2024 Tampa Bay Rowdies season

Tampa Bay Rowdies
2024 season
Chairman	Stuart Sternberg
Head coach	Robbie Neilson
Stadium	Al Lang Stadium
Biggest win	5–1 (May 13 vs DCFC)
Biggest defeat	3–0 (March 25 vs CHS)
	← 2023 2025 →

The 2024 Tampa Bay Rowdies season is the club's fifteenth season of existence, their eighth in the United Soccer League, and sixth in the USL Championship. Including the previous Tampa Bay Rowdies, this is their 31st season of a franchise in the Tampa Bay metro area with the Rowdies moniker. Including the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny, this is the 36th season of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay region.

During the offseason, the Rowdies hired Scotsman Robbie Neilson in November 2023 as their new head coach,^[1]^[2] after former head coach Neill Collins left the club mid-season to manage Barnsley FC in the EFL League One.^[3]

Club

Roster

As of July 22, 2024^[4]

Squad No.	Name	Position(s)	Since	Date of Birth (Age)	Signed from	Goals Scored
Goalkeepers
1	Jordan Farr	GK	2024	(1994-10-05) October 5, 1994 (age 30)	San Antonio FC	0
15	Phil Breno	GK	2022	(1995-12-11) December 11, 1995 (age 28)	Permanent deal from Forward Madison FC	0
99	Taner Akin	GK	2024	(2006-09-30) September 30, 2006 (age 18)	Fatih Karagümrük S.K.	0
Defenders
3	Forrest Lasso	CB	2023	(1993-05-11) May 11, 1993 (age 31)	GIF Sundsvall
19	Freddy Kleemann	CB	2023	(1999-03-19) March 19, 1999 (age 25)	Birmingham Legion FC
33	Aarón Guillén	LB	2020	(1993-06-23) June 23, 1993 (age 31)	North Carolina FC
34	Matheus De Jesus	CB	2024	(2005-12-16) December 16, 2005 (age 18)	Tampa Bay Rowdies U23
42	Zane Bubb	RB	2024	(2000-01-11) January 11, 2000 (age 24)	University of Central Florida Knights
Midfielders
4	Lewis Hilton	CM	2020	(1993-10-22) October 22, 1993 (age 30)	Saint Louis FC
5	Joey DeZart	CM	2024	(1998-06-09) June 9, 1998 (age 26)	Huntsville City FC
10	Leo Fernandes	LM	2017	(1991-12-23) December 23, 1991 (age 32)	Philadelphia Union
11	Blake Bodily	CM	2024	(1998-01-13) January 13, 1998 (age 26)	San Diego Loyal
17	Daniel Crisostomo	CM	2024	(1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 27)	Los Angeles FC 2
18	Nathan Worth	CM	2024	(2007-02-26) February 26, 2007 (age 17)	FC Tulsa
22	Jordan Doherty	DM	2023	(2000-08-29) August 29, 2000 (age 24)	Bohemian
24	Nick Skubis	WM	2024	(2005-07-20) July 20, 2005 (age 19)	Tampa Bay United SC
30	Amari Fowlkes	DM	2024	(2005-05-30) May 30, 2005 (age 19)	Indiana Fire
Forwards
8	Damian Rivera	CF	2024	(2002-12-08) December 8, 2002 (age 21)	On Loan from New England Revolution II
9	Manuel Arteaga	CF	2024	(1994-06-17) June 17, 1994 (age 30)	Phoenix Rising FC
16	Jake LaCava	CF	2023	(2001-01-12) January 12, 2001 (age 23)	Loan from Inter Miami
23	Eddie Munjoma	LW	2024	(1998-07-18) July 18, 1998 (age 26)	Phoenix Rising FC
26	Cal Jennings	CF	2023	(1997-05-17) May 17, 1997 (age 27)	Los Angeles FC
27	Pacifique Niyongabire	RW	2024	(2000-03-15) March 15, 2000 (age 24)	Valour FC
98	Joshua Pérez	RW	2023	(1998-01-21) January 21, 1998 (age 26)	Montevarchi

Team management and staff

Front Office
Owner	Stuart Sternberg
Head of Soccer Operations	Nico Castillo
Vice President	Ryan Helfrick
Vice chairman	Matthew Silverman
Vice chairman	Brian Auld

Coaching Staff
Head Coach	Robbie Neilson
Goalkeeping Coach	Stuart Dobson
Assistant Coach	Nicky Law
Assistant Coach	Russell Stirling
Performance Coach	Carlos Wheeler

Competitions

USL Championship

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
4	Indy Eleven	32	13	10	9	46	45	+1	48	Playoffs
5	Rhode Island FC	32	11	7	14	47	39	+8	47
6	Tampa Bay Rowdies	31	13	11	7	50	42	+8	46
7	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	32	10	10	12	37	28	+9	42
8	North Carolina FC	32	11	12	9	50	42	+8	42

