Petter Villegas
Encyclopedia
Petter Villegas is a Ecuador
ian-born Puerto Rican
footballer currently playing for Puerto Rico Islanders
in the North American Soccer League.
with his family as a child, settling in Newark, New Jersey
. He attended Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
, where he was a three-time New Jersey All State high school player, scoring 34 goals, assisted on 18 more in 1993. In 1999, he was named by The Star-Ledger
as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1990s.
He played one year of college soccer
at Kean College
, earning first team All-NJAC honors in 1995, before turning professional.
action came in 1996, when he played three games for the MetroStars
on loan from the New Jersey Stallions
of the USISL
. Three years in the minors followed, until the Metros drafted Villegas in the first round of the 1999 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He played the next four and a half seasons for the Metros, mostly as a right midfielder, but also as a forward and defender. Villegas' erratic play matched his versatility - brilliant one moment, awful the next - earning him the sarcastic nickname The Greatest Metro Ever. Despite his inconsistency, he scored a number of key goals, including an overtime game winner in a comeback against the Tampa Bay Mutiny
in 2000. Overall, Villegas scored 13 goals and 21 assists in his Metro career, adding two goals and two assists in the playoffs.
On May 10, 2002, the MetroStars traded Villegas and defender Orlando Perez
to D.C. United
for Craig Ziadie
and Mark Lisi
. At the time of the trade, Villegas had started all seven MetroStars' games that season. He spent the rest of the year with D.C., scoring two goals and adding five assists. Villegas left MLS afterwards, going back to his native Ecuador to play for Aucas
, Barcelona SC
, Manta
and Deportivo Cuenca
. In 2005, he came back to the United States, signing with the Puerto Rico Islanders
of the USL First Division
. He continued with the Puerto Rico Islanders
until the end of the 2009 season.
Villegas signed with River Plate Puerto Rico
of the USL Pro
for the 2011 season, but played just three games before the team was removed from USL Pro due to financial difficulties. He moved back to the Islanders in the North American Soccer League in June.
, scoring a goal against the Dominican Republic
, which enabled Puerto Rico to advance to the next stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualification.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian-born Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
footballer currently playing for Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the North American Soccer League.
Youth and college
Villegas came to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family as a child, settling in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He attended Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School is a college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is an all-boys, secondary school located on a urban campus serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades...
, where he was a three-time New Jersey All State high school player, scoring 34 goals, assisted on 18 more in 1993. In 1999, he was named by The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1990s.
He played one year 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 Kean College
Kean University
Kean University is a coeducational, public research university located in Union and Hillside, New Jersey, United States. Kean University serves its students in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions with a dedication to intellectual and cultural growth and is best known for its...
, earning first team All-NJAC honors in 1995, before turning professional.
Professional
Villegas' first taste of Major League SoccerMajor 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...
action came in 1996, when he played three games for the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
on loan from the New Jersey Stallions
New Jersey Stallions
The New Jersey Stallions were an American soccer team, founded in 1996, which competed in various divisions of the United Soccer Leagues until 2004, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated....
of the USISL
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
. Three years in the minors followed, until the Metros drafted Villegas in the first round of the 1999 MLS Supplemental Draft
1999 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 1999 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:...
. He played the next four and a half seasons for the Metros, mostly as a right midfielder, but also as a forward and defender. Villegas' erratic play matched his versatility - brilliant one moment, awful the next - earning him the sarcastic nickname The Greatest Metro Ever. Despite his inconsistency, he scored a number of key goals, including an overtime game winner in a comeback against the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
in 2000. Overall, Villegas scored 13 goals and 21 assists in his Metro career, adding two goals and two assists in the playoffs.
On May 10, 2002, the MetroStars traded Villegas and defender Orlando Perez
Orlando Perez
Orlando Perez is an American soccer defender, who is currently without a club, having been waived by Chivas USA of Major League Soccer....
to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. 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 since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
for Craig Ziadie
Craig Ziadie
Craig Ziadie is a Jamaican-American soccer player, who last played right back for the MetroStars of Major League Soccer.- Youth and College :...
and Mark Lisi
Mark Lisi
Mark Lisi is a former American soccer player who played midfielder for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer until his retirement due to debilitating injuries at the finish of the 2006 season....
. At the time of the trade, Villegas had started all seven MetroStars' games that season. He spent the rest of the year with D.C., scoring two goals and adding five assists. Villegas left MLS afterwards, going back to his native Ecuador to play for Aucas
Sociedad Deportiva Aucas
Sociedad Deportiva Aucas is a football club based in Quito, Ecuador. They currently play in the third tier of the Ecuadorian football league, the Segunda Categoría, but have spent a majority of their history in the top-flight Serie A. The team is amongst the most popular in the city because of...
, Barcelona SC
Barcelona Sporting Club
Barcelona Sporting Club is an Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil, known best for its professional football team. They currently play in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of football in the country, and hold the distinction of being the only team to have never been relegated.With...
, Manta
Manta Fútbol Club
Manta Fútbol Club is a football club based in Manta that plays in the Serie A, Ecuador's top-level of professional football. Their rival club is LDU Portoviejo.-Current squad:-External links:*...
and Deportivo Cuenca
Club Deportivo Cuenca
Club Deportivo Cuenca is a Ecuadorian football club based in Cuenca. They currently play in the Serie A, the top-flight football league in the country, and is one of two clubs from Cuenca to have played in the top-flight ....
. In 2005, he came back to the United States, signing with the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He continued with the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
until the end of the 2009 season.
Villegas signed with River Plate Puerto Rico
Club Atletico River Plate Puerto Rico
Club Atlético River Plate Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rican professional association football team based in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the Puerto Rico Soccer League, and is the reigning Supercopa DirecTV champion....
of the USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
for the 2011 season, but played just three games before the team was removed from USL Pro due to financial difficulties. He moved back to the Islanders in the North American Soccer League in June.
International
In 2008, having been a resident of Puerto Rico for three years, Villegas made his debut with the Puerto Rican national teamPuerto Rico national football team
The Puerto Rico national football team is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of the CONCACAF....
, scoring a goal against the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic national football team
The Dominican Republic national football team is the national team of Dominican Republic and is controlled by the Dominican Football Federation. Football is not the most popular sport in the country, losing out to baseball by a large margin...
, which enabled Puerto Rico to advance to the next stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualification.
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Islanders
- USL First Division ChampionshipUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
- Runners-up (1): 2008United Soccer Leagues 2008The 2008 Season is the 22nd edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.The season kicked off on Friday, April 12 with two First Division games, as the Charleston Battery visited Miami FC and the Montreal Impact visited the Vancouver Whitecaps.-General:...
- Runners-up (1): 2008
- Commissioner's CupUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
- Winners (1): 2008United Soccer Leagues 2008The 2008 Season is the 22nd edition of the United Soccer Leagues season.The season kicked off on Friday, April 12 with two First Division games, as the Charleston Battery visited Miami FC and the Montreal Impact visited the Vancouver Whitecaps.-General:...
- Winners (1): 2008
- CFU Club ChampionshipCFU Club ChampionshipThe CFU Club Championship or CFU Club Champions' Cup is the annual international football competition held amongst association football clubs from the Caribbean Islands for clubs that are members of the Caribbean Football Union...
- Runner-up (1): 2009