Wilfredo Rivera (footballer)

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Wilfredo Rivera
Personal information
Full name Wilfredo A. Rivera Cepeda
Date of birth (2003-10-14) October 14, 2003 (age 18)
Place of birth San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Winger / Forward
Club information
Current team
 Orlando City
Number 32
Youth career
2008–2010 Academia Quintana
2010–2017 Clay County Soccer Club
2017–2018 Jacksonville FC
2018–2020 Orlando City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Orlando City B 15 (3)
2021– Orlando City 0 (0)
National team‡
2018 United States U16
2019 Puerto Rico U17 3 (0)
2021– Puerto Rico U20 3 (1)
2021– Puerto Rico 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of March 22, 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of November 8, 2021

Wilfredo A. Rivera Cepeda (born October 14, 2003) is a Puerto Rican soccer player who currently plays for Orlando City in Major League Soccer and the Puerto Rico national football team.

Club career[]

Youth[]

Rivera grew up in the Quintana barrio of San Juan, Puerto Rico and began playing soccer for the Academia Quintana team.[1][2] His family emigrated to Florida, United States in 2010 and he joined Clay County Soccer Club.[3] After seven seasons at Clay County SC, Rivera moved to Jacksonville FC before joining the SIMA/Orlando City DA program at Montverde Academy.[4][5]

Orlando City[]

In March 2020, Rivera signed an academy contract with Orlando City B, Orlando City's USL League One affiliate.[6] He made his debut in the season opener on August 1, 2020, starting against South Georgia Tormenta[7] and scored his first goal for the club the following week in a 2–0 victory over New England Revolution II.[8] He started in all 15 games and finished the season as the team's top scorer with three goals.[9]

Having originally committed to playing college soccer for South Florida Bulls beginning fall 2021,[10] Rivera joined the Orlando City senior team's preseason camp ahead of the 2021 season and on March 22, 2021, signed a professional three-year homegrown contract. He became the club's ninth homegrown and second youngest player to sign a first-team contract after Tommy Redding in 2014.[9]

International[]

In September 2018, Rivera was called-up to the United States under-16 training camp.[3]

Rivera made his Puerto Rico under-17 debut in 2019 during 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship qualifying and later represented the team during the knockout stage, starting in a 2–1 loss to Mexico in the Round of 16.[11][12]

On January 19, 2021, he made his senior debut with Puerto Rico as an 80th-minute substitute in a friendly 1–0 win over Dominican Republic.[13][14]

Career statistics[]

As of October 24, 2020[15]

Club Season League Cup Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Orlando City B 2020 USL1 15 3 — — 15 3
Career total 15 3 0 0 0 0 15 3

References[]

  1. ^ Reynoso, Paulo. "Orlando City anuncia la firma de Wilfredo Rivera". Futbol Boricua (in Spanish).
  2. ^ "Futbolista boricua de 17 años firma en la MLS". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish).
  3. ^ a b "Congratulations Wilfredo Rivera for being called up to the U16 Youth National Team". United Soccer Alliance. September 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Wilfredo Rivera Called to the U17 Puerto Rico National Team". Sima Aguilas. April 18, 2019.
  5. ^ "Orlando City SC". ocsc.ussoccerda.com.
  6. ^ Poe, Julia (March 3, 2020). "Orlando City B announces roster for 2020 USL League One season". Pro Soccer USA.
  7. ^ "South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. Orlando City B - August 1, 2020". www.uslleagueone.com.
  8. ^ "New England Revolution II vs. Orlando City B - August 7, 2020". www.uslleagueone.com.
  9. ^ a b "Orlando City SC Signs Forward Wilfredo Rivera as Club's Ninth All-Time Homegrown". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  10. ^ "Orlando City sign homegrown forward Wilfredo Rivera to three-year contract". Orlando Soccer Journal. March 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "La Sub17 en busca de cambiar la historia" (in Spanish).
  12. ^ "2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship: Mexico v Puerto Rico". www.concacaf.com.
  13. ^ "Histórica victoria de Puerto Rico ante República Dominicana". Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol.
  14. ^ "Victoria para Puerto Rico en el "Clásico Caribeño"" (in Spanish).
  15. ^ "Wilfredo Rivera Soccerway profile". Soccerway.

External links[]


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