Updated to match(es) played on October 13, 2024. Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Match results

On December 18, 2023, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.^[5]

All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

March

March 9 1	San Antonio FC	2–2	Loudoun United FC	San Antonio, Texas
8:30 PM	Silva 14', 76' Agudelo 48'	Report	Ryan 18' Erlandson 23' François 29' Leerman 74' Dambrot 82' Valot 90+4' Skundrich 90+6'	Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 7,263 Referee: Calin Radosav

March 23 2	North Carolina FC	1–1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Cary, North Carolina
7:00 PM	Mentzingen 75'	Report	Maldonado 63' (o.g.) Dezart 90'+3'	Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,796 Referee: John Griggs

March 30 3	Tampa Bay Rowdies	4–1	Rhode Island FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Hilton 1' Guillén 53' Arteaga 54' Jennings 61' 67' Doherty 72' Munjoma 75' Ortiz 90+3' Rivera 90+6'	Report	Dikwa 16' 46' McGlynn 45+3'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 6,001 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

April

April 6 4	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	0–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00PM	Sample 89'	Report	Guillén 17'	Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 3,109 Referee: Adam Kilpatrick

April 11 5	Miami FC	2–5	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Miami, Florida
7:00 PM	Vang 17' Gabriel Cabral 32' Rocco Genzano 48' Gavilanes 55' Botta 56' 73' Khadim Ndiaye 86'	Report	Arteaga 14' 62' Biek 21' (o.g.) Jennings 39' 52' Bodily 45+4' Hilton 49' Munjoma 64'	Stadium: FIU Soccer Stadium Attendance: 887 Referee: Calin Radosav

April 20 6	Tampa Bay Rowdies	1–1	El Paso Locomotive FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30	Pérez 18' Arteaga 73' Munjoma 83'	Report	Cavillo 1' Nevárez 8' 64' Alfaro 9' Rose 55'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 4,945 Referee: Alex Beehler

April 27 7	Tampa Bay Rowdies	3–0	New Mexico United	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Jennings 7' 16' Pérez 28' Crisostomo 43' Bodily 52' Arteaga 58' (pen.)	Report	Hurst 45'+1' Micaletto 65'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 6,588 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

May

May 4 8	Memphis 901 FC	4–1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Memphis, Tennessee
4:00 PM	Marlon 19', 50' Fernando 23' Borczak 64' Careaga 75' Pickering 81' Ward 90'+2'	Report	Lasso 11' Guillen 24' Arteaga 29' 45'+6' Niyongabire 54'	Stadium: AutoZone Park Attendance: 2,384 Referee: Alexis Da Silva

May 11 9	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0–1	Birmingham Legion FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Guillen 80'	Report	Kavita 9' Murana 32' Hernandez-Foster 37' Martínez 67' Pasher 90'+1'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,433 Referee: Elton García

May 18 10	Tampa Bay Rowdies	5–0	FC Tulsa	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Arteaga 12' 45'+2' (pen.) Jennings 22' Lasso 40', 71' Worth 84'	Report	Laszo 45'+1' Diallo 60' Dalou 90'+1'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,277 Referee: Eric Tattersall

May 25 11	Tampa Bay Rowdies	1–0	Las Vegas Lights FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Munjoma 56' Worth 81' Jennings 85'	Report	Nigro 31' Smart 68' Azcona 71'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,753 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

June

June 1 12	Sacramento Republic FC	0–1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Sacramento, California
10:00 PM	Sanchez 86'	Report	Dennis 53' Guillen 90'+7'	Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 9,547 Referee: Gerald Flores

June 8 13	Oakland Roots SC	1–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Hayward, California
10:00 PM	Cedeno 72' Dwyer 83' Nije 90'+6	Report		Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 6,408 Referee: Elijio Arreguin

June 15 14	Tampa Bay Rowdies	3–2	Louisville City FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Pérez 11' Jennings 30' Arteaga 36' (pen.) Munjoma 73' Niyongabire 87' Rivera 90+2' Guillén 90+4' Dennis 90+5'	Report	Gonzalez 25', 51' Jake Morris 42' McFadden 45+5' Ordoñez 68' Dia 90+5'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,393 Referee: Ricardo Fierro Assistant referees: Ben Rigel Assistant referees: Juan Pablo Casas Fourth official: Mario Maric

June 21 15	Hartford Athletic	0–1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Hartford, Connecticut
7:30 PM	Makangila 9' 43'	Report	Dennis 2' Farr 66' Arteaga 87' (pen.)	Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Greg Dopka

June 29 16	Loudoun United FC	2–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Leesburg, Virginia
7:30 PM	Aboukoura 15' Tingey 57' Fauroux 73' Leggett 77' 90'	Report		Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 3,076 Referee: Luis Arroyo

