When the Tampa Bay Rowdies were in discussions with Robbie Neilson about becoming the club’s new Head Coach, there was a specific focus for the Scottish manager.

“The first question [he had] was, ‘what’s the youth setup like?’” Rowdies Head of Soccer Operations Nico Castillo told USLChampionship.com this week. “We’d always looked at different young players. We had, obviously, [USL Academy signing] Santi Castañeda last year, and Tate Johnson as well.

“But I think when Robbie mentioned to me that one of his main goals was to develop youth talent and create a real path from Academy to Pro here in Tampa Bay, I kind of looked at that and said, ‘Alright, if that’s the case, are you ready to commit and give these young kids playing time?’ Because we can sign as many Academy players or young pro players as we want, but if we don't give them minutes, then why are we doing it?”

Over their history, the Rowdies have relied on veterans to lead the way in the pursuit of silverware. Last season, when the side played its Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against Birmingham Legion FC, seven players in the starting lineup were 28 or older. The average age of the side was 27.6 years old.

Upon his arrival, Neilson’s goal was to lower that number. This season has seen that focus take hold.

“It’s the direction that we want to take the club,” said Neilson. “When I spoke to Nico and [Rowdies Vice Chairman] Brian [Auld] coming in, we just spoke about the potential of bringing the average age down, giving young guys from the area an opportunity, and try to develop a younger team that, one, performs on the pitch, but also has the potential to sell on and become an asset to the club.”

When it comes to playing time, both Worth and Ortiz have taken their opportunities. Worth has logged 10 appearances and 286 minutes since his arrival with the Rowdies, earning the trust of the coaching staff to deliver one of the goals of the season in Tampa Bay’s 4-2 victory against the Charleston Battery in July.

Ortiz has also been brought on for six substitute appearances, and the spotlight he’s received in Tampa Bay saw him be called up as the youngest player in the Dominican Republic’s squad for the recent Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championships. There, he started all three group stage games.

As he arrives, Mustali is likely to see action sooner rather than later. The 6-foot-4 forward was known to the Rowdies through his success at Tampa Bay United. When he joined the club for a training stint last month, the quality and potential he had on the field was evident to Neilson and the club’s staff. 

Neilson’s mindset when it came to offering young players opportunities was also a selling point for the club with Mustali and his family as it laid out what the Rowdies could offer him as a young professional.

“Probably the most important part when we spoke to his parents was we know that they live here, Endri grew up here, and we think we could give him a platform where they can be close to family,” said Castillo. “As a teenager growing up, that’s super important, so he has that safety net with the family.

“At the same time, showing them the training facility, showing them that Robbie is not afraid as a Head Coach to give these young players opportunities, I think that helped in persuading them to understand that maybe this was a great platform for them to ultimately take the next step.”

“It’s important for these young kids that they have to get game time. So, there are times when our older players aren’t playing as often as they maybe would expect to, but it’s a lot to do with one, yes, winning games, but also developing these young players.”

The Rowdies’ approach isn’t new to the USL Championship’s landscape. In recent years, clubs such as Louisville City FC and Orange County SC have taken a two-pronged approach, signing talented youngsters from their own academies and adding outside talent. Elsewhere, numerous clubs including Birmingham Legion FC have become a landing spot for young outside talent looking to make their mark in the professional game.

With the Rowdies’ combination of a strong veteran group, the willingness to find difference-makers such as Arteaga or Jordan Farr in the transfer market, and to bring in young, talented players that can become important pieces on the field, sustainable success appears to be the club’s future.

“When you're looking to develop a club, it takes a year, two years, three years at times, and you’re continually developing it,” said Neilson “The first process is to try and get the senior players secured, which is important for them and for us. Then we look to bring in some of the younger players, and then we try to bed the squad together.

“You’re always going to have a core group of senior players that can lead on the pitch, but it then gives you the opportunity to put some of the younger ones in certain games, certain scenarios, certain positions, and then develop them that way, because they will be the future of the club.”