Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Leo Fernandes never expected to spend nine years of his life playing professional soccer in St. Petersburg. He also \u201cdidn\u2019t have a reason to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rowdies finished their 2025 season with a 1-1 draw Oct. 25 in front of a sold-out crowd at Al Lang Stadium, marking the end of an illustrious career for Fernandes. He will now retire as one of the club\u2019s most decorated players.<\/p>\n
Fernandes said there were \u201ca lot of mixed emotions\u201d before the final match of his 13-year career. He also pledged to \u201cput in the same amount of work\u201d as he embarks on a new role with the Rowdies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s the right decision \u2014 obviously, not an easy one,\u201d Fernandes told the Catalyst. \u201cFrom the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the fans for all their support. Since the day I got here in 2017, they\u2019ve been nothing but class to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandes was born in Brazil and grew up in North Babylon, New York. He left nearby Stonybrook University as the program\u2019s all-time leading scorer.<\/p>\n
Major League Soccer\u2019s (MLS) Philadelphia Union drafted Fernandes in 2013. He arrived in St. Petersburg four years later, \u201cright in the prime\u201d of his career.<\/p>\n
Fernandes planned to spend a season or two with the Rowdies before returning to MLS or playing in Europe. However, he found a home in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeil (Collins), the coach, really, really valued me,\u201d Fernandes said. \u201cI was just so happy playing here. And we were winning games, we were winning trophies. For me, it was an easy decision to stay all this time.<\/p>\n
Fernandes, 33, has made 196 appearances for Rowdies, ranking second in the club\u2019s Modern Era and fifth overall. He has also notched 46 goals and holds a modern era record with 37 assists.<\/p>\n
The Rowdies have won two USL Championship Eastern Conference trophies with Fernandes patrolling the midfield. They also claimed the league\u2019s Players\u2019 Shield, awarded to the team with the best record, in 2021.<\/p>\n
In 2022, Fernandes became the first Rowdies player to win the USL Championship Player of the Year award after recording a career-high 19 goals and nine assists for the league\u2019s top-scoring offense. \u201cThat year was just an unbelievable year, where everything just went right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything just felt good,\u201d Fernandes added. \u201cI was healthy all year. And the team was so good around me \u2014 we scored so many goals that season. I wanted to go out there and just have as much fun as I could. We fell short of our goal, we lost in the Eastern Conference Final, but if you take a step back and look at the overall season, it was one of \u2026 the best teams we\u2019ve had since I\u2019ve been here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandes ruptured his Achilles tendon during a preseason match in February 2023. He missed the entire season, began scouting for a youth national club, and coached his son\u2019s team.<\/p>\n
While the devastating injury and finding enjoyment outside of playing soccer served as a prologue for his retirement, Fernandes said returning to play in 2024 was one of his favorite moments as a Rowdie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just remember not taking a day off and really going so hard in the rehab process,\u201d he elaborated. \u201cAnd being so motivated to come back for the fans, for my family. I think coming back that year was just an amazing accomplishment. I can tell my family and my kids that anything is possible, you just have to put your head into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandes moved to St. Petersburg with his girlfriend, now wife. They got married on St. Pete Beach, had two sons and bought a home.<\/p>\n
The family is now \u201ctotally tied down to Tampa Bay.\u201d Fernandes noted that professional athletes are inherently nomadic, and he is \u201cvery lucky\u201d to remain with the Rowdies for nine years. \u201cI didn\u2019t take that for granted one bit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Fernandes is also \u201csuper grateful\u201d and excited that he is not \u201cpacking my bags to go somewhere else\u201d now that the sun has set on his playing career. Nagging injuries took their toll, and he was \u201cspending more time in a training room than on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowdies fans saw Fernandes come off the bench Oct. 25 to help the team push for a goal. They will still see him around Al Lang and Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n
Fernandes said he is unsure of his new title or job description, just that \u201cit\u2019s something that I\u2019m going to be super passionate about.\u201d He noted the abundance of global soccer talent and plans to \u201cbring as many good players as I can to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandes also looks forward to maintaining relationships with fans he now knows by name and talks to off the field. \u201cIt\u2019s been an unbelievable blessing, and I\u2019m super grateful for that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n