Rodrigo López (soccer, born 1987)

Rodrigo López
López with Sacramento Republic in 2014
Personal information
Full name Rodrigo López Alvarez
Date of birth (1987-05-10) May 10, 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Guadalajara, Mexico
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sacramento Republic
Number 8
Youth career
2003–2004 Guadalajara
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Chivas USA 8 (0)
2008 Ventura County Fusion 12 (3)
2008–2009 Cuervos Negros de Zapotlanejo 28 (7)
2009 Querétaro
2009 Ventura County Fusion 3 (2)
2009–2010 Portland Timbers 23 (0)
2011 Portland Timbers 0 (0)
2012 Ventura County Fusion 11 (1)
2012 Orlando City 8 (1)
2013 Los Angeles Blues 23 (2)
2014–2015 Sacramento Republic 54 (23)
2016–2018 Celaya 76 (9)
2017Toluca (loan) 9 (0)
2019 Veracruz 10 (0)
2020 Sacramento Republic 13 (1)
2021 Rio Grande Valley 31 (5)
2022– Sacramento Republic 49 (9)
International career
2005 United States U18 3 (1)
2006–2007 United States U20 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 14, 2024

Rodrigo López Alvarez (born May 10, 1987) is a professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Sacramento Republic. Born in Mexico, he represented the United States national under-20 team.

Career

Youth

López grew up in Santa Barbara, California, and began his career in 2003 when he joined the Chivas de Guadalajara youth system, where he played for a year and a half.[citation needed]

Professional

López turned professional when he was signed to a developmental contract by Chivas USA on July 7, 2005, and remained with the team until he was waived in 2007 having made eight MLS appearances.

López dropped down a level to play a season with Ventura County Fusion in the USL Premier Development League in 2008, and then played for both Cuervos Negros de Zapotlanejo and Querétaro in Mexico, before returning to Ventura County in the summer of 2009 to help the Fusion win the 2009 PDL Championship, receiving MVP honors.[1]

Following the conclusion of the PDL season López signed with the Portland Timbers,[2] helping them to the 2009 USL First Division regular season title.

On March 17, 2011, Lopez was added to the Portland Timbers MLS roster, along with Chris Taylor and Spencer Thompson.[3] Following the 2011 season, the Timbers announced that they would not be bringing López back for the 2012 season.[4] Lopez entered the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft but was not selected and became a free agent.

On December 2, 2013, Sacramento Republic FC of USL Pro announced López as their first signing.[5] Was a USL PRO MVP finalist and a First Team All-USL PRO Selection. Was named to the USL PRO Team of the Week in weeks 9, 14, 19 and 24 and was the Player of the Week in week 14. Was also named USL PRO Playoffs MVP.

On October 8, 2015, López announced that he would not be returning for Sacramento Republic FC's 2016 season.[6]

On January 3, 2020 Sacramento Republic FC announced the return of López for the 2020 season.[7]

Following his release from Sacramento at the end of the 2020 season, López moved to Rio Grande Valley FC on April 15, 2021.[8] On January 18, 2022, López was transferred back to Sacramento Republic.[9]

Following the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, he was named Player of the Tournament.

Personal

Although born in Mexico, López's family moved to the United States when he was two years old, and he holds dual-citizenship with Mexico and the United States. He also has a brother and sister, Carmen López and Álvaro López.

Honors

Ventura County Fusion

Orlando City

Sacramento Republic

Individual

References

  1. ^ Fusion overcome Fire for PDL title Archived 2012-09-14 at archive.today
  2. ^ Timbers sign Lopez from Fusion[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Lopez, Taylor and Thompson added to MLS roster". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
  4. ^ "Timbers re-sign goalkeeper Troy Perkins, defender David Horst". Portland Timbers. November 28, 2011. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  5. ^ "Sacramento Republic FC to Host One-Year Anniversary Celebration and Player Signing on Dec.3". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  6. ^ "Sacramento Republic FC Statement Regarding Rodrigo Lopez - Sacramento Republic FC". Sacramento Republic FC. Archived from the original on 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  7. ^ "Republic FC reunites with club legend Rodrigo Lopez". Sacramento Republic FC. 3 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  8. ^ "RGV FC Signs Veteran Midfielder Rodrigo Lopez". 15 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Republic FC Acquires Rodrigo Lopez from Rio Grande Valley FC". 18 January 2022.
  10. ^ "USL PRO All-League Teams Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). September 23, 2014. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams". www.uslchampionship.com. Tampa, FL: USL. November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "USL All-League Teams Announced". United Soccer Leagues (USL). October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.