Rodrigo Faria
Encyclopedia
Rodrigo Faria is a Brazil
ian soccer striker
, who is currently living back in his native Rio de Janeiro.
Faria, a once youth player in the Flamengo
and Vasco da Gama
system, came to the United States to attend Concordia College
, with soccer an afterthought. During college, he also played for the Westchester Flames
in the Premier Development League. He was discovered by the MetroStars and then drafted 13th overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
(it has been said that Metro head coach Octavio Zambrano
had Faria tank the player combine to fall in the draft).
In his first season with the Metros, Faria tied the MLS rookie record (since broken) by scoring eight goals (and two assists, plus added three goals and an assist in the playoffs) on the way to being named the MLS Rookie of the Year
. In an expanded role in 2002, he upped his total to twelve goals (plus two in the US Open Cup) and five assists to lead the club in scoring. However, his Metro career was cut short when the team obtained head coach Bob Bradley
from the Chicago Fire; Faria had to depart to Chicago as compensation.
Rodrigo split the 2003 MLS season between the Fire and the San Jose Earthquakes
, without scoring a regular season goal. He did score the overtime game-winner for the Quakes in the dramatic comeback against the Los Angeles Galaxy
in the MLS Cup
semifinals. San Jose went on to win the cup, but that was it in MLS for Faria, as he was cut after the season; his frequent unannounced absences were deemed not worthy his contribution on the field.
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 soccer striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, who is currently living back in his native Rio de Janeiro.
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
and Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama |Rowing Club]]), usually known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a famous and traditional Brazilian multisports club from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, founded on August 21, 1898...
system, came to the United States to attend Concordia College
Concordia College, Bronxville
Concordia College is a four-year coeducational liberal arts college located in the village of Bronxville, in Westchester County, New York, United States....
, with soccer an afterthought. During college, he also played for the Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames is an American soccer team based in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games...
in the Premier Development League. He was discovered by the MetroStars and then drafted 13th overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
2001 MLS SuperDraft
-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:-External links:*...
(it has been said that Metro head coach Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer history, .-Player:...
had Faria tank the player combine to fall in the draft).
In his first season with the Metros, Faria tied the MLS rookie record (since broken) by scoring eight goals (and two assists, plus added three goals and an assist in the playoffs) on the way to being named the MLS Rookie of the Year
MLS Rookie of the Year Award
In the United States, Major League Soccer has handed out a Rookie of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. MLS, as opposed to other American sports leagues like Major League Baseball, only designates a player as a rookie if the player has had no prior professional experience...
. In an expanded role in 2002, he upped his total to twelve goals (plus two in the US Open Cup) and five assists to lead the club in scoring. However, his Metro career was cut short when the team obtained head coach Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
from the Chicago Fire; Faria had to depart to Chicago as compensation.
Rodrigo split the 2003 MLS season between the Fire and the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, without scoring a regular season goal. He did score the overtime game-winner for the Quakes in the dramatic comeback against 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 the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
semifinals. San Jose went on to win the cup, but that was it in MLS for Faria, as he was cut after the season; his frequent unannounced absences were deemed not worthy his contribution on the field.