FRISCO, Texas – One of soccer's true journeymen, Blas Perez finally seems to have found a place to call home for the remainder of his career.
The FC Dallas striker's 17 years as a professional has been an adventure, to say the least, consisting of stops on 15 different teams spread across seven countries and four continents. But entering his fourth season with FC Dallas – his longest stint with one team – Perez hopes he is done changing uniforms.
“This is the team I want to stay and finish my career with,” Perez told MLSsoccer.com through a translator.
Since arriving in Dallas in 2012, the Panama City native has accumulated 31 goals in three seasons, leading the team in scoring in each year. It's par for the course for Perez, who has found goals wherever he's gone in his professional travels, not to mention having scored 36 times for the Panamanian national team.
According to the savvy veteran, his tenure in Dallas has given him the desire to keep his mailing address as consistent as his goal scoring.
“I’m more relaxed, my kids have adapted to the town, this is a football town that keeps on growing,” Perez said. “But what’s most important is that my family likes it here.”
At 33 years old, Perez is tied for the oldest member of an FC Dallas squad stacked with young talent. Yet despite standing toe-to-toe with father time, he does not appear to be slowing down.
Just ask 2014 Rookie of the Year Tesho Akindele, who will see plenty of time as a striker opposite Perez whenever the team implements a 4-4-2 formation.
“His work ethic is incredible for being 33 years old and a goal scorer,” Akindele told MLSsoccer.com. ”He can probably just relax when we don’t have the ball, but he doesn’t. He pushes to try and win the ball back for us, and I think that’s respectable.”
Being one of the longest-tenured veterans at a club may be unfamiliar territory for Perez, but that has not stopped him from becoming a mentor to the team’s youth. He's done everything from teaching players how to recycle their runs in the box to getting in their faces if someone is late to practice.
- Get the latest FCD headlines from FCDallas.com
Head coach Oscar Pareja lauded Perez's leadership and understands the value of having a consistent, veteran presence amidst a young team.
“[His] approach to the game is professional all the time,” Pareja told MLSsoccer.com. “When he comes in the morning, he’s always ready. The way he faces training, the way he prepares himself and the way he takes care of himself is a good example for the guys.”
His age may be rising and the tread on his tires diminishing, but for FC Dallas to build on their success from last season they will need Perez to continue drinking from the fountain of youth that seems to reside in north Texas.
Fortunately for Dallas, Perez believes he may have found the elixir.
“I’m the oldest, but I feel young and the same as the rest of them,” he said.
