Zac Portillos Explained

Zac Portillos
Fullname:Zachary Portillos
Birth Date:19 January 1992
Birth Place:Aurora, Colorado, United States
Position:Defender
Youthyears1:2008–2010
Youthclubs1:Real Colorado
Collegeyears1:2010
College1:Washington Huskies
Collegecaps1:17
Collegegoals1:2
Collegeyears2:2011–2013
College2:Akron Zips
Collegecaps2:40
Collegegoals2:3
Years1:2013
Clubs1:Des Moines Menace
Caps1:8
Goals1:1
Years2:2015–2018
Clubs2:Tampa Bay Rowdies
Caps2:41
Goals2:1
Club-Update:20:28, 15 October 2018 (UTC)

Zachary Portillos (born 19 January 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender.

Career

College and Youth

Portillos was born in Aurora, Colorado, where he enjoyed a highly decorated high school career with Grandview High School. Portillos earned All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American honors his sophomore year; he was a first-team All-State selection his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons; he was named team captain during his junior and senior years, and was the 2008 Colorado State Player of the Year. While in Aurora, Portillos played his club ball in the Real Colorado system.

After high school, Portillos started school at the University of Washington, where he was named team Rookie of the Year for 2010. Portillos transferred to powerhouse University of Akron for his sophomore season and became a mainstay for the Zips for three years.[1] While in Akron, Portillos worked alongside current Rowdies goalkeepers coach Stuart Dobson.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

On 23 February 2015 it was announced that Portillos had signed his first professional contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League.[2] Portillos first arrived in Tampa Bay for the Rowdies' Jan. 30-Feb. 1 invite-only combine, where he impressed Thomas Rongen's coaching staff and joined the team as a trialist. Portillos' first start with the Rowdies came against Swedish Allsvenskan champions Malmö FF, and his first goal was the only one in a 1–0 victory over Portuguese side C.D. Fátima during a preseason tour of Portugal.[3]

Portillos' preseason performance persuaded Head Coach Thomas Rongen to include him in the starting eleven for the Rowdies regular season opener against the defending Soccer Bowl champion San Antonio Scorpions. Portillos played all 90 minutes as part of a staunch Rowdies backline that stifled the Scorpions attack en route to a 3–1 win.[4]

On April 15, Portillos suffered a season-ending injury during training, rupturing his right Achilles tendon.[5] Portillos signed a contract extension with the Rowdies to keep him on the team for the 2016 season on December 22, 2015.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Akron Zips bio. Akron Zips. 7 April 2015.
  2. Web site: Rowdies Add Four Young Prospects to 2015 Roster. Tampa Bay Rowdies. 7 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Rowdies Top CD Fátima 1-0 on Late Portillos Goal. Tampa Bay Rowdies. 7 April 2015.
  4. Web site: Rowdies Open Season With 3-1 Win Over Defending Champions San Antonio Scorpions. Tampa Bay Rowdies. 6 April 2015.
  5. Web site: Portillos injury. 16 April 2015.
  6. Web site: Tampa Bay Rowdies Sign Zac Portillos to New Contract. 22 December 2015.