believed to be the highest ever for a four-year NCAA player.
Ibisevic moved from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga. According to reports, the transfer was agreed to for a fee of $7.2 million. That is believed to be a record transfer fee for any player who has played U.S. college soccer.
“These moves by Tim and Vedad speak volumes to the type of University and soccer program we have,” Billiken head coach Mike McGinty said. “I can't think of any other school in the country that has had moves this big in a one-week span. This is phenomenal.
“They have taken different routes to where they are today, but it began with Tim playing all four years at SLU and Vedad playing one. These are shining examples that prove college soccer is a great way to develop talent. Whether you are here for a year, two, three or four, you can follow your dreams of getting a high-quality education while preparing for a professional career.”
Ream, who played for the Billikens from 2006-09, was an MLS Rookie of the Year finalist in his first year with the Red Bulls. He was named an MLS All-Star last year. Additionally, Ream has made seven appearances with the U.S. National Team. He was drafted by the Red Bulls in the second round (18th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
Ream played in all but one game during his four-year Billiken career, totaling 82 games played and 68 starts. He ended his career with 24 points (6G, 12A). The 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Ream also was named to the NSCAA's All-America third team following his senior season.
Ibisevic played for the Billikens in 2003. He tied for fourth nationally in scoring with 40 points (18G, 4A) en route to claiming first-team All-America honors and Conference USA Freshman of the Year accolades. He left SLU after his rookie season to sign a deal with Paris St. Germain in France.
With Hoffenheim, Ibisevic was the top scorer in the Bundesliga for a portion of the 2008-09 campaign before an injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. He recorded 48 goals in 123 appearances for Hoffenheim.
