Rodrigo Vargas
Encyclopedia
Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas (born 20 October 1978) is a Australia
n football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central defender
for the Australian A-League
club Melbourne Victory
.
side, Springvale City, where he debuted at the age of 17. After three seasons with Port Melbourne, he was recruited by the Melbourne Knights
at the age of 21, who were competing in the National Soccer League
. He had a very successful tenure at the club, notching up over 100 games over five seasons as well as being awarded the captaincy.
When the National Soccer League
came to an end in 2004, he moved to Victorian Premier League
side Green Gully
, where he developed a reputation as a goal scoring defender from set pieces. Rodrigo was drafted into the Melbourne Victory
squad in 2006 after a successful trial, and soon became a key member of the Victory backline.
Rodrigo is a strong defender who was known for his aggressiveness in the old NSL. He is also very consistent and durable, not missing a single game with injury in his time with the Melbourne Knights. He is the brother of Green Gully
player Andy Vargas
.
He was involved in a controversy when he was allegedly called a “black monkey” by Newcastle United Jets midfielder, Stuart Musialik
.
Vargas was a key member of the Melbourne Victory team in their first appearance in the Asian Champions League
in 2008 against Chunnan Dragons at the Telstra Dome. Vargas capped off a great performance with a brilliant goal, the club's second ever in Asia and only Rodrigo Vargas' second career goal for Melbourne Victory
.
Vargas was also captain for Melbourne Victory in their pre-season Cup win over Wellington Phoenix on 6 August 2008. He has since been called upon to fill the role of captain in the absence of Kevin Muscat
.
matches against Qatar
and Iraq
and an international friendly against Ghana
, but did not play his first international game until January 2009 against Indonesia
in an Asian Cup qualification
match.
: A-League Championship: 2006-2007
, 2008-2009
A-League Premiership: 2006-2007
, 2008-2009
Personal Honours:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) player. He currently plays as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
.
Club career
Rodrigo Vargas started his career at Victorian Premier LeagueVictorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
side, Springvale City, where he debuted at the age of 17. After three seasons with Port Melbourne, he was recruited by the Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
at the age of 21, who were competing in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
. He had a very successful tenure at the club, notching up over 100 games over five seasons as well as being awarded the captaincy.
When the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
came to an end in 2004, he moved to Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
side Green Gully
Green Gully Cavaliers
Green Gully Soccer Club is a football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Green Gully is one of the biggest clubs in Melbourne, it participated in the old National Soccer League between 1984-1986....
, where he developed a reputation as a goal scoring defender from set pieces. Rodrigo was drafted into the Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
squad in 2006 after a successful trial, and soon became a key member of the Victory backline.
Rodrigo is a strong defender who was known for his aggressiveness in the old NSL. He is also very consistent and durable, not missing a single game with injury in his time with the Melbourne Knights. He is the brother of Green Gully
Green Gully Cavaliers
Green Gully Soccer Club is a football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Green Gully is one of the biggest clubs in Melbourne, it participated in the old National Soccer League between 1984-1986....
player Andy Vargas
Andy Vargas
Andy Vargas is an Australian football midfielder who plays for Green Gully. He is the brother of Melbourne Victory defender Rodrigo Vargas.-Club career:...
.
He was involved in a controversy when he was allegedly called a “black monkey” by Newcastle United Jets midfielder, Stuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik
Stuart Musialik is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.- Club career :...
.
Vargas was a key member of the Melbourne Victory team in their first appearance in the Asian Champions League
AFC Champions League 2008
The 2008 AFC Champions League was the 27th AFC Champions League, the top-level Asian club football tournament, and the 6th under the current AFC Champions League title...
in 2008 against Chunnan Dragons at the Telstra Dome. Vargas capped off a great performance with a brilliant goal, the club's second ever in Asia and only Rodrigo Vargas' second career goal for Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
.
Vargas was also captain for Melbourne Victory in their pre-season Cup win over Wellington Phoenix on 6 August 2008. He has since been called upon to fill the role of captain in the absence of Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
.
International career
Vargas was named in Socceroos squad for the AFC World Cup qualifification2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
The Asian Football Confederation was allocated four assured qualifying berths for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and one place in a play-off. 43 teams were in the running for these spots; Laos, Brunei and the Philippines did not attempt to qualify...
matches against Qatar
Qatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
and Iraq
Iraq national football team
The Iraqi national football team represents Iraq in international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association. They won the 2007 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup tournament.-The Golden Generation:...
and an international friendly against Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
, but did not play his first international game until January 2009 against Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
in an Asian Cup qualification
2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification saw various countries take part to determine 10 spots to the final tournament in Qatar under the new qualification system set by the Asian Football Confederation ....
match.
Honours
With Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
: A-League Championship: 2006-2007
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
, 2008-2009
A-League 2008-09
The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion...
A-League Premiership: 2006-2007
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
, 2008-2009
A-League 2008-09
The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion...
Personal Honours:
- Melbourne VictoryMelbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
Victory Medal: 2007-2008Melbourne Victory season 2007-08-First team squad:-Transfers:InOut-Pre-season matches:*The match against China was played over three 30 minute periods.-2007 Pre-Season Cup:-2007-08 Hyundai A-League fixtures:...