July

July 6 17	Detroit City FC	1–1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Hamtramck, Michigan
7:00 PM	Murphy 41' Diop 41' 59' Dichio 60' Amoh 71' Rodriguez 75'	Report	Arteaga 45+4' Kleemann 51' Moon 90+4'	Stadium: Keyworth Stadium Attendance: 6,403 Referee: Muhammad Hassan

July 13 18	Tampa Bay Rowdies	2–0	Orange County SC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Jennings 6' 30' Crisostomo 67' Kleemann 83'	Report	Norris 43' 52'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,971 Referee: Eric Tattersall

July 20 19	Indy Eleven	0–2	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Indianapolis, IN
7:00 PM	Wooton 33'	Report	Crisostomo 13' Jennings 36' Rivera 80'	Stadium: Carroll Stadium Attendance: 10,636 Referee: Thomas Snyder

July 27 20	Tampa Bay Rowdies	4–2	Charleston Battery	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Arteaga 38' (pen.) 90'+6' Crisostomo 44' Pérez 46' 55' Munjoma 76' Worth 87' Rivera 90'+12'	Report	Torres 8' 29' Smith 13' 90'+7' Grinwis 83'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 5,705 Referee: John Griggs

August

August 3 21	Monterey Bay FC	2–2	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Seaside, California
10:00 PM	Gnaulati 26' Dixon 29' Guzmán 45'+1' Ngnepi 61' Trager 90'+2'	Report	Kleemann 9' Guillen 54' Jennings 71' Arteaga 84' (pen.)	Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 4,024 Referee: Nabil Bensalah

August 10 22	Phoenix Rising FC	0–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Phoenix, Arizona
10:00 PM	Dennis 61' John 90'	Report	Joshua 3' Crisostomo 55'	Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

August 17 23	Tampa Bay Rowdies	0–2	Loudoun United FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
	Bodily 17' 61'	Report	Dambrot 28' Leggett 34' Leerman 53' Ryan 69' Aboukoura 90'+1'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Referee: Elijio Arreguin

August 21 24	Tampa Bay Rowdies	2–3	Detroit City FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
7:30 PM	Bubb 27' 36' Arteaga 45+6' 90+3' Fernandes 82'	Report	Amoo-Mensah 3' 42' Rutz 23' Rh. Williams 29' Carroll 44' Morris 58', 74' Bryant 81'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 3,159 Referee: Ricardo Montero

August 24 25	Tampa Bay Rowdies	2–0	Miami FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
	Arteaga 45'+2' 61' Niyongabire 45'+4' Kleemann 48' Jennings 70' Rivera 72'	Report	Roberto Molina 37' Dezart 67' Cardona 85'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 6,310 Referee: John Matto

September

September 7 26	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	4–2	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:00 PM	Pierre 20' Bodily 28' (o.g.) Magee 42' Dhillon 47' Hanya 53'	Report	Spaulding 10' Fernandes 74' Bodily 76' Rivera 79' Guillen 86'	Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 7,362 Referee: Jeremy Scheer

September 11 27	Birmingham Legion FC	2–0	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 PM	Hernandez-Foster 13' 86' Pinho 32' 36' Mensah 43' Dodson 48' Nwegbo 58'	Report	Kleemann 55' Crisostomo 71'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 5,058 Referee: Lorenzo Hernandez

September 14 28	Tampa Bay Rowdies	2-1	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	St. Petersburg, FL
7:30 PM	Munjoma 45'+2' Bodily 53' Bubb 56' Arteaga 71' Fernandes 76' 90'+1'	Report	Walti 43' Kizza 67'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 4,851 Referee: Brandon Stevis

September 21 29	Charleston Battery	3-1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
7:00 PM	Torres 5' Markanich 37', 60' Dossantos 43' Segbers 59'	Report	Kleemann 8' 81' Worth 61' Pérez 79' Guillen 90'+4'	Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 4,366 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

September 28 30	Tampa Bay Rowdies	v	Hartford Athletic	St. Petersburg, FL
7:30 PM		Report		Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Note: Postponed due to Hurricane Helene

October

October 5 31	Rhode Island FC	v	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Smithfield, Rhode Island
7:30 PM				Stadium: Beirne Stadium

October 12 32	Louisville City FC	v	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Louisville, Kentucky
8:30 PM				Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium

October 19 33	North Carolina FC	v	Tampa Bay Rowdies	Cary, North Carolina
7:30 PM				Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Note: Match was moved from St. Petersburg to Cary due to the effects of Hurricane Milton

October 23 30	Tampa Bay Rowdies	v	Hartford Athletic	Bradenton, Florida
7:30 PM				Stadium: IMG Academy
Note: Match was rescheduled and moved from Al Lang Stadium to IMG Academy due to the effects of Hurricane Milton

