Rodrigo Vargas (soccer, born 1978)

Rodrigo Vargas (soccer, born 1978)
Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas (born 20 October 1978) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a central defender for the Victorian State League Division 1 club Nunawading City FC, but is mostly known for his time at Melbourne Victory FC, Green Gully Cavaliers and at Melbourne Knights FC, where he was club captain.
Club career
Vargas began his career at the Victorian Premier League side, Springvale City, where he debuted at the age of 17 under Gus McLeod. After three seasons with Port Melbourne, at the age of 21, he was recruited by National Soccer League side Melbourne Knights FC. He had a very successful tenure at the club, playing in over 100 games in five seasons as well as being awarded the captaincy. When the National Soccer League came to an end in 2004, he moved to the Victorian Premier League side Green Gully in 2005, where he developed a reputation as a goal scoring defender from set pieces.
Vargas was drafted into Melbourne Victory FC in 2006 after a successful trial, and soon became a key member of the Victory back line. He was the subject in a controversy when he was allegedly called a "black monkey" by the Newcastle United Jets midfielder, Stuart Musialik. Vargas was a key member of the Melbourne Victory team in their first appearance in the Asian Champions League in 2008 against Chunnan Dragons at the Telstra Dome. Vargas capped off a great performance with a brilliant goal, the club's second ever in Asia and only the second by Vargas for Melbourne Victory. Vargas was also captain for Melbourne Victory in their pre-season Cup win over Wellington Phoenix on 6 August 2008. On 28 March 2012, it was announced that he had been released from Melbourne Victory after six seasons with the club.
Two days later, Green Gully Cavaliers announced that he would rejoin his brother Andy at their club. He played his first match for them the next day. On 23 February 2013, Rodrigo Vargas was charged by the FFV with entering the field of play without permission and directing violent conduct towards an opposing Bentleigh Greens player during a pre-season practice match between Green Gully and Bentleigh. At a tribunal hearing on 13 March 2013 he pleaded guilty and was banned from FFV football until 14 April 2013. Vargas helped Green Gully secure the 2013 Dockerty Cup.
After being released by Green Gully after the 2016 season, Vargas joined NPL Victoria 2 side Dandenong Thunder SC. After his brother Andy was sacked as coach of Thunder in June 2018, Vargas joined FC Bulleen Lions.
International career
Born in Australia, Vargas is of Chilean descent. He was included in the Australia national football team for the AFC World Cup qualification matches against Qatar and Iraq and an international friendly against Ghana, but did not play his first international game until January 2009 against Indonesia for an Asian Cup qualification match.
Honours
With Melbourne Victory FC:
A-League Championship: 2006-2007, 2008-2009
A-League Premiership: 2006-2007, 2008-2009
Personal honours:
Melbourne Victory FC Victory Medal: 2007-2008
References
External links
Melbourne Victory profile
Oz Football profile
1978 births
Living people
Soccer players from Melbourne
Australian people of Chilean descent
Sportspeople of Chilean descent
Springvale White Eagles FC players
Port Melbourne SC players
Melbourne Knights FC players
Melbourne Victory FC players
A-League Men players
Australia men's international soccer players
National Soccer League (Australia) players
National Premier Leagues players
Men's association football defenders
Australian men's soccer players