Lopez is a 28 year old midfielder who spent the last two seasons with Sacramento Republic. He made the USL Best XI in 2014 and the 2nd XI in 2o15. He has some brief MLS experience from a stint with Chivas USA from 2005-2007 after signing as an 18 year old. He also was on the Timbers' 2011 roster, but he never played. He had a previous stint in 2008-2009 for a couple of other Mexican clubs, and he's also played for four USL clubs (including the Timbers USL version from 2009-2010) and had three separate stints with the Ventura County Fusion in the PDL. http://www.am.com.mx/celaya/superdeportivo/se-adapta-rodrigo-lopez-al-celaya-fc-250730.html Rodrigo Lopez signs for second division Mexican club Celaya FC, says that he turned down offers from MLS to do so— Evan Ream (@EvanReam) December 28, 2015 Congrats to my bro on signing with @ClubCelaya ! Big things to come, love you broooo @Lopez_Roro pic.twitter.com/c2SwS4TumX— Alvaro Lopez (@alvaroolopezzz) December 28, 2015
From October (did not see this story when it ran): “I think we made him a very favorable offer that would have made him the highest-paid player in the USL,” Smith said, though he wouldn’t reveal dollar figures. “We bent over backwards to try to keep RoRo. But he kept saying, ‘I want to keep my options open. I need to play at a higher level.’” http://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article38557140.html#storylink=cpy
In the 2016 Apertura, Lopez played in 17 games (16 starts) for Celaya, scoring one goal. He also started four playoff games and two Copa MX games. He's now listed as unregistered by the Liga MX database, so he may be on the move.
Moves to Toluca. 😈⚽️ Rodrigo López se une a las filas de nuestros #DiablosRojos procedente de Celaya. #SiempreDiablos #SiempreRojos pic.twitter.com/1uLgcd2pAy— Toluca FC (@TolucaFC) June 8, 2017
And by the way, this is quite a story. Lopez is an '87, so he's getting his first real shot at the big time at age 30 -- he was on the Timbers' MLS roster in 2011, but didn't appear. His resume goes way back to Chivas USA and a bunch of YNT callups more than a decade ago. Kudos to the guy for seeing it all the way through to a Liga MX contract.
Started and played 74 minutes in last night's league opener: 74' Cambio de Toluca, sale Rodrigo López, entra Juan Delgadillo | @Chivas 0-0 @TolucaFC https://t.co/alrjj9gBzd pic.twitter.com/QmltxvO9Q7— La Afición (@laaficion) July 23, 2017
Last night was a dream come true. Thank you to all my friends and family who made it to game, and thank you to everyone for all the support! pic.twitter.com/VLIDCNWQQk— Rodrigo Lopez (@Lopez_Roro) July 23, 2017
Started in a friendly vs. Atletico Madrid which ended 0-0. 📝⚽️💯¡Nuestro once inicial para jugar esta noche el partido histórico de Centenario vs @Atleti!#PartidoCentenario pic.twitter.com/2P2jhy8jFf— Toluca FC (@TolucaFC) July 26, 2017
Starts in Copa MX with 4 Yanks starting for the opposition: 📝 | 🐠🆚😈¡Nuestro cuadro inicial para enfrentar a @Dorados en la @CopaCoronaMx🏆! Por el liderato general, Diablos Rojos.#SiempreDiablos pic.twitter.com/y0nTdrpFDl— Toluca FC (@TolucaFC) August 16, 2017
On the bench against Monterrey: http://www.espnfc.us/match?gameId=481939 #Toluca Suplentes: Pasquel, Delgadillo, Esquivel, López, Barrientos, Canelo, Abundiz #DiablosTwitteros— Hablemos del Toluca (@CafeDiablos) August 24, 2017
On the bench for Copa MX: En la banca: García, Salinas, Calvo, López, Esquivel, Goncalves y Uribe.#DiablosTwitteros— Diablos de Toluca (@DiablosdeToluca) August 31, 2017
A profile: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/rodr...journey-through-usl/z8r2qvnkjnxk1bj5j314biypv Lopez had great success in Sacramento but during his time there, he always wanted to return to MLS or Mexico. Nearing 30, however, he didn't think it would be a possibility. "At my age, I didn’t feel that being back in Mexico would be an option. But then Celaya happened and I set myself goals to play and be a constant starter, to get people talking about me," Lopez said. Lopez signed with Mexican second-division side Celaya in 2016, and he continued to impress. Still, when he started hearing rumblings about him drawing attention from Liga MX clubs, the 30-year-old was skeptical. "I got a call this last offseason saying there are a couple teams interested in Liga MX but I had heard that before and I was kind of trying to keep it out of my head," Lopez said. "The draft came and I got a call from Celaya saying, 'Hey there’s a chance you might go to Toluca, are you interested?' I didn't think about it twice."
Starts: 📝 | 🇳🇬🆚🇵🇪¡Esta es la alineación con la que saltaremos al terreno de juego esta tarde para enfrentar a @ClubSantos!#SiempreDiablos pic.twitter.com/1jpmVBVlDJ— Toluca FC (@TolucaFC) September 10, 2017 86' - Cambio de nuestros Diablos, sale Rodrigo Gómez entra Carlos Esquivel. #SomosRojos pic.twitter.com/FRcb7LbDLH— Toluca FC (@TolucaFC) September 11, 2017
Starts: 📝 | 🇦🇹🆚🇪🇪¡El once titular con el que enfrentaremos a @Club_Queretaro esta tarde en la Jornada 9 de la #LigaMX!#SiempreDiablos pic.twitter.com/GqrmW9OXcW— Toluca FC (@TolucaFC) September 17, 2017
Started & played the 1st half last night: #LigaMX #Toluca XI vs #Pumas García; Salinas, González, García, Velarde; Esquivel, López, Ríos, Gómez; Canelo, Uribe— La Quinta del Fútbol (@La5tadelfutbol) September 28, 2017
Started in Copa MX and left in the 56th. Toluca lost on PKs. #Toluca XI vs #Atlante García; Benítez, Perg, González, Velarde; Esquivel, López, Delgadillo, Mateus; Canelo, Vega #DiablosTwitteros— Hablemos del Toluca (@CafeDiablos) October 24, 2017