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On the job only two months, Montreal Impact technical director Adam Braz has quickly realized sometimes, in soccer, a little luck is required to accompany a dollop of talent.

And, with the acquisition of Belgian central defender Laurent Ciman, Braz has displayed a Midas touch, more the stroke of good fortune. Had Ciman’s Montreal-based agent not had a connection with Nick De Santis, the team’s former sporting director, and were it not for Ciman’s daughter Nina, 5 in March, suffering from autism, it’s unlikely the 29-year-old would have ventured here to continue his career playing Major League Soccer, toiling for a team that finished last overall in 2014.

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“Sometimes in soccer you have to be lucky. I feel like we’re lucky in a sense,” Braz said. “He made a lot of sacrifices to be here. Everyone needs to respect that and appreciate that, based on his family situation.”

It has been a whirlwind few days for Ciman, who has spent more than a decade in the Belgian first division, including the last six with Standard Liege. He agreed to a three-year deal with Montreal last Thursday, scored the winning goal Sunday in a 2-0 victory against Anderlecht, flew to Canada on Monday, underwent a physical, and was introduced Tuesday morning to a media horde in the bowels of Olympic Stadium. He could participate in his first training camp workout as early as Wednesday.