HARRISON, N.J. – There might not be any promotion/relegation in Major League Soccer, but Vincent Bezecourt just might tell you otherwise.

On Friday, he was promoted from Red Bulls II to the big club, the Red Bulls.

The former St. Francis Brooklyn College standout midfielder signed an MLS contract Friday after playing the last two seasons with the United Soccer League affiliate..

“Vince has impressed us in games and in training over the last 18 months,” Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statment. “We are pleased to add him to our MLS roster and proud that another player has moved through the developmental system to the first team.”

A native of Aire-sur-l’Adour, France, Bezecourt signed with Red Bulls II at the beginning of 2016 after two years at St. Francis.

“Vince has earned this opportunity with his play in USL and his attitude towards working hard every day to improve his game,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said in a press release. “He shows qualities that we think will translate to the MLS level. This is a testament to Vince and to our organizations’ player development system.”

In 19 appearances this season, Bezecourt has recorded six goals and a league-best eight assists and 45 chances created. Last season he recorded six goals and two assists in 18 regular-season matches, as well as a goal and four assists during the playoffs en route to winning the USL Championship with NYRB II.

“It was a nice surprise, I’m very happy to be here,” Bezecourt said in a statement. “When you are a USL player, you always look up at the big guys from the first team and you want to play with them, to train with them. I’m grateful for the opportunity and very thankful to all of the coaches from USL, the players and thankful for the trust from the coaching staff too.”

Bezecourt was loaned to the Red Bulls for the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup match against the New England Revolution in July, but did not make an appearance.

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.