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Behind The Stripes

Rodrigo Rios

By Atlanta United FC

June 7^th, 2017

“I’m not from Atlanta, I’m from Santiago, Chile, but there’s a lot of people that have come here to help build this city in the past 12 years, and there’s many like me that consider Atlanta their home, so in that sense, yes I’m from Atlanta.”

Rodrigo Rios enjoyed a long playing career, starting as a protégée in the academy at renowned Chilean club Universidad Católica, making appearances for his national team at the U-20 and U-23 levels and spending time with three different clubs in Chile before moving to Atlanta 12 years ago to sign for the Silverbacks. When he decided to hang up his boots, he envisioned himself as a technical director, an administrator, in a long-term role off the pitch -- but that desire didn’t last long.

“Day-by-day I started to get that feeling I want to be on the field again, I want to help and share my knowledge and experience with young players and try to get into the field again and start getting my coaching licenses.”

Rios worked tightly with Academy Director Tony Annan at a local youth club in the area and when Annan was brought into the new MLS club, the Chilean native was one of the first to receive a call. Rios was one of those whose work ethic, character and knowledge could not be forgotten, and now, putting those in action as a coach in Atlanta United’s academy -- it’s an opportunity he doesn’t take for granted.

“I think every day is one new memorable experience.”

Rios has been there from the inception of the Academy, the tryouts, the introductory dinner, the delivery of invitation boxes and now he occupies the fields at the Atlanta United training ground as the head coach of the U-18s.

For Rios and the rest of the coaching staff, winning and losing will come and go, but the true virtue is the growth and development of their young, aspiring players.

“I think every time Tata (Martino) or any of the coaches on the first team come and ask for one of the players and they want one of the players training with them, I think it’s the most rewarding for us as an academy coaching staff.”

Members of the academy have the rare opportunity of sharing the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground with the Atlanta United first team players, training, eating, learning alongside their idols -- and it was quite the eye-opening night for the youngsters as they watched the first team take the field in the club’s inaugural match.

“They were amazed. I think all of them start realizing this is real it’s bigger than what we can imagine. It’s given them that push to say to themselves ok, I want to keep doing this I want to keep pushing myself even harder because I want one day to be one of those 11 players getting on the field in front of that crowd.”

However, it’s not just the magnitude of the first game that drives those at Atlanta United, but also the pride, the passion and the loyalty that fans are demonstrating for the club -- it’s beyond measure.

“The fact that we have 55,000 in the stands, you drive anywhere and there’s Atlanta United flags, people are wearing jerseys on Friday, the social media is booming…it was something that the city was needing and I’m sure there are more people now saying that we’re from here.”

Atlanta is known as an international city, a city of transplants, and for many like Rios, Atlanta United offers a link, a connection, a tie that binds them to this place they call home.

“The club starting from Arthur Blank and Darren they’re creating the spirit that the city is united and all those people that are not from here we can say we’re from here, we’re united, we’re supporting the team, this is our team.”

From the top down, Rios believes the MLS expansion club is doing all the right things and setting a formidable foundation to one day, reach global recognition as one of the world’s best.

“The way people are working over here, the focus that they are getting and the way that the club is lining up, it’s going to be one of the most important clubs in the world.”

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