Club Brugge interested in former Syracuse soccer star Alex Bono, per report

Despite the down season in 2017, the stature of Syracuse Orange men’s soccer continues to rise. The latest indication? European club interest in former SU (and current Toronto FC) goalkeeper Alex Bono, according to Voetbal Nieuws, which reports that Club Brugge may want his services.

Bono, who was selected sixth in the 2015 MLS Superdraft, recorded 10 shutouts during the Reds’ 2017 title campaign. He’s also a rising name for the U.S. Men’s National Team and was named to roster for the 2015 camp. In 2018, he’s allowed seven goals in five starts, with one shutout.

Should Bono end up heading to Club Brugge, he would not be the first former Syracuse player to suit up in Europe. Midfielder Eric Puls played for Germany’s SV Darmstadt (second tier) in 1992, and Rot-Weiss Waldorf (fourth tier) from 1992-94. Prior to joining the Orange in 2014, Julian Buescher also played in Germany, for Preußen Münster and Sportfreunde Lotte (both third tier). Mo Adams also played for Nottingham Forrest and Derby County’s youth clubs in his native England prior to playing for Syracuse.

Of all of those names, Bono would be playing at the highest level of European football, should he actually sign with Club Brugge, who are part of the Belgian First Division A (Jupiler Pro League). Club Brugge has won the league championship 14 different times, most recently in 2015-16.

(h/t Stars and Stripes FC for first noticing the news)