October 26 34	Tampa Bay Rowdies	v	Indy Eleven	Bradenton, Florida
7:30 PM				Stadium: IMG Academy
Note: Match was moved from Al Lang Stadium to IMG Academy due to the effects of Hurricane Milton

U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL Championship, the Tampa Bay Rowdies entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32, matched up against fellow USL Championship club Birmingham Legion FC at home.^[6]^[7] After winning 6–4 in added extra time after blowing a 4–0 lead,^[8]^[9] the Rowdies were matched up against Major League Soccer side FC Dallas, again at home,^[10]^[11] where they would eventually end up losing 2–1.^[12]^[13]^[14]

May 8 Round of 32	Tampa Bay Rowdies	6–4 (a.e.t.)	Birmingham Legion FC	St. Petersburg, Florida
19:30	Dennis 23' Rivera 25' Jennings 33', 45+6', 79' Munjoma 82' Arteaga 101', 109' 90'+3' 120'+3'	Report	Mensah 42' Paterson 50' Martínez 82' Hernandez-Foster 89' Pasher 90+3', 90+6' (pen.) Crognale 91' Rufe 120'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 2,195 Referee: Alyssa Nichols

May 22 Round of 16	Tampa Bay Rowdies	1–2	FC Dallas	St. Petersburg, Florida
19:30	Pérez 76' 85' (pen.)	Report	Ibeagha 3' Delgado 15' 20' Farrington 26' Ntsabeleng 52' Farfan 90'+1'	Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 1,862 Referee: Guido Gonzalez

References

^ "Rowdies introduce new head coach". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). November 9, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ "Tampa Bay Rowdies announce Robbie Neilson as new coach". baynews9.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Barie, Sean (November 9, 2023). "Tampa Bay Rowdies name Robbie Neilson as new head coach". FOX 13 News. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ "Roster". USL Championship. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Staff, USLChampionship com (December 18, 2023). "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
^ Rueter, Jeff. "U.S. Open Cup draw: NYCFC II is only MLS Next Pro team in last 32". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
^ "Rowdies enter Round of 32 in U.S. Open Cup, will host Birmingham tonight at Al Lang Stadium". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). May 8, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Spectrum News Staff (May 9, 2024). "Rowdies survive, get past Birmingham in Open Cup". baynews9.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Mongrue, Trey (May 8, 2024). "Legion FC's Open Cup Run Ends with Extra Time Defeat". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Dallas, F. C. "FC Dallas to Play Tampa Bay Rowdies in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16". FC Dallas. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Rowdies Communications (May 9, 2024). "Rowdies to Host MLS' FC Dallas in Open Cup Round of 16". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ Dallas • •, F. C. (May 23, 2024). "FC Dallas advances to quarterfinals of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with 2-1 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ "Rowdies push FC Dallas in U.S. Open Cup, lose 2-1". wtsp.com. May 23, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
^ "FC Dallas defeats Tampa Bay Rowdies, advances to quarterfinals of U.S. Open Cup". Dallas News. May 23, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[1] "Rowdies introduce new head coach". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). November 9, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[2] "Tampa Bay Rowdies announce Robbie Neilson as new coach". baynews9.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[3] Barie, Sean (November 9, 2023). "Tampa Bay Rowdies name Robbie Neilson as new head coach". FOX 13 News. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[4] "Roster". USL Championship. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[5] Staff, USLChampionship com (December 18, 2023). "USL Championship Unveils 2024 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved June 25, 2024.

[6] Rueter, Jeff. "U.S. Open Cup draw: NYCFC II is only MLS Next Pro team in last 32". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 25, 2024.

[7] "Rowdies enter Round of 32 in U.S. Open Cup, will host Birmingham tonight at Al Lang Stadium". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). May 8, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[8] Spectrum News Staff (May 9, 2024). "Rowdies survive, get past Birmingham in Open Cup". baynews9.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[9] Mongrue, Trey (May 8, 2024). "Legion FC's Open Cup Run Ends with Extra Time Defeat". Birmingham Legion FC. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[10] Dallas, F. C. "FC Dallas to Play Tampa Bay Rowdies in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16". FC Dallas. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[11] Rowdies Communications (May 9, 2024). "Rowdies to Host MLS' FC Dallas in Open Cup Round of 16". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[12] Dallas • •, F. C. (May 23, 2024). "FC Dallas advances to quarterfinals of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with 2-1 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[13] "Rowdies push FC Dallas in U.S. Open Cup, lose 2-1". wtsp.com. May 23, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

[14] "FC Dallas defeats Tampa Bay Rowdies, advances to quarterfinals of U.S. Open Cup". Dallas News. May 23, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.

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