Milton Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Milton Fabián Rodríguez Suárez (born April 28, 1976 in Cali
) is a Colombia
n footballer.
in 1997. In two years at the club the left-footed striker scored 22 goals in 45 appearances. In 1999 he moved to Independiente Santa Fe and continued his goal scoring prowess netting 14 goals in 36 appearances. The following season he returned to Cortuluá
and had another fine season scoring 10 goals in 21 matches. In 2000 he would embark on his first stint with top Colombian side Deportivo Cali
but would have limited success scoring 3 goals in 21 matches. In 2001 he would rejoin Cortuluá
for the third time in his career and would net 9 goals in 38 appearances. Rodríguez joined Deportivo Pereira
for the second half of the 2002 season and would appear in 19 matches scoring a league leading 13 goals in the Torneo Finalización 2002.
For the next few years he would continue to move from club to club playing with Independiente Santa Fe
and Deportivo Cali
before returning to Deportivo Pereira
during the 2004 season. While with Pereira he would regain his scoring prowess netting 12 goals in 17 matches. As a result of his play with Pereira, he would rejoin Deportivo Cali
and would go on to one of the most successful stints in his career scoring 27 goals in 42 matches.
In 2005 he would leave Colombia for the first time in his career and join K-League
side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
. While with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
the Colombian striker had instant success and was regarded as a very exciting player. The following season he moved to the Newcastle Jets, who signed him a few days before the start of the 2006-07 season from K-League
outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
. He arrived in Newcastle ready to make his debut in Round 4 after Visa
issues prevented him and his family from entering the country. Rodríguez capped his debut for the Newcastle Jets by coming on as a substitute and scoring two goals in ten minutes making him an instant fan-favorite. During this time his trademark headband became one of his most identifiable features.
He would make his return to Colombian during the 2007 season with América de Cali
and would go on to score 6 goals in 11 matches. After a brief stay with América, Rodríguez would join city rival Deportivo Cali
for the fourth time in his career and remain there for one season. In 2008 he would join another historical Colombian side Millonarios where he would score 11 goals in 33 matches. The following seasons he would play for Deportes Tolima
and Real Cartagena
and continue to score goals at a regular rate.
In 2010 he was contacted by Major League Soccer
side FC Dallas
and agreed to join the club in mid-season. In his first season Rodríguez would score several key goals in helping his club to reach the 2010 MLS Cup final.
Rodriguez scored Dallas's first goal of the 2011 season with a between the legs left footed shot against the Chicago Fire Soccer Club off a cross from Zach Loyd
. However, he struggled for playing time and goals for most of 2011 and was released by Dallas on July 28, 2011.
. Making his debut with the national team in 2004.
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
) 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.
Club career
Rodríguez began his professional career with CortuluáCortuluá
Corporación Club Deportivo Tuluá, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Tuluá. The club was founded October 16, 1967 and plays its home games at the Doce de Octubre stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 16,000 seats.-History:...
in 1997. In two years at the club the left-footed striker scored 22 goals in 45 appearances. In 1999 he moved to Independiente Santa Fe and continued his goal scoring prowess netting 14 goals in 36 appearances. The following season he returned to Cortuluá
Cortuluá
Corporación Club Deportivo Tuluá, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Tuluá. The club was founded October 16, 1967 and plays its home games at the Doce de Octubre stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 16,000 seats.-History:...
and had another fine season scoring 10 goals in 21 matches. In 2000 he would embark on his first stint with top Colombian side 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...
but would have limited success scoring 3 goals in 21 matches. In 2001 he would rejoin Cortuluá
Cortuluá
Corporación Club Deportivo Tuluá, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Tuluá. The club was founded October 16, 1967 and plays its home games at the Doce de Octubre stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 16,000 seats.-History:...
for the third time in his career and would net 9 goals in 38 appearances. Rodríguez joined Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...
for the second half of the 2002 season and would appear in 19 matches scoring a league leading 13 goals in the Torneo Finalización 2002.
For the next few years he would continue to move from club to club playing with Independiente Santa Fe
Independiente Santa Fe
Independiente Santafe is a professional Colombian First Division football club based in Bogotá. It has won six First Division titles and two Copa Colombia titles....
and 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...
before returning to Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira
Deportivo Pereira is a professional soccer team of the Colombian city of Pereira. Founded in 1944, its traditional colors are red and yellow. It plays in the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas.-History:...
during the 2004 season. While with Pereira he would regain his scoring prowess netting 12 goals in 17 matches. As a result of his play with Pereira, he would rejoin 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...
and would go on to one of the most successful stints in his career scoring 27 goals in 42 matches.
In 2005 he would leave Colombia for the first time in his career and join K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are a professional football club based in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, South Korea. They won their first K-League title in 2009. Prior to this, the club won the AFC Champions League title in 2006, becoming the first club from East Asia to win the tournament since the AFC Champions...
. While with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are a professional football club based in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, South Korea. They won their first K-League title in 2009. Prior to this, the club won the AFC Champions League title in 2006, becoming the first club from East Asia to win the tournament since the AFC Champions...
the Colombian striker had instant success and was regarded as a very exciting player. The following season he moved to the Newcastle Jets, who signed him a few days before the start of the 2006-07 season from K-League
K-League
The Korea Professional Football League is South Korea's only fully professional association football league. At the top of the South Korean football league system, it is the country's highest and most prestigious level of football competition currently contested by 16 clubs.-Establishment:The...
outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are a professional football club based in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, South Korea. They won their first K-League title in 2009. Prior to this, the club won the AFC Champions League title in 2006, becoming the first club from East Asia to win the tournament since the AFC Champions...
. He arrived in Newcastle ready to make his debut in Round 4 after Visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
issues prevented him and his family from entering the country. Rodríguez capped his debut for the Newcastle Jets by coming on as a substitute and scoring two goals in ten minutes making him an instant fan-favorite. During this time his trademark headband became one of his most identifiable features.
He would make his return to Colombian during the 2007 season with América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
and would go on to score 6 goals in 11 matches. After a brief stay with América, Rodríguez would join city rival 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...
for the fourth time in his career and remain there for one season. In 2008 he would join another historical Colombian side Millonarios where he would score 11 goals in 33 matches. The following seasons he would play for Deportes Tolima
Deportes Tolima
Deportes Tolima, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Ibagué. The club was founded December 18, 1954 and play their home games at the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000.-Foundation:...
and Real Cartagena
Real Cartagena
Real Cartagena, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Cartagena. The club was founded in 1971 and play their home games at the Estadio Jaime Morón León, which has a capacity of 20,000 approximately.-Current roster:As of Jan 28, 2011...
and continue to score goals at a regular rate.
In 2010 he was contacted by 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...
side FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
and agreed to join the club in mid-season. In his first season Rodríguez would score several key goals in helping his club to reach the 2010 MLS Cup final.
Rodriguez scored Dallas's first goal of the 2011 season with a between the legs left footed shot against the Chicago Fire Soccer Club off a cross from Zach Loyd
Zach Loyd
Zachary Robert Loyd is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
. However, he struggled for playing time and goals for most of 2011 and was released by Dallas on July 28, 2011.
International career
Rodríguez has three full international caps for ColombiaColombia 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...
. Making his debut with the national team in 2004.
FC Dallas
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Western Conference Championship (1): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...