Diogo Pacheco

Diogo Pacheco
Personal information
Full name Diogo Manuel das Neves de Oliveira Pacheco
Date of birth (1998-09-13) 13 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
2006–2009 Odivelas
2009–2014 Benfica
2014–2017 Belenenses
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Akron Zips 52 (17)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Loures 6 (0)
2018 Alverca 7 (0)
2022–2023 Minnesota United 2 47 (11)
2024 FC Tulsa 27 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:38, 1 November 2024 (UTC)

Diogo Manuel das Neves de Oliveira Pacheco (born 13 September 1998) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger.

Career

Early career and college

Pacheco began his career with Odivelas, before moving to be part of the famous Benfica academy until he was 15 years old. He later signed with Belenenses and helped the team win the under-19 National Championship during the 2016–17 season.[1] He left Belenenses at 18 and signed subsequently had spells with third tier sides Loures and Alverca, before receiving an opportunity to move to the United States to play college soccer at the University of Akron. He played four years with the Zips, making 52 appearances, scoring 17 goals and tallying eleven assists. Pacheco earned accolades such as Third Team All-American selection by United Soccer Coaches, First Team Scholar All-American honoree by United Soccer Coaches, First-Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC, First-Team All-Ohio honoree, and First-Team Academic All-Ohio.[2]

Pacheco was considered a potential high draft pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft,[3] but ended up going undrafted.

Career in the United States

Pacheco signed with MLS Next Pro side Minnesota United 2 in March 2022 ahead of their inaugural season.[4] He played two seasons with Minnesota's reserve team and made 47 regular season appearances, scoring eleven goals and adding ten assists.[5] On 21 December 2023, it was announced that Pacheco would join USL Championship side FC Tulsa ahead of their 2024 season.[6][7] He scored two goals on his first full start for the club on 8 June 2024 against San Antonio FC.[8] He was subsequently named to the USL Championship team of the week.[9] He left Tulsa following their 2024 season.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Diogo Pacheco: The Man Behind the Miracle | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  2. ^ "Diogo Pacheco - Men's Soccer". University of Akron Athletics.
  3. ^ Gonçalves, João. "N.E. Revolution start preseason training Monday, to face Haitian club Cavaly AS on Feb. 15". Fall River Herald News.
  4. ^ "Minnesota United Announce MNUFC2 Roster for Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  5. ^ "Diogo Pacheco | MLSsoccer.com". mlsnextpro.
  6. ^ "FC Tulsa Signs Diogo Pacheco for the 2024 USL Championship Season".
  7. ^ [email protected], NICHOLAS MURRAY- (21 December 2023). "Tulsa adds Portuguese playmaker Diogo Pacheco". USL Championship.
  8. ^ "A Match of Firsts: Pacheco Makes Mark in First USL Championship Start".
  9. ^ "Diogo Pacheco and Owen Damm both named to USL Week 14 Team of the Week".
  10. ^ "FC Tulsa Announces First 2025 Roster Update as the Offseason Gets Underway".