A Difficult Journey From Charlottesville Back To Tampa

Diego Restrepo has covered a lot of ground in nearly four years.

Ever since Restrepo was the starting goalkeeper for the University of Virginia men’s soccer team’s 2009 national championship squad, he has traveled thousands of miles in an attempt to find the right fit with a professional team.

At nearly each stop, Restrepo heard the doubters.

“You’re too short,” they said, skeptical someone who stands nearly 6 feet tall could play club soccer in Colombia and Venezuela.

Showing the form that helped him earn Defensive MVP honors at the 2009 Men’s College Cup, Restrepo proved he had what it took to handle 14-to-15-hour bus rides for reserve team games to become a starter again.

Restrepo is proving himself again as goalkeeper for the North American Soccer League’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. He has started the past 10 matches for the Rowdies, including three in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With two matches remaining in the NASL’s Spring Season, Tampa Bay is fourth with a 3-4-3 (wins-losses-ties) record and 12 points.

“Throughout my experience the past three years, it definitely feels a lot longer,” Restrepo said. “Coming from college that year we won everything individually and collectively, at that time I probably wasn’t that humble. I was on a high getting to Colombia and the real world hit me when I you’re really not anything down there. I really had to step back and really make new goals for myself. Every day I took as a new challenge and it just paid off. Everything is working out so far.”

Restrepo wouldn’t have thought that at the age of 25 he would be back in the NASL so soon, but he said the opportunity to play with Tampa Bay is something he had to do for his career. He said the long bus rides for reserve league games, and playing and learning with older goalkeepers taught him to be thankful for chances to play that game. He a[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]lso realized he had to embrace every opportunity and make the best out of it because he didn’t know how it would help him down the road.

Restrepo actually began his collegiate soccer career in Tampa, at the University of South Florida.

He redshirted at USF in 2006. He then played in 20 of 22 games (19 starts) and had eight shutouts in his second year with the program. He started the 2008 season as the Bulls’ starter, but he lost his job following a 5-0 loss to the University of Notre Dame.

After three matches, his season was all but over, as Jeff Attinella played the next 20 games. Restrepo said he never received an explanation as to why he was benched and that he remains good friends with Attinella.

“I could have quit soccer and said I am not going to work anymore,” Restrepo said. “But I kept working and went from playing three games in 2008 to winning a national championship in 2009.”

Restrepo’s rebirth in Charlottesville, Va., couldn’t have gone any better. He broke a school record previously held by Tony Meola with 16 shutouts, including 11 in a row, and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament MVP en route to a national title.

But college glory stretches only so far.

Restrepo, 25, who was born in Merida, Venezuela, and lived in Colombia until he was 13 before moving to the United States, made four first-team appearances for Colombian powerhouse America de Cali in his rookie season in 2011, including his professional debut in August 2011. He then played for one of Venezuela’s most popular clubs, Deportivo Tachira, in 2012, making six first-team appearances.

Restrepo signed with Tampa Bay on March 20 after opportunities with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United and Philadelphia Union didn’t work out.

Restrepo said he was recently out of college when he arrived in Colombia. He said he was still too young to understand the situation he was getting into as a backup goalkeeper. He said he did realize, though, that he was “too nice” and that to become the “top dog” he had to develop a nasty side to his personality.

Restrepo said he brought that new mind-set and improved footwork to Venezuela, where he played more, but not at first. He said he had to endure the first six months when he didn’t travel with the primary team and had to earn his playing time in reserve team matches in front of maybe 100 fans.

“The coaches saw that I stuck with it and gave me a chance,” Restrepo said. “It was something that made me become more humble, and I learned to really appreciate every opportunity I have.”

The experiences in Colombia and in Venezuela also cemented Restrepo’s confidence. He said he paid attention to the work habits of older goalkeeper who had carved out professional careers and knew he could do the same things. Even though he was 7-10 years younger than many of those goalkeepers, Restrepo believed he could reach a stage where he had logged 200-300 games in his career.

So far, Restrepo is on the right path. He has made 15 saves and has a 1.50 goals against average in his first few months with Tampa Bay. He said it took time for him to find his rhythm following the end of his season in Venezuela in November 2012.

He didn’t make his debut with Tampa Bay until April 27 against Fort Lauderdale. He said he had an opportunity to sign a three-year contract to remain in Venezuela, but he said the country’s economy made it nearly impossible to take the club’s financial offer.

Now that he is back in the United States, Restrepo said he isn’t concerned about the role money will play in his next step. He said he is more concerned with finding the right team and level of play to help him improve.

Tampa Bay coach Ricky Hill has enjoyed working with Restrepo this season. He said Restrepo has worked hard to become the team’s starter.

“We were delighted Diego was available,” said Hill, who didn’t know much about Restrepo before he joined the team. “The timing was good for us and, obviously, the fact that we had to fill the second goalkeeper spot suggested we needed a person of Diego’s quality if they were to come available.”

Hill said his goal was to balance playing time between Andrew Fontein and Restrepo. He said Restrepo showed patience when he first arrived and slowly found his footing and eventually moved into the lineup.

Hill also said Restrepo has shown he can manage and organize a game from the back and that he has the anticipation and confidence to handle himself well in the box.

“As the games have progressed, his timing has gotten a little bit better and clearer,” Hill said. “He has shown he is very adept at using his feet, and he is very comfortable when the ball is played back to him. We like to have a keeper who is assured, and so far his touch has been good.”

Hill understands Restrepo wants to reach the highest levels. He said Restrepo’s professionalism, work ethic and, focus have been keys for him to move into the starting lineup. He said he is “delighted” that Restrepo wants to continue to push himself to be the best goalkeeper he can be.

Restrepo credits the doubters and the ups and downs he has experienced throughout his career, especially in the past three and a half years, for keeping him on the right track. He hopes his time with the Rowdies is a “springboard” to another opportunity. He doesn’t know where that chance will come, but he is prepared for a long ride to get there. One day, he hopes his final destination will be the Venezuelan National Team.

For now, though, Restrepo has a little more ground to cover.

“Every year, I work hard and I believe in my ability,” Restrepo said. “I don’t really listen to the criticism. The only person who can really do it is myself. … Thankfully the situation in college made me stronger, which is why I think I was able to fight it out in South America and continue my career.

“I feel like right now I am getting back into my form. … Game by game I am getting better. It is one of those things that takes time. … Hopefully, the coaches will continue to give me the opportunity to get my rhythm back and get more experience.”