Diego Restrepo

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Restrepo and the second or maternal family name is Garcia.
Diego Restrepo
Personal information
Full name Diego Alejandro Restrepo Garcia
Date of birth (1988-02-25) February 25, 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Merida, Venezuela
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
2005 IMG Soccer Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 South Florida Bulls 23 (0)
2009–2010 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Bradenton Academics 21 (0)
2011 América de Cali 4 (0)
2012 Deportivo Táchira 8 (0)
2013–2014 Tampa Bay Rowdies 26 (0)
2015 Charlotte Independence 2 (0)
2015 Metropolitanos 12 (0)
2016 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 16 (0)
2016 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0 (0)
2017–2018 San Antonio FC 48 (0)
2019–2020 Austin Bold 44 (0)
Total 181 (0)
International career‡
2005 United States U17 11 (0)
2007 United States U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 7, 2012

Diego Alejandro Restrepo Garcia (born February 25, 1988) is a soccer coach and former player who played as a goalkeeper. Currently, he is the Head of Goalkeeping for Bay FC, a National Women's Soccer League team.

Playing career[edit]

College and amateur[edit]

Restrepo lived in Colombia until he was 11 before moving to West Palm Beach, Florida with his family. He attended American Heritage School, and spent time at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before going on to play three years of college soccer at the University of South Florida. He transferred to the University of Virginia prior to his junior year, and quickly installed himself as the team's starting goalkeeper for Virginia, with whom he won the ACC Championship and the NCAA National Championship in 2009.[2]

During his championship season, Restrepo broke school records previously held by Tony Meola for games played (25), minutes played (2348), shutouts (16), consecutive shutouts (11) and consecutive scoreless minutes (1176).[3] He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the ACC Tournament[4] and Defensive Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Tournament.[2]

During his college years Restrepo also played for the Bradenton Academics in the USL Premier Development League.[5][6]

Professional[edit]

In January 2011, Restrepo signed a professional contract with Colombian soccer club América de Cali.[7] He made his professional debut on Wednesday, August 31, 2011, in America's 1-1 tie vs. Pereira.[8]

Restrepo moved to Venezuelan club Deportivo Táchira on December 30, 2011.[9] He played 8 competitive matches for Tachira, 4 in the Venezuelan Cup, and 4 in the Venezuelan First Division. He finished the season as Tachira's starter.[10]

On March 20, 2013 the Tampa Bay Rowdies announced that Restrepo had signed a two-year contract with the club. He excelled after being named the Rowdies starting goalkeeper, playing in 26 matches in all competitions. He was named the "NASL Player Of The Week" 3 times and to the "NASL Team Of the Week" 7 times in 2013.[11]

During the Rowdies' 2014 preseason training, Restrepo tore his Achilles tendon and was sidelined for the entirety of the 2014 season. On November 6, Restrepo announced he would be moving on from Tampa Bay.[12]

Restrepo signed with USL club Charlotte Independence on February 24, 2015.[13] During his short stay with Charlotte, he played in 3 matches, 2 in the U.S. Open Cup and 1 in USL league play.[14]

In June 2015, Restrepo is transferred to Metropolitanos FC, returning to the Venezuelan First Division.[15] On August 1, 2015, Restrepo takes over the starting role at Metropolitanos, helping the team snap a 3-game losing streak.[16] Restrepo stays as Metropolitanos starting goalkeeper, making 16 starts in all competitions, including 12 league starts.[17]

Restrepo joined NASL side Fort Lauderdale Strikers on December 31, 2015.[18] He helped the Strikers earn their first win of the season, on the road in his club debut on May 7, 2016, 3-1 vs. the league leading Carolina Railhawks.[19] The following week, he cemented his starting role with his first shutout of the season, in a 0-0 draw vs. the Indy Eleven.[20] With Restrepo in goal, the Strikers improved from 9th place in the league standings, to 1 point away from the Spring Season title. Restrepo helped the Strikers reach the final 8 of the 2016 US Open Cup, and for his heroics is named lower division player of the tournament.[21]

Due to the dire financial situation of the Strikers, Restrepo was transferred briefly back to the Tampa Bay Rowdies to finish the 2016 North American Soccer League season. He served as the backup goalkeeper for the last month of the Rowdies season.[22]

On March 9, 2017, San Antonio FC of the USL announces the signing of Restrepo for the 2017 season.[23] After week 5, when starting keeper Matt Cardone was lost for the season due to injury,[24] Restrepo establishes himself as SAFC's starter and goes on to have a record breaking season, leading the club to the best collective defensive performance in the league, recording just four losses and conceding 24 goals (21 individually). Restrepo led the USL with 12 clean sheets, recording 69 saves, posting a 76.7 percent save success rate, and finishing as runner-up in the race for the USL Golden Glove with a 0.80 goals against average.[25] For his performance, Restrepo was named the 2017 United Soccer League Goalkeeper Of The Year,[26] and to the 2017 United Soccer League Best Eleven.[27]

In 2018 Restrepo lost his starting role due to injury, and he signed with Austin Bold FC on 17 January 2019.[28]

U.S. Open Cup[edit]

Restrepo has had much success in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup throughout his career. In 2013, he helped the Tampa Bay Rowdies knock out Seattle Sounders FC, saving an Obafemi Martins penalty kick in the 84th minute to preserve the 1-0 result.[29] In 2015, Restrepo helped the Charlotte Independence attain their first win versus a higher division opponent, coming on in the 40th minute to preserve the shutout and 1-0 victory versus the NASL's Carolina Railhawks.[30]

