Diego Restrepo
Encyclopedia
Diego Restrepo is an American
soccer goalkeeper who currently plays professionally for América de Cali
.
with his family. He attended American Heritage School, and spent time at the IMG Soccer Academy
in Bradenton, Florida
, before going on to play three years of college soccer
at the University of South Florida
. He transferred to the University of Virginia
prior to his junior year, and quickly installed himself as his team's starting goalkeeper for Virginia, with whom he won the ACC Championship and the NCAA National Championship in 2009. During his championship season Restrepo broke school records previously held by Tony Meola
for games played (25), minutes played (2348), shutouts (16), consecutive shutouts (11) and consecutive scoreless minutes (1176). He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the ACC Tournament and Defensive Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Tournament.
During his college years Restrepo also played for the Bradenton Academics
in the USL Premier Development League
.
. He made his professional debut on Wednesday, August 31 2011, in America's 1-1 tie vs. Pereira.
at youth level. He is a graduate of the USA U-17 Residency Program. In 2005, he was a member of the USA U-17 World Cup squad that participated in the 2005 Youth World Cup in Peru. He has also been a member of the USA U-20 National Team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer goalkeeper who currently plays professionally for América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
.
College and amateur
Restrepo lived in Colombia until he was 13 before moving to West Palm Beach, FloridaWest Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
with his family. He attended American Heritage School, and spent time at the IMG Soccer Academy
IMG Soccer Academy
The IMG Soccer Academy is part of the IMG Academies located in Bradenton, Florida. It is U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 and U-16 mens national teams. Started in 1999, it has become integral in developing the United States' top youth soccer prospects...
in Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
, before going on to play three years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. He transferred to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
prior to his junior year, and quickly installed himself as his team's starting goalkeeper for Virginia, with whom he won the ACC Championship and the NCAA National Championship in 2009. During his championship season Restrepo broke school records previously held by Tony Meola
Tony Meola
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
for games played (25), minutes played (2348), shutouts (16), consecutive shutouts (11) and consecutive scoreless minutes (1176). He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the ACC Tournament and Defensive Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Tournament.
During his college years Restrepo also played for the Bradenton Academics
Bradenton Academics
The Bradenton Academics are an American soccer team based in Bradenton, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference.The team is associated with...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
In January 2011, Restrepo signed a professional contract with Colombian soccer club América de CaliAmérica de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
. He made his professional debut on Wednesday, August 31 2011, in America's 1-1 tie vs. Pereira.
International
Despite being born in Venezuela, Restrepo has represented the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at youth level. He is a graduate of the USA U-17 Residency Program. In 2005, he was a member of the USA U-17 World Cup squad that participated in the 2005 Youth World Cup in Peru. He has also been a member of the USA U-20 National Team.
University of Virginia
- NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 20092009 Division I Men's College CupThe 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The semifinals and final were held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher...