Felipe Rodriguez (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Felipe Rodriguez is a retired American soccer midfielder
who played for the Colorado Rapids
of Major League Soccer
in 1996.
In 1992, Rodriguez spent a year in the Standard Liege
youth system. He then returned to the United States and graduated from El Monte High School
. In 1993, he played for the Montclair Standard Falcons in the USISL. In 1994, he moved to Mexico and signed with Querétaro FC
in the Second Division. At some point during the season, he moved to the UNAM Pumas in the Primera División de México
. In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
selected Rodriguez in the 10th round (92nd overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played ten games for the Rapids. In August, he injured his left hip flexor which forced him to miss several games. On November 8, 1997, the Rapids traded Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Galaxy
in exchange for a potential 1997 draft pick. He never played a first game with the Galaxy before moving to the Orange County Zodiac of the USISL. He played the 1997 and 1998 season with the Zodiac.
Since retiring from playing, Rodriguez has coached youth soccer. He is currently the Director of Technical Training with the Cresecenta Valley Soccer Club, as well as representing the club in various coaching capacities.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played for the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 1996.
In 1992, Rodriguez spent a year in the Standard Liege
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
youth system. He then returned to the United States and graduated from El Monte High School
El Monte High School
El Monte High School, located in El Monte, California, is a high school of the El Monte Union High School District. It is one of the oldest high schools in the San Gabriel Valley. Founded in 1901, it began operation in a single, upstairs classroom in the old Lexington Avenue Grammar School, with an...
. In 1993, he played for the Montclair Standard Falcons in the USISL. In 1994, he moved to Mexico and signed with Querétaro FC
Querétaro FC
Querétaro Fútbol Club, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of Querétaro, Mexico. Queretaro plays in the Primera División of Mexican football league system, after being promoted at the end of the 2008-2009 season from the Primera División A...
in the Second Division. At some point during the season, he moved to the UNAM Pumas in the Primera División de México
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
. In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
selected Rodriguez in the 10th round (92nd overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played ten games for the Rapids. In August, he injured his left hip flexor which forced him to miss several games. On November 8, 1997, the Rapids traded Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in exchange for a potential 1997 draft pick. He never played a first game with the Galaxy before moving to the Orange County Zodiac of the USISL. He played the 1997 and 1998 season with the Zodiac.
Since retiring from playing, Rodriguez has coached youth soccer. He is currently the Director of Technical Training with the Cresecenta Valley Soccer Club, as well as representing the club in various coaching capacities.