**On season-long loan.
PRONUNCIATION
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2017 (Columbus): Saravia did not make an appearance for Crew SC this season. He was on loan with Swedish side IK Frej for the 2017 MLS regular season, making nine appearances (two starts) and scoring one goal. Saravaia made subsitute appearances in a road contest against Syrianska (June 17), a home match against GAIS (June 25) and a home match against Dalkurd (July 23) and made his first start of the season in a road match against Dalkurd (August 9). He made a subsitute appearance in a home match against Helsingborg (August 14). Saravia made a substitute appearance in a road match against Orgryte (August 18) and scored his first professional career goal in the second minute of stoppage time. He started in a home match against GAIS (September 19), made a substitute appearance in a home match against Degerfors (September 23) and made a substitute appearance in a home match against Gefle IF (October 21). Saravia did not make an appearance in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
2016 (Columbus): Saravia made 10 appearances (one start) in his rookie season with Crew SC, with eight coming at central midfield and two at centerback. He received a senior call-up from the Guatemala National Team on March 17 and earned his second and third caps by making appearances against the United States in FIFA World Cup qualification matches both in Guatemala (March 25) and at MAPFRE Stadium (March 29). He made his club and League debut with a substitute appearance against New York City FC (April 16) and made his second consecutive substitute appearance against Houston (April 23). He made his professional debut at centerback, playing 55 minutes in a substitute appearance at Toronto (May 21). Saravia recorded his first Crew SC start against Real Salt Lake (May 28) as he played 90 minutes at centerback. He earned a call-up to join Guatemala ahead of an international friendly against Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (June 1), where he started and earned his fourth cap. He was loaned to Pittsburgh on a game-by-game basis and started for the Riverhounds at FC Montreal (August 10). He came on a substitute for Columbus to help close-out a 2-0 win over New England (August 20). He earned a call-up by Guatemala ahead of two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad & Tobago (September 2) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (September 6), earning his fifth and sixth caps with starts in each contest. He made two appearances in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He started at central midfield against Tampa Bay (June 15) and played 90 minutes and again started and played 90 minutes in the Round of 16 at Chicago (June 28).
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
A midfielder, Saravia played four seasons at Florida Gulf Coast, making 67 appearances (65 starts) with two goals and seven assists. In 2015, Saravia was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year as well as being named First Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference for the second consecutive season. He helped FGCU win its fourth consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season championship in 2014.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
As of September 2, 2016
Saravia has earned six caps for Guatemala. Born and raised in Guatemala City, Saravia was called-up to the senior Guatemala National Team for the first time on July 1, 2015 for a camp. He earned a second call-up on February 5, 2016, one day after officially signing with Crew SC. He earned his first cap with a start in an international friendly against Honduras on February 10, 2016.
The midfielder was again called up by Guatemala in March 2016 ahead of two FIFA World Cup qualification matches against the United States. He started and played the full 90 minutes in the first contest on March 25 in Guatemala City, earning his second cap. He earned his third cap by again starting and playing the full match on March 29 on his home club field at MAPFRE Stadium, becoming the fourth player to ever appear in an international match at America's first soccer-specific stadium while a member of Crew SC's active roster.
Saravia was again called-up by Guatemala prior to a friendly against Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he started and made his fourth appearance for the team, playing 90 minutes (June 1). Later in 2016, he was again called-up by Guatemala as part of its qualification efforts for the 2018 FIFA World Cup ahead of two matches against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain (September 2) and against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Guatemala City (September 6). He earned his fifth and six caps following starts in both contests, playing each match in its entirety.
Prior to his senior team experience, Saravia was also called-up by the Guatemala Under-23 and Under-20 national teams.
Selected by Columbus Crew SC in the First Round (19th overall) of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on January 14, 2016. He signed with the Black & Gold on February 4, 2016 and will occupy an international roster spot.
Name: Rodrigo Saravia (suh-RAH-vee-ah)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 170
Born: February 22, 1993 in Guatemala City, Guatemala
Hometown: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Citizenship: Guatemala
Acquired: Selected by Columbus Crew SC in the First Round (19th overall) of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on January 14, 2016. He signed with the Black & Gold on February 4, 2016 and will occupy an international roster spot.
Previous Experience: Florida Gulf Coast University (2012-2015)
PERSONAL
Saravia is the son of Jaime and Claudia. He has a sister, Maria. He is a fan of FC Barcelona's Sergio Busquets and likes to play tennis, ping pong and the FIFA series of video games. Saravia enjoys reading motivational books, particularly ones by Tim Robbins. Lasagna is his favorite food and he likes both Spanish and electronic music. He majored in business management at Florida Gulf Coast and if he weren't a soccer player, he would like to run a sports agency or academy. He speaks fluent Spanish and English.
