Growing up in Guatemala City, Rodrigo Saravia had two dreams: playing professional soccer in the United States and representing his country one day. Both dreams came true shortly after Columbus Crew SC selected the midfielder with the 19th overall pick in 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
A week into preseason with the Black & Gold, on February 4, Saravia signed his first professional contract. He was called up by Guatemala’s national team the following day and made his international debut in a friendly against Honduras on February 10, going the full 90 minutes.
The experience was quite the whirlwind, and the 23-year-old really hasn’t had much time to reflect on it.
“I haven’t had time to think about how everything is going,” he says. “Since the beginning I had in my mind that I wanted to play in MLS or at least sign a professional contract with an MLS team. So when I went to college here in the United States that was kind of my goal.”
Saravia signed with Florida Gulf Coast University and moved to the United States to pursue his dream in August 2012. Being away from his family has been difficult, but even with the distance his family has been a major support system.
“I talk to them every day,” Saravia says. “It is a long process, but they always help me with everything. I used to travel with my soccer academy and they helped me a lot with trying to get the money to fly out to the United States and play tournaments. They are really proud of me.”
Along with his family, Saravia’s coach at FGCU, Bob Butehorn, has been and continues to be a prominent figure in his life. Butehorn was there when Saravia was drafted by Crew SC and he flew out to Guatemala when the midfielder made his international debut.
“He has been more like a dad for me,” Saravia says. “He helped me to grow up and he always advised me soccer wise, with my life, what to do, what’s the best thing to do, when to do it. It’s great support.”
Under Butehorn’s leadership, Saravia played four seasons for Florida Gulf Coast University. He had 65 starts, scored two goals and delivered seven assists. In 2015, he was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and named First Team Atlantic Sun Conference for the second consecutive season. Saravia also lead FGCU to its fourth consecutive Atlantic Conference regular-season championship in 2014.
Now Saravia is a rookie in MLS and a member of Guatemala’s national team.
“I’m learning everyday as much as I can and it’s been awesome, it’s a great experience,” he says.
The midfielder just earned his third call-up by La Azul y Blanco for the upcoming two-game series against the United States in CONCACAF qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The first match will be held in Saravia’s hometown, Guatemala City, on March 25. The return leg will take place in his new home, Columbus, on March 29.
“It’s a goal I set when I was young. I wanted to represent my country at least once and play in front of your crowd, in front of Guatemalans,” Saravia says. “It’s a really good experience, and you get motivated with seeing the fans that want to just see you play well.”
During the contest on March 29, Saravia and Black & Gold teammate Ethan Finlay, who has been called up by the United States, could become just the fourth and fifth players to ever appear in a senior international match at MAPFRE Stadium while being rostered members of Crew SC.
The first three players to achieve that feat to date are Brian McBride (2001, 2003), Frankie Hejduk (2003, 2005, 2009) and Tony Sanneh (2004), all for the United States. Saravia would be the first international Crew SC player to play for his country at MAPFRE Stadium.
“I hope I get to play,” he says, “It’s going to be great, playing against the United States at MAPFRE Stadium, in this stadium, in my home.”
