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Rowdies Bring Aboard Tinari for New Season

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 02/01/19, 3:44PM EST

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Former Red Bulls II standout joined by Florida native, Puerto Rico international Barry


New Tampa Bay Rowdies signing Andrew Tinari led the New York Red Bulls II to the Eastern Conference Final of the USL Cup Playoffs each of the past two seasons. | Photo courtesy Steve Kingsman / Freestyle Photography / Ottawa Fury FC

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Friday it had signed midfielder Andrew Tinari, a former standout for fellow USL Championship side the New York Red Bulls II, and defender Shawn Barry as it continues to prepare for the 2019 season.

Tinari has been a mainstay in the New York Red Bulls II starting lineup for the past two seasons, making 62 appearances for the club as it reached the Eastern Conference Final of the USL Cup Playoffs each of the past two seasons. He scored nine goals and had six assists in his time with the Red Bulls, and last season led the Championship with 110 key passes across the regular season and playoffs.

The 23-year-old played collegiately at Columbia University from 2013 to 2016. He is the second Lions alum on the Rowdies roster, joining defender David Najem, with whom he competed alongside for the Red Bulls II in the 2017 season.

“When I took this job last year, Andrew Tinari is a player I highlighted as the kind of player that we need to try and attract to the Rowdies,” Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. “We need young up-and-coming players like Andrew with huge potential to go on and have a fantastic career. He scores goals from midfield and creates them for others. We worked hard to get him and it’s a credit to the people behind the scenes that we were able to sign him.”

Barry returns to Florida after last season competing for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. A member of the Puerto Rico national team, Barry made four appearances for RSL in the regular season a year ago, and also made one appearance on loan with the Championship’s Real Monarchs SLC.

Barry’s return to the United States came after seven years in Europe. Barry made the leap from USL League Two in 2011, signing with Austrian top-flight side LASK Linz. Barry made 86 appearances for LASK Linz’s first team after moving up from LASK Linz Juniors and won the league title three times in five years.

“Shawn will come in as one of the most experienced members of the squad,” said Collins. “He played at a high level in Poland and Germany and then in MLS last year. I’m surprised we had the opportunity to bring Shawn to the club, but I’m really excited. He will fit into our system well and he’ll have a big role in our squad on and off the field. I’m excited to get to work with him and see what he can bring to us.”

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