In 2016, Restrepo was the star of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers run to the Open Cup's final 8. He tallied a shutout and stopped 3 penalty kicks during the shootout win vs. the Richmond Kickers, earning U.S. Open Cup player of the round.[31] In the round of 36, he held D.C. United scoreless during 120 minutes of play, and stopped a penalty kick during the shootout, helping the Strikers advance to the round of 16.[32] Restrepo was also a key performer in the Strikers 2-1 win vs. Orlando City SC making several vital saves in the match, and earning a reputation as an "MLS killer" in the tournament.[33] For his impressive performances in the 2016 Tournament, Restrepo was the "U.S. Open Cup Lower Division Player of the Tournament".[21]

International[edit]

Despite being born in Venezuela, Restrepo has represented the United States at the youth level. He is a graduate of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program.[34] In 2005, he was a member of the U.S. U-17 World Cup squad that participated in the 2005 Youth World Cup in Peru.[35] He has also been a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team.[36]

Coaching career[edit]

Restrepo started his club coaching career in 2020 as the academy goalkeeping coach for Major League Soccer side Austin FC.[37] After his time in Austin, he was hired as the Head of Goalkeeping for D.C. United, another MLS club.[38] On December 14, 2023, Restrepo was announced as Head of Goalkeeper for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League. He was reunited with general manager Lucy Rushton, who worked in the same position while Restrepo was at D.C. United.[39]

Honors[edit]

University of Virginia[edit]

América de Cali[edit]

San Antonio FC[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Diego Restrepo Biography - University of Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site - VirginiaSports.com". www.virginiasports.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Virginia Wins Men's Soccer National Championship - CBS Collegiate Sports Properties". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". www.virginiasports.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Goff, Steven (November 16, 2009). "Virginia men's soccer captures ACC tournament championship". www.washingtonpost.com.
  5. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  7. ^ "Restrepo Signs With America de Cali". Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "GolGolGol Fútbol Colombiano, América sacó un valioso empate en Pereira". Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  9. ^ "Gringo Report: Restrepo crosses border to Venezuela". December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  10. ^ "VIDEO Caracas dejó colorado al Táchira". Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  11. ^ "| Tampa Bay Rowdies". Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  12. ^ Diego Restrepo [@DiegoRestrepoGK] (November 6, 2014). "Thank you @RowdiesSoccer & @RalphsMob for 2 great year. Best of luck to the organization. Looking forward to my next challenge!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Independence Add Veteran Goalkeeper Restrepo - United Soccer League". Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  14. ^ "Diego Restrepo Granted Transfer to Venezuelan Club | Charlotte Independence". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  15. ^ "Diego Restrepo se sumó a las filas de Metropolitanos".
  16. ^ "Metropolitanos igualó 1-1 con Carabobo FC que anotó y recibió su primer gol". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  17. ^ "USA - D. Restrepo - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com.
  18. ^ "Strikers Sign Trio Of Goalkeepers".
  19. ^ "RailHawks Fall at Home to Fort Lauderdale". Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  20. ^ "Strikers Held to Scoreless Draw by Unbeaten Indy Eleven". Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "2016 US Open Cup: Diego Restrepo carries Fort Lauderdale Strikers, wins TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament - TheCup.us - Full Coverage of US Open Cup Soccer". thecup.us.
  22. ^ "Diego Restrepo Joins Tampa Bay Rowdies".
  23. ^ "San Antonio FC Signs Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo". March 9, 2017. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  24. ^ "Johnston the Next Goalkeeper to Get His Shot with SAFC". twotensoccer.com. October 4, 2022. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  25. ^ Leyva, Luis (November 7, 2017). "2017 Player Profile: Diego Restrepo". San Antonio FC.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ "San Antonio FC Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo Named USL Goalkeeper of the Year". San Antonio FC. November 20, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "San Antonio FC Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo, Defender Sebastien Ibeagha and Midfielder Billy Forbes Earn USL All-League Honors". San Antonio FC. November 8, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "Austin bold fc signs goalkeeper diego restrepo". January 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  29. ^ "Tampa Bay Rowdies beat Seattle Sounders". May 29, 2013.
  30. ^ "Carolina RailHawks vs. Charlotte Independence - 2015 U.S. Open Cup - Third Round". www.ussoccer.com.
  31. ^ "2016 US Open Cup round 3: Diego Restrepo's PK heroics for Fort Lauderdale Strikers earns TheCup.us Player of the Round - TheCup.us - Full Coverage of US Open Cup Soccer". thecup.us.
  32. ^ "2016 US Open Cup round 4: Diego Restrepo helps Fort Lauderdale Strikers make history in PK win over DC United - TheCup.us - Full Coverage of US Open Cup Soccer". thecup.us.
  33. ^ "Orlando City Falls To Ft. Lauderdale In Extra Time". June 29, 2016.
  34. ^ "Residency Program - U.S. Soccer". Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  35. ^ "U-17's in Peru Preparing for Saturday U-17 World Championship Opener - U.S. Soccer". Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  36. ^ "US Under 20 national team, Dane Shea, Thomas Rongen, Diego Restrepo, Steve Sandbo, Andre Akpan, Gabriel Ferrari, Johann Smith, Preston Zimmerman, Sal Zizzo". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  37. ^ Bils, Chris. "Soccer notebook: Will Austin FC stadium deliver on promise to feel like home?". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  38. ^ dcunited. "D.C. United Hire Diego Restrepo as Head of Goalkeeping | DC United". dcunited. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  39. ^ "Bay FC Announces Coaching Staff Ahead of Inaugural Season". Bay FC. December 14, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2024.

External links[edit]

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