Diego Walsh
Encyclopedia
Diego Walsh is a Brazil
ian footballer currently playing for TOT S.C. in the Thai Premier League.
at the age of 15. He played club soccer for Miami Strike Force, and was a major part of a talented team which won 5 consecutive state championships, 2 regional championships, and finished second in the National Championship.
Diego turned down numerous other university scholarships (such as Brown University
) to play four years of college soccer
for Southern Methodist University
, from 1999 to 2002, on a full scholarship. In both his junior and senior years, Diego was a NSCAA first team All-American
. He is also currently SMU's all-time leader in assists, with 39, and ranks fifth in goals, also with 39. He was later named in the NSCAA "Team of the Decade," in 2010.
by the Columbus Crew
. Walsh did not garner much time with the Crew, although playing extremelly well when he was given the opportunity earning Columbus Crew Goal of the Year for 2003. He was traded at the end of the season to the Kansas City Wizards
.
Although Diego started the season with a starting role in the Wizards' offense because of an injury to Preki
, Diego did not fit in to the Kansas City style of play. He was released by Kansas City Wizards
during the 2005 season. After a brief stint with Real Salt Lake
in the 2006 pre-season, he was released again, and played for Miami FC
along with Brazilian superstar Romario
where the pair helped the team make it to the USL
playoffs in its first year in the league.
Diego joined Adelaide United in the Australian A-League
during the 2006/2007 season
after impressive displays during two Miami FC
friendlies in Adelaide
,which were organised by former Adelaide United Chairman Mel Patzwald who facilitated both the Romario transfer as well as the sister relationship between both clubs and was intrumental in the Adelaide United Brazilian connection. which also netted United former World Player of the Year Romario
. Diego was recommended to Adelaide by Romario
himself, who regarded him highly as a player.
He debuted impressively against Sydney FC
on 14 January 2007, with an assist to Fernando
for an 88th minute winner. During his second season with Adelaide United, he established himself as an excellent defensive and central midfielder, not only for Adelaide but in the whole A-League
, and was regarded by his teammates as the outstanding player of the 2008 Asian Champions League campaign. He was the team's top goal scorer with 4 goals helping Adelaide United reach the 2008 Asian Champions League for the first time.
In a shock decision for Adelaide fans, Diego was released by the club on the 20th of January, 2009. Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar
cited Diego's 19 starts out of a possible 41 in two seasons, as a key factor in the decision. "He missed 50 per cent of the games due to injury - hamstrings, quads and back," said Vidmar. He was signed up by the Wellington Phoenix, on a two-year contract and became a firm favorite with the Wellington Phoenix supporter's group Yellow Fever. Diego struggled to make an impact at Wellington and was released after two seasons.
Diego returned to USA with his pregnant fiance American/Australian model Heston Stutz and son Penn, after four years in the A-League, looking to win a contract with an MLS club. On 20 May, 2011 it was announced that he had signed a temporary contract with Charleston Battery
to keep fit while visiting his inlaws. On July 6, 2011 it was announced in the Thai media that Diego had taken up a contract with Thai Premier League team TOT S.C.. The couple had another son, born in Bangkok, on October 10, 2011, in which they named Atlas.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer currently playing for TOT S.C. in the Thai Premier League.
Youth and College
While growing up in Brazil, Diego played in the youth system of Santos FC, before moving to Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
at the age of 15. He played club soccer for Miami Strike Force, and was a major part of a talented team which won 5 consecutive state championships, 2 regional championships, and finished second in the National Championship.
Diego turned down numerous other university scholarships (such as Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
) to play four 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...
for Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, from 1999 to 2002, on a full scholarship. In both his junior and senior years, Diego was a NSCAA first team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. He is also currently SMU's all-time leader in assists, with 39, and ranks fifth in goals, also with 39. He was later named in the NSCAA "Team of the Decade," in 2010.
Professional
Upon graduating, Diego was drafted 7th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft2003 MLS SuperDraft
The 2003 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held January 17, 2003 in Kansas City, Missouri.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:References=* USA Today MLS Draft List...
by the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Walsh did not garner much time with the Crew, although playing extremelly well when he was given the opportunity earning Columbus Crew Goal of the Year for 2003. He was traded at the end of the season to the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
.
Although Diego started the season with a starting role in the Wizards' offense because of an injury to Preki
Preki
Predrag Radosavljević is a former American international soccer player of Serbian extraction...
, Diego did not fit in to the Kansas City style of play. He was released by Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
during the 2005 season. After a brief stint with Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in the 2006 pre-season, he was released again, and played for Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
along with Brazilian superstar Romario
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
where the pair helped the team make it to the USL
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
playoffs in its first year in the league.
Diego joined Adelaide United in the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
during the 2006/2007 season
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
after impressive displays during two Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
friendlies in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
,which were organised by former Adelaide United Chairman Mel Patzwald who facilitated both the Romario transfer as well as the sister relationship between both clubs and was intrumental in the Adelaide United Brazilian connection. which also netted United former World Player of the Year Romario
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
. Diego was recommended to Adelaide by Romario
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
himself, who regarded him highly as a player.
He debuted impressively against Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
on 14 January 2007, with an assist to Fernando
Fernando Rech
Fernando Rech is a Brazilian former football player. He played either as a striker or an attacking midfielder.-Life and career:...
for an 88th minute winner. During his second season with Adelaide United, he established himself as an excellent defensive and central midfielder, not only for Adelaide but in the whole A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, and was regarded by his teammates as the outstanding player of the 2008 Asian Champions League campaign. He was the team's top goal scorer with 4 goals helping Adelaide United reach the 2008 Asian Champions League for the first time.
In a shock decision for Adelaide fans, Diego was released by the club on the 20th of January, 2009. Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar is an Australian football player and former captain of the Australian national team. He is currently not tied to any A-league club...
cited Diego's 19 starts out of a possible 41 in two seasons, as a key factor in the decision. "He missed 50 per cent of the games due to injury - hamstrings, quads and back," said Vidmar. He was signed up by the Wellington Phoenix, on a two-year contract and became a firm favorite with the Wellington Phoenix supporter's group Yellow Fever. Diego struggled to make an impact at Wellington and was released after two seasons.
Diego returned to USA with his pregnant fiance American/Australian model Heston Stutz and son Penn, after four years in the A-League, looking to win a contract with an MLS club. On 20 May, 2011 it was announced that he had signed a temporary contract with Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
to keep fit while visiting his inlaws. On July 6, 2011 it was announced in the Thai media that Diego had taken up a contract with Thai Premier League team TOT S.C.. The couple had another son, born in Bangkok, on October 10, 2011, in which they named Atlas.
A-League Career Statistics
| Club | Season |  A-LeagueA-League The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company... |
Finals Series | Asia | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||||
| Adelaide United (A-League A-League The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company... ) |
2006–07 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 2007–08 | 16 | 1 | 16 | 1 | |||||||
| 2008–09 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 22 | 4 | |||
| Club Total | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 44 | 5 | |||
| Club | Season | A-League A-League The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company... |
Finals Series | Asia | Total | ||||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||||
| Wellington Phoenix F.C. (A-League A-League The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company... ) |
2009–10 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Club Total | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |||||
| Career totals | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 57 | 5 | |||
| Last updated 21 February 2011 | |||||||||||