EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC announced today that defenders Marc Navarro and Erik McCue will not be returning for the 2024 season.
Both defenders arrived in El Paso ahead of the 2023 campaign and became key figures in Locomotive’s return to the USL Championship Playoffs.
McCue – who was recently voted Locomotive Defensive Player of the Year by fans – spent the early part of the 2023 season adjusting to his new environment and learning from experienced defenders on the roster. When he got the opportunity to step onto the field, the 22-year-old capitalized on his chances and worked his way into becoming a frequent starter, catching eyes with his performances. In total, he recorded 25 starts in 30 appearances, bagging a goal and two assists along the way.
McCue led the team this year in clearances (126) and blocks (25) and was named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week four times, the most of any Locomotive outfield player this season.
As for Navarro, the former La Liga and English Premier League player brought with him a vast wealth of high-level experience to strengthen the backline and the number of chances up top.
The Spaniard had 28 starts in 33 total appearances and was the team’s joint-assist leader (four). He also netted two goals this season, the most memorable being his long-range effort against Louisville City FC, which led to one of the season’s biggest upsets and paved the path for Locomotive’s historic 12-game unbeaten streak.
Additionally, Navarro was the defender with the most chances created (36 total, joint 2nd overall) and his high vision saw him make 143 total successful long ball passes (50.4% accuracy), the most of any outfield player.
Navarro also made two appearances on the USL Championship’s Team of the Week.
El Paso Locomotive FC would like to express its gratitude to McCue and Navarro for their time with the club and wish them the best in the next step of their careers.
Future roster transactions will be announced as Locomotive prepares for its sixth season in the USL Championship.