# 2024 Tampa Bay Rowdies season

The 2024 Tampa Bay Rowdies season was the club's fifteenth season of existence, their eighth in the United Soccer League, and sixth in the USL Championship. Including the previous Tampa Bay Rowdies, this is their 31st season of a franchise in the Tampa Bay metro area with the Rowdies moniker. Including the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny, this is the 36th season of professional soccer in the Tampa Bay region.
During the offseason, the Rowdies hired Scotsman Robbie Neilson in November 2023 as their new head coach, after former head coach Neill Collins left the club mid-season to manage Barnsley FC in the EFL League One.

## Club
### Roster

    As of July 22, 2024
| Squad No. | Name | Position(s) | Since | Date of Birth (Age) | Signed from | Goals Scored |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||
| 1 | Jordan Farr | GK | 2024 | (1994-10-05) October 5, 1994 (age 30) | San Antonio FC | 0 |
| 15 | Phil Breno | GK | 2022 | (1995-12-11) December 11, 1995 (age 29) | Permanent deal from Forward Madison FC | 0 |
| 99 | Taner Akin | GK | 2024 | (2006-09-30) September 30, 2006 (age 18) | Fatih Karagümrük S.K. | 0 |
| Defenders |||||||||
| 3 | Forrest Lasso | CB | 2023 | (1993-05-11) May 11, 1993 (age 31) | GIF Sundsvall | |
| 19 | Freddy Kleemann | CB | 2023 | (1999-03-19) March 19, 1999 (age 25) | Birmingham Legion FC | |
| 33 | Aarón Guillén | LB | 2020 | (1993-06-23) June 23, 1993 (age 31) | North Carolina FC | |
| 34 | Matheus De Jesus | CB | 2024 | (2005-12-16) December 16, 2005 (age 19) | Tampa Bay Rowdies U23 | |
| 42 | Zane Bubb | RB | 2024 | (2000-01-11) January 11, 2000 (age 24) | University of Central Florida Knights | |
| Midfielders |||||||||
| 4 | Lewis Hilton | CM | 2020 | (1993-10-22) October 22, 1993 (age 31) | Saint Louis FC | |
| 5 | Joey DeZart | CM | 2024 | (1998-06-09) June 9, 1998 (age 26) | Huntsville City FC | |
| 10 | Leo Fernandes | LM | 2017 | (1991-12-23) December 23, 1991 (age 33) | Philadelphia Union | |
| 11 | Blake Bodily | CM | 2024 | (1998-01-13) January 13, 1998 (age 26) | San Diego Loyal | |
| 17 | Daniel Crisostomo | CM | 2024 | (1997-01-16) January 16, 1997 (age 27) | Los Angeles FC 2 | |
| 18 | Nathan Worth | CM | 2024 | (2007-02-26) February 26, 2007 (age 17) | FC Tulsa | |
| 22 | Jordan Doherty | DM | 2023 | (2000-08-29) August 29, 2000 (age 24) | Bohemian | |
| 24 | Nick Skubis | WM | 2024 | (2005-07-20) July 20, 2005 (age 19) | Tampa Bay United SC | |
| 30 | Amari Fowlkes | DM | 2024 | (2005-05-30) May 30, 2005 (age 19) | Indiana Fire | |
| Forwards |||||||||
| 8 | Damian Rivera | CF | 2024 | (2002-12-08) December 8, 2002 (age 22) | On Loan from New England Revolution II | |
| 9 | Manuel Arteaga | CF | 2024 | (1994-06-17) June 17, 1994 (age 30) | Phoenix Rising FC | |
| 16 | Jake LaCava | CF | 2023 | (2001-01-12) January 12, 2001 (age 23) | Loan from Inter Miami | |
| 23 | Eddie Munjoma | LW | 2024 | (1998-07-18) July 18, 1998 (age 26) | Phoenix Rising FC | |
| 26 | Cal Jennings | CF | 2023 | (1997-05-17) May 17, 1997 (age 27) | Los Angeles FC | |
| 27 | Pacifique Niyongabire | RW | 2024 | (2000-03-15) March 15, 2000 (age 24) | Valour FC | |
| 98 | Joshua Pérez | RW | 2023 | (1998-01-21) January 21, 1998 (age 26) | Montevarchi | |

### Team management and staff

Front Office :
| Owner | Stuart Sternberg |
| Head of Soccer Operations | Nico Castillo |
| Vice President | Ryan Helfrick |
| Vice chairman | Matthew Silverman |
| Vice chairman | Brian Auld |
Coaching Staff :
| Head Coach | Robbie Neilson |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Stuart Dobson |
| Assistant Coach | Nicky Law |
| Assistant Coach | Russell Stirling |
| Performance Coach | Carlos Wheeler |

## Competitions
### USL Championship
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 4 | Indy Eleven | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 49 | 50 | −1 | 51 | Playoffs |
| 5 | Rhode Island FC | 34 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 56 | 41 | +15 | 51 | Playoffs |
| 6 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 55 | 46 | +9 | 50 | Playoffs |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 48 | Playoffs |
| 8 | North Carolina FC | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 54 | 43 | +11 | 48 | Playoffs |

#### Match results

On December 18, 2023, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all 24 teams.
All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

##### Playoffs
### U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL Championship, the Tampa Bay Rowdies entered the U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32, matched up against fellow USL Championship club Birmingham Legion FC at home. After winning 6–4 in added extra time after blowing a 4–0 lead, the Rowdies were matched up against Major League Soccer side FC Dallas, again at home, where they would eventually end up losing 2–1.