PHOTO: SJ Earthquakes/ISI Photos

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It’s problematic to overstate how important 2018 is for Anibal Godoy. Arguably as equally important is how integral the Panamanian’s effectiveness will have to be in order for the San Jose Earthquakes to succeed this upcoming season.

It’s now year four of the 28-year-old’s spell in San Jose, and if the interdependence between the midfielder and the club wasn’t axiomatic already, an acquired Green Card in addition to a sizable new multi-year contract puts any doubt to rest.

Of course, failure could have been easily directed towards the Quakes front office if they would have been executed otherwise. Godoy isn’t only one of the best box-to-box midfielders in MLS, but a solidified starter for Panama in Russia this summer — if he remains healthy. So both in a financial and production basis, keeping the ‘Samurai’ around for a longer term should have been a no-brainer.

Interestingly enough, the Quakes’ previous figures in power and Godoy had already touched base on a new deal. And despite not landing a re-shaped contract then and heading into the new season with an expiring contract after the World Cup, the Panamanian international persisted to remain Black and Blue, regardless of what whispered to him off the pitch.

“I already had it (resigning with the Quakes) contemplated since the John Doyle era,” Godoy told Quakes Epicenter three days prior to the start of the 2018 campaign. “John Doyle had the desire to renew my contract, I had the desire to renew my contract, so I had already thought of it a lot. I wanted to remain here [in San Jose].”

“I want to have continuity (on the field), more so since the World Cup is approaching. A lot of people told me, ‘Why didn’t you wait after the World Cup once your contract would expire,'” he added. “But we never know what can happen; I don’t know if I can get to that World Cup or play in that World Cup. I think it’s best for my family to be happy. The club has treated me really well. I am doing very well here, my family as well. Hopefully, it’s a decision I won’t repent in the future.”

What if Godoy arrives in Saranks, Russia with a superb half-season behind him? More importantly, what if his dominant technical and physical abilities render against Belgium, England and Tunisia? That’s where things can get interesting because, regardless if its a European, Asian, or South American club knocking at the door, big-money bids will follow.

Godoy understands that the scenario as the aforementioned could become reality in a couple of months; however, currently, it’s not something that keeps him up at night.

“At this moment, it’s not what I think about,” Godoy said. “Everything will come at its proper time. I know that if I have a good World Cup, there could be lots of clubs [proposing offers]. If the club here sees that the offer is good, if it’s good for me, I think we can reach an agreement.”

“But it’s not something that I’m thinking about at the moment,” he restated. “I’m calm here. I want the season to start. I want to get to work. I want to do things right. We will see what happens after the World Cup. If a club wants me, they will have to come and talk to Jesse [Fioranelli] and the club. They are things that can happen: if a club shows interest in me, I know that they will do everything to get to that club.”

To be clear, Godoy has a lot of boxes to tick with the Quakes this season. One of those will be demonstrating if he can be productive on the field when lining up diagonally to Florian Jungwirth, who is justly back in his traditional No. 6 position. As a result of Mikael Stahre’s tactical adjustments, the Panamanian has been given the liberty to function as a classic No. 8 ahead of the season opener. The role fits Godoy well given he’s always been the influential cog in the heart of the field the past three seasons, regardless of the specific roles that have been assigned to him.

As of now, only consistent productivity on the field will convey if the midfielder wants 2018 to be the year of Anibal Godoy.

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