Arturo Rodríguez (footballer, born 1998)

Arturo Rodríguez
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-12-15) 15 December 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Charleston Battery
Number 10
Youth career
2017–2019 FC Dallas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 North Texas SC 37 (10)
2020 → Real Monarchs (loan) 2 (0)
2021–2022 Phoenix Rising 52 (5)
2023– Charleston Battery 48 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 4, 2024

Arturo Rodríguez (born 15 December 1998) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Charleston Battery.

Career

Youth

Rodriguez started his youth career with FC Dallas. However, his road through the academy system was not cut and dried.[1] Rodriguez was actually rejected the first time he tried to join the FC Dallas academy.[1] After this rejection, Rodriguez played for FC Dallas youth coach Victor Medina outside of the FC Dallas academy for three years.[1] His career took off when Rodriguez starred for his club against professional youth sides from Mexico, like C.D. Guadalajara and Club León.[1] From that point, Rodriguez signed for FC Dallas's academy in 2017. He helped the club win the prestigious Dallas Cup during his time with the academy.[1]

Professional

On January 31, 2019, Rodriguez signed his first professional contract with North Texas SC, the reserve team of FC Dallas, in USL League One.[2] Rodriguez's younger brother, David Rodriguez, was also signed to a professional contract with the club.[3] Rodriguez made his debut on March 30, 2019, in a 3–2 win against the Chattanooga Red Wolves.[4] Rodriguez helped lead North Texas to the USL League One 2019 regular season and post-season championship, while becoming the league's assist leader with 10 assists and a leading MVP candidate.[5][1] On October 31 and November 1, respectively, Rodriguez was named both the Young Player of the Year and the League's Most Valuable Player (MVP).[6] He scored his first goal for the club on November 5, 2019, against fellow MLS reserve side Orlando City B.[4]

Rodriguez signed with Phoenix Rising FC on December 8, 2020, and left on January 23, 2023.[7][8]

Rodriguez was signed by the Charleston Battery on March 24, 2023, to a one-year deal with an option for an additional year.[9] Joining shortly after the start of the 2023 season, Arturo enjoyed ample success in his first year with the Battery. His first goal came on April 8 with one of the last kicks of the match against Hartford Athletic, securing Charleston the victory amid heavy rainfall. Rodriguez scored four goals and five assists across 27 Championship matches and led the team in chances created (44). Rodriguez provided heroics in the playoffs with two goals and two assists, including a goal in the Eastern Conference Final against Louisville City FC to knock out Louisville and win the conference title. Charleston would end runners-up in the USL Championship Final.

In 2024, Rodriguez's contract option was picked up by the Battery and he switched his number from 12 to 10.[10]

Personal life

Arturo's younger brother David is also a professional footballer. He plays for Liga MX club Atlético San Luis.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 October 2020[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League US Open Cup Play-offs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
North Texas SC 2019 USL League One 28 7 — 2 1 30 8
2020 9 3 — — 9 3
Total 37 10 — 2 1 39 11
Real Monarchs (loan) 2020 USL Championship 2 0 — — 2 0
Career total 39 10 0 0 2 1 41 11

Honours

North Texas SC

Charleston Battery

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "From academy rejection to the brink of a League One title, Arturo Rodriguez's soccer journey was anything but typical". Dallas News. October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "Five more signings announced for North Texas SC". Dallas News. February 1, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  3. ^ "North Texas SC signs David Rodriguez". Dallas News. February 20, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Mexico - A. Rodriquez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Stats". uslleagueone.com. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  6. ^ USLLeagueOne com Staff (November 1, 2019). "North Texas' Rodriguez Caps Year with League One Most Valuable Player Award". USL League One. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "Phoenix Rising Signs 2019 USL League One MVP, Arturo Rodríguez". Phoenix Rising Communications. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Phoenix Rising FC and Arturo Rodriguez Mutually Agree to Part Ways". Phoenix Rising Communications. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Battery sign Mexican midfielder Arturo Rodríguez".
  10. ^ "Charleston Battery announce initial update for 2024 roster".
  11. ^ "Rising FC acquires David Rodriguez on loan from Atlético San Luis". USLChampionship.com. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Arturo Rodríguez". Soccerway. Retrieved October 1, 2020.