Antonio de la Torre
Encyclopedia
Antonio de la Torre is a Mexican-American soccer defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

, who recently played for the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...

 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....

. De la Torre holds dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

Before joining MLS, de la Torre played most of his career in Mexico's Primera A
Primera A
Primera A can refer to multiple first or second division football leagues:*in CONMEBOL **Categoría Primera A, Colombia**Primera Categoría Serie A, Ecuador*in CONCACAF...

, the second division. He played for Atlante in the Primera Division.

He joined MLS for the 2004 season, signing with 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...

, and immediately impressed with his offensive abilities. Unlike most American defenders, de la Torre was a danger going forward from his right back position, and finished the season with five assists in 28 starts. However, near the end of the season, coach Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson
Tim Hankinson is a well-traveled American soccer coach who is currently head coach of NASL side San Antonio Scorpions in San Antonio, Texas.- Player :...

 grew tired of de la Torre's defensive failures, and benched him for the playoffs.

Following the end of the season, de la Torre was exposed for the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft
2004 MLS Expansion Draft
The 2004 MLS Expansion Draft was held on November 19, 2004 and consisted of 10 rounds. The two new teams, C.D. Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake, drafted players from the other 10 Major League Soccer teams....

, where he was selected fifth overall by C.D. Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....

, but was cut before the season. He signed with Atlanta soon after.

De la Torre's father, also Antonio
Antonio de la Torre Villalpando
Antonio de la Torre Villalpando was a Mexican first division player, who played most of his career with Club America were he helped the club win the 1975-76 Primera División de México Cup along with 1978 CONCACAF Champions' Cup and the Copa Interamericana that same year. Antonio de la Torre was...

, played in Mexico during the 70's and 80's, and appeared for the Mexican national team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...

 during the 1978 World Cup. His uncle, "Chepo", was the head coach of CD Toluca of 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...

 and Mexican national team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...

current coach.
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