Freddy Montero
Encyclopedia
Fredy Henkyer Montero Muñoz (born July 26, 1987 in Campo de la Cruz
) is a Colombia
n footballer who plays for Seattle Sounders FC
in Major League Soccer
.
's scouts, and earned a contract with the team after a single tryout. He starred for the youth team in wins over the Colombian youth national team and in a tie with Juventus' youth team.
In 2005, Montero was called up to the senior team. During his time at the club, he has been on loan twice. To date, Montero has appeared in 56 matches and has scored an astonishing 27 times for Deportivo Cali.
in 2006, where he was the co-leading goalscorer in the Copa Mustang with 13 goals. Despite rumors and interest from European clubs, he returned to Deportivo Cali
in 2007; he was again the top scorer in the 2008-II Copa Mustang, with 16 goals.
in January 2009 on loan from Deportivo Cali despite interest from Spanish side Real Betis
. There were unconfirmed reports that suggested Montero's contract was owned by a third-party. Montero scored nine goals in nine preseason games in 2008/09. Montero made his MLS debut on March 19 2009, in the 2009 season opener against New York Red Bulls, and scored the first and third goals in Seattle Sounders FC
club history. Montero was named the MLS Player of the Week in week 1 of the 2009 MLS season. Montero was also named the MLS March player of the month scoring 3 goals in 2 games. Goals in weeks 1 and 2 won the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week.
In April 2009, Montero told Sports Illustrated that he would like to play in Europe in the future and that the mix of players in MLS appealed to him as a place to learn. He later dismissed a rumor of a transfer to Fulham
stating that it was incorrect. He said: "I'm relaxed and content here in Seattle, happy with the Sounders. My head is totally focused on MLS and the season with the team. Apart from that, my job is here."
Montero was a 2009 MLS All-Star coaches selection. He would go on to be named the MLS Newcomer of the Year. In August 2009, it was incorrectly reported that MLS had negotiated the transfer of Deportivo Cali
's portion of Montero's rights to Major League Soccer. It was believed that the league owned his rights, but details of any such deal were never publicly clarified.
Montero did not meet the high expectations of coach Schmid and the fans at the beginning of the 2010
. He was left out of the starting lineup for the ninth game of the year. By July, he was named player of the month and selected to the inactive roster of the 2010 MLS All-Star game
. A scheduling conflict between a team CONCACAF Champions League
match and the game made him unable to start in the exhibition game. Although he failed to score a goal in league play between September 1 and the end of the season on October 23, Montero finished the year with 10 goals and 10 assists. He totaled 12 goals (six game-winners) and 11 assists in all competitions. A total of 22 goals and 17 assists in league play between 2009 and 2010 was the third most in the league.
He gained permanent residency in the United States in 2010. On December 1, 2010, Seattle Sounders FC
announced that Montero had agreed to a contract extension with his rights permanently transferred to the club and Major League Soccer
. He became the third Designated Player and the highest paid player on the team with a base salary of $500,000..
Before the second game of the 2011 season
, Montero fractured his wrist. He missed two matches and played with a cast that may have contributed to multiple matches of reduced performance. His play improved by midseason. Schmid attributed it to increased growth, maturity, and fitness. The addition of Mauro Rosales
to the team's midfield also helped Montero in the second half of the season. Montero ended the regular season of league play with 12 goals. He ended the year with 19 goals in all competitions. The Sounders won the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
. Montero was named Player of the Tournament after scoring three game-winners in the final three games.
in 2007 in a game against Panama. On August 12, 2009, Montero joined the Colombian national team for a friendly at Giants Stadium
in New Jersey.
Campo de la Cruz
Campo de la Cruz is a municipality and town in the Colombian department of Atlántico.-External links:...
) is a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n footballer who plays for Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
in 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...
.
Deportivo Cali
As a youth, Montero was a promising striker; at the age of 13 he approached Deportivo CaliDeportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
's scouts, and earned a contract with the team after a single tryout. He starred for the youth team in wins over the Colombian youth national team and in a tie with Juventus' youth team.
In 2005, Montero was called up to the senior team. During his time at the club, he has been on loan twice. To date, Montero has appeared in 56 matches and has scored an astonishing 27 times for Deportivo Cali.
Atletico Huila
Montero was loaned to Atlético HuilaAtlético Huila
Atlético Huila, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Neiva, that competes in the top division of the Colombian professional football league. The club was founded in 1990 and plays home games at the Guillermo Plazas Alcid stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 22,000...
in 2006, where he was the co-leading goalscorer in the Copa Mustang with 13 goals. Despite rumors and interest from European clubs, he returned to Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
in 2007; he was again the top scorer in the 2008-II Copa Mustang, with 16 goals.
Seattle Sounders FC
Montero was acquired by Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
in January 2009 on loan from Deportivo Cali despite interest from Spanish side Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
. There were unconfirmed reports that suggested Montero's contract was owned by a third-party. Montero scored nine goals in nine preseason games in 2008/09. Montero made his MLS debut on March 19 2009, in the 2009 season opener against New York Red Bulls, and scored the first and third goals in Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
club history. Montero was named the MLS Player of the Week in week 1 of the 2009 MLS season. Montero was also named the MLS March player of the month scoring 3 goals in 2 games. Goals in weeks 1 and 2 won the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week.
In April 2009, Montero told Sports Illustrated that he would like to play in Europe in the future and that the mix of players in MLS appealed to him as a place to learn. He later dismissed a rumor of a transfer to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
stating that it was incorrect. He said: "I'm relaxed and content here in Seattle, happy with the Sounders. My head is totally focused on MLS and the season with the team. Apart from that, my job is here."
Montero was a 2009 MLS All-Star coaches selection. He would go on to be named the MLS Newcomer of the Year. In August 2009, it was incorrectly reported that MLS had negotiated the transfer of Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
's portion of Montero's rights to Major League Soccer. It was believed that the league owned his rights, but details of any such deal were never publicly clarified.
Montero did not meet the high expectations of coach Schmid and the fans at the beginning of the 2010
2010 Seattle Sounders FC season
The 2010 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's second season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. For the Sounders FC franchise, it was their third year of existence, and including all previous franchises, it would be the 30th season of a soccer team...
. He was left out of the starting lineup for the ninth game of the year. By July, he was named player of the month and selected to the inactive roster of the 2010 MLS All-Star game
MLS All-Star 2010
The 2010 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, held on July 28, 2010, was the 15th consecutive Major League Soccer All-Star Game, a soccer match involving all-stars from Major League Soccer. The MLS All-Stars faced Manchester United of the English Premier League in the seventh All-Star Game that...
. A scheduling conflict between a team CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
match and the game made him unable to start in the exhibition game. Although he failed to score a goal in league play between September 1 and the end of the season on October 23, Montero finished the year with 10 goals and 10 assists. He totaled 12 goals (six game-winners) and 11 assists in all competitions. A total of 22 goals and 17 assists in league play between 2009 and 2010 was the third most in the league.
He gained permanent residency in the United States in 2010. On December 1, 2010, Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
announced that Montero had agreed to a contract extension with his rights permanently transferred to the club and 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...
. He became the third Designated Player and the highest paid player on the team with a base salary of $500,000..
Before the second game of the 2011 season
2011 Seattle Sounders FC season
The 2011 Seattle Sounders FC season is the club's third season in Major League Soccer, the United States' top-tier of professional soccer. It is the Sounders FC organization's third year of existence; including all previous clubs, it is the 31st season of a soccer team bearing the Sounders...
, Montero fractured his wrist. He missed two matches and played with a cast that may have contributed to multiple matches of reduced performance. His play improved by midseason. Schmid attributed it to increased growth, maturity, and fitness. The addition of Mauro Rosales
Mauro Rosales
Mauro Damián Rosales is an Argentine footballer who plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Rosales is a winger/forward best known for his pace and crossing ability.-Club:...
to the team's midfield also helped Montero in the second half of the season. Montero ended the regular season of league play with 12 goals. He ended the year with 19 goals in all competitions. The Sounders won the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 98th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October. Seattle Sounders FC, who entered the competition as the two-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again. They became the third team in...
. Montero was named Player of the Tournament after scoring three game-winners in the final three games.
International
Montero received his first cap for the Colombian national teamColombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
in 2007 in a game against Panama. On August 12, 2009, Montero joined the Colombian national team for a friendly at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
in New Jersey.
Personal
Montero was born to parents Fredy Montero, Sr., a policeman, and Jaynne. He is the oldest of four children, with two sisters named Jaynne Jr. and Fyorella and one brother named Luiggi.Seattle Sounders FC
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(3): 20092009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early September.The tournament proper features teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, 20102010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, 20112011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 98th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October. Seattle Sounders FC, who entered the competition as the two-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again. They became the third team in...
Individual
- Categoría Primera A top goalscorer: 2007 Copa Mustang I, 2008 Copa Mustang II
- MLS Newcomer of the Year AwardMLS Newcomer of the Year AwardThe MLS Newcomer of the Year Award is awarded by Major League Soccer to a player who has professional experience in another league and has an outstanding season in his first season of play in the MLS.-Winners:...
: 2009 - Major League Soccer Player of the Month: March 2009, July 2010
- Top Player under 24 yrs old in MLS: 2010
- March 2011 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month "for his efforts to help raise funds and awareness about floods in his home country of Colombia".