ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Wednesday the club had re-signed Leo Fernandes to a one-year deal. Fernandes is close to hitting the 100-game mark, joining team captain Sebastián Guenzatti as the next hopeful members of the Rowdies 100-games club. 

“Our longest-serving player is on the cusp of 100 appearances for the Rowdies, and we are delighted to announce that Leo will return again for 2021,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “Leo has been one of our most consistent performers in my tenure as a coach and an absolute joy to watch.

I think Leo’s performance in Louisville in the Eastern Conference Final was one of the best I have seen from anyone in a Rowdies jersey. When Leo plays like that, there are few people that can stop him. We want to be an exciting team to watch and Leo typifies that.”

In his career with the Rowdies, the 28-year-old Fernandes has appeared in 89 games with a total of 12 goals and 17 assists. In 2020 alone, he had five goals and three assists.

“I’m very excited to be back for the 2021 season with the Rowdies,” Fernandes said. “Tampa Bay has been my home for the past five seasons, and I’m ready to finish what we started last year.”

Prior to joining the Rowdies, Fernandes was selected in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Philadelphia Union and spent four seasons with the club. During that time, Fernandes competed on loan for both the Harrisburg City Islanders and the Philadelphia Union II in the Championship, and has made 101 regular-season appearances while recording 13 goals and 16 assists in the league all-time.

Fernandes had previously competed collegiately at Stony Brook University, where in 2019 he was inducted into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame. A three-time America East Midfielder of the Year and All-Conference First Team selection for the Seawolves, Fernandes also competed in USL League One for the Brooklyn Knights and Reading United AC.