Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
After bringing in Freddy Adu earlier this month, the Tampa Bay Rowdies have bolstered their attack yet again with the signing of a another former top-overall MLS Draft pick.
The Rowdies announced Wednesday that the club has signed Omar Salgado on loan from Mexican club Tigres UANL for the remainder of the NASL season. The move sees Salgado reunite with Rowdies head coach Thomas Rongen, who previously coached the 21-year-old with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.
“I’m delighted to have a young talent like Omar join the Rowdies,” said Head Coach Thomas Rongen. “He’s a classic #9, who can also play in the #11 position, and he’ll add quality in the final third. I’m very familiar with him as a player, having coached him with the U-20’s and he’s someone who will work hard to bring success to this club.”
Prior to joining Tigres this past Winter, Salgado made 26 appearances for the Vancouver Whitecaps, the team that selected him with the first overall pick of the 2011 MLS Draft.
Born in Texas, Salgado’s career started in the academy of Chivas de Guadalajara, earning the forward nine caps with Mexico’s U-17s and U-20s, as well as 19 appearances with the United States U-18s, U-20s and U-23s.
Salgado’s signing adds further depth to a Rowdies forward pool that currently includes Darwin Espinal, Corey Hertzog, Robert Hernandez, Brian Shriver and Maicon Santos, the latter of which leads the team with four goals.
Tigres is currently preparing for the second leg of the Copa Libertadores finals after playing River Plate to a scoreless draw Wednesday night.
What do you think of Salgado’s addition? How will he fit in with the Rowdies? What do you expect from the Rowdies going forward?
Share your thoughts below.
Did Salgado play at all with tigers? Or was he pining for minutes?
Wow! That kid has been working out. He used to be so skinny.
Funny, why did Tom delete all the comments about how he originally posted a photo of NOT Omar Salgado? #sketch
haha i know right. *facepalm* moment
Pretty lame move, SBI
That is a no win situation
If he leaves them, then everyone comp,ains about how he should take em down after changing the pic.
So Tampa Bay is becoming the U.S. soccer version of the Island of Misfit Toys?
More like the elite of the U.S. Soccer system
The Bay of Misfit Footballers
To be fair to Salgado though, he’s still really young. Who knows where his career will be in a few years.
I love coach Rongen back from my U20 days a few years ago, because I like to reminisce on when I was really good. But I don’t follow the NASL, are the rowdies a good team? How has their season gone? Has Fro Adu seen any minutes?
The Rowdies are struggling right now, especially since the start of the Fall season. Their combined standings on the other hand have them in a playoff spot. Adu came in as a sub in their last game and has an assist. Until he regains fitness, I think both of the guys are off the bench players.
Thanks for that update! Salgado had so much promise, hopefully he’ll have a long, successful career and make enough money to retire happily and support his family
Rowdies V Cosmos…that’s all