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Ex-UConn star was a win away from Premier League, before team’s spying scandal cost him a shot
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- Ex-UConn star was a win away from Premier League, before team’s spying scandal cost him a shot
It's been 12 years since former UConn soccer star Cyle Larin was scoring goals in Storrs, and his talent has since taken him all around the world.
Now 31, Larin has played professionally in his native Canada , in Turkey, Belgium , Spain , the Netherlands and England .
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The former Husky joined English Football League Championship club Southampton on loan this season, and scored eight goals in nine starts to help the Saints charge up the league table and qualify for the playoffs. The winner was set to earn promotion to the Premier League, arguably the best league in the world and the ultimate goal for many soccer players.
But after a dramatic, 115th minute goal by Shea Charles gave Southampton a 2-1 semifinal win over Middlesbrough and seemingly booked their ticket to the playoff final, the Saints' dreams of reaching the Premier League were dashed. The club was found guilty of spying on the training sessions of multiple opponents throughout the season, and was expelled from the final, and any chance of reaching the EPL.
Middlesbrough will take Southampton's place in the final, set for Saturday against Hull City.
Rather than being a win away from potentially suiting up in the Premier League next season, the future is now unclear for Larin, who joined Southampton on loan from Mallorca in Spain in February. His loan deal included a £3.4 million obligation to buy, which would have been automatically triggered if Southampton had reached the Premier League, according to reports.
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Southampton still have an option to buy and could very well trigger that given Larin's form, but it would have been automatic if the team had earned promotion. The club could count on the former Husky to help get them back next season.
Larin is still expected to be a big part of Team Canada in the World Cup, which is set to begin June 11.
