Tony Rocha
FullnameAntonio Rocha
Birth date21 August 1993 (age 33)
Birth placeSpring, Texas, U.S.
Height1.75m
PositionMidfielder
Collegeyears 12011–2014
College 1Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Collegecaps 176
Collegegoals 17
Years 12012–2013
Clubs 1Austin Aztex
Caps 17
Goals 13
Years 22014
Clubs 2Tulsa Athletic
Caps 24
Goals 22
Years 32015
Clubs 3Austin Aztex
Caps 325
Goals 31
Years 42016
Clubs 4Orlando City B
Caps 419
Goals 41
Years 52016–2018
Clubs 5Orlando City
Caps 523
Goals 50
Years 62017
Clubs 6→ Orlando City B
Caps 614
Goals 60
Years 72018
Clubs 7→ Saint Louis FC (loan)
Caps 72
Goals 70
Years 82019–2021
Clubs 8New York City
Caps 833
Goals 81
Years 92022
Clubs 9Orange County SC
Caps 920
Goals 90
Nationalyears 12019–2022
Nationalteam 1Belize
Nationalcaps 14
Nationalgoals 10
Pcupdate14:43, 23 October 2022 (UTC)
Ntupdate03:14, 3 June 2022 (UTC)

Antonio Rocha (born 21 August 1993) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in the United States, he represented Belize at international level.

Early life

Rocha played college soccer at the University of Tulsa from 2011 to 2014. For the 2011 season, Rocha was named as the Conference USA Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year.[1] He was selected to the All-Conference USA Third-Team in 2011, 2012, and 2013.[1][2][3] In 2014, Rocha was a captain of the University of Tulsa men's soccer team and helped lead the team to a conference championship.[4] Rocha was named to the All-Tournament Team for the 2014 American Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament.[5]

Club career

Sporting Kansas City

Rocha was selected by Sporting Kansas City in the fourth round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.[6] They cut him prior to the start of the season.

Austin Aztex

On 9 March 2015, Rocha signed with Austin Aztex for the 2015 USL season.[7] This would be the team's final season before dissolving and Rocha was forced to find a new club.

Orlando City B

On 15 October 2015, Rocha became one of the first three players to sign with newly formed USL team Orlando City B along with Mikey Ambrose and Kyle Callan-McFadden.[8]

Orlando City

2016: Debut season

Rocha signed a short-term agreement with Orlando City on 15 June 2016 for a 2016 U.S. Open Cup match.[9]

On 3 August 2016, Orlando City acquired Rocha's MLS rights from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft[10] and he was signed to an MLS contract the day after.

2018: Loan to Saint Louis FC and departure

Rocha was loaned to Saint Louis FC on 6 April 2018.[11] He returned to Orlando a week later having played twice. At the end of the season the club announced they had not picked up his contract option.[12]

New York City FC

On 12 December 2018, Rocha had his rights acquired by New York City FC in exchange for a 2019 MLS SuperDraft fourth round pick.[13] Rocha scored his first and only goal for the club on 25 October 2020 in a 3–1 win over Montreal Impact.[14] Following the 2021 season, New York City opted to decline their contract option on Rocha.[15]

Orange County SC

On 18 February 2022, Rocha signed with USL Championship side Orange County SC.[16]

International career

Belize

2019: Debut and CONCACAF Nations League

In September 2019, Rocha was called into Belize for its CONCACAF Nations League matches against French Guiana and Grenada.[17] He made his international debut on 8 September 2019 in Belize's 2–1 loss to Grenada.[18]

2022: Return

On 2 June 2022, Rocha returned to Belize for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League. He would play in the first match of Group B against the Dominican Republic, in which would end in a 2–0 defeat. This was Rocha's final game for the team.[19]

Career statistics

Club

[20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueDomestic CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Austin Aztex2012[21]PDL7300––73
Tulsa Athletic2014NPSL42–––42
Austin Aztex2015USL25110––261
Total324100000334
Orlando City2016MLS8020––100
20173000––30
201812010––130
Total230300000260
Orlando City B2016USL191–––191
2017140–––140
Total331000000331
Saint Louis FC (loan)2018USL20–––20
New York City2019MLS17110–00181
2020110–1[a]01[b]0130
Total281101010311
Career total12285010101298
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

[22]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belize201930
202210
Total40

Honors

New York City FC

References

  1. ^ "Tony Rocha Named C-USA Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year – University of Tulsa". University of Tulsa
  2. ^ "Cristian Mata Named as C-USA Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year – University of Tulsa". University of Tulsa
  3. ^ "Five Tulsa Men's Soccer Players Named to All-Conference USA Teams – University of Tulsa". University of Tulsa
  4. ^ "Tony Rocha - Men's Soccer - University of Tulsa Athletics". Tulsa Hurricane
  5. ^ "Tulsa Men's Soccer Team Claims The American Championship on Penalty Kicks – University of Tulsa". University of Tulsa
  6. ^ "Tulsa's Tony Rocha Selected in MLS SuperDraft by Sporting KC – University of Tulsa". University of Tulsa
  7. ^ "Tony Rocha Returns To Austin Aztex – Austin Aztex". austinaztex.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Orlando City Announces Orlando City B, Signs Defenders Mikey Ambrose, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Midfielder Tony Rocha". October 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Orlando City SC Signs Tony Rocha to Short Term Agreement". June 15, 2016.
  10. ^ "Orlando City Acquires Rights to OCB Midfielder Tony Rocha From Sporting Kansas City". August 3, 2016.
  11. ^ "Orlando City SC Loans Tony Rocha to Saint Louis FC". April 6, 2018.
  12. ^ "Orlando City declines options for eight players after tough 2018 season | Pro Soccer USA". www.prosoccerusa.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  13. ^ "New York City FC Acquires Midfielder Tony Rocha | New York City FC"
  14. ^ "GOAL Tony Rocha, NYCFC - 86th minute". MLSsoccer.com. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  15. ^ FC, New York City. "New York City FC Announces Roster Moves For 2022". New York City FC
  16. ^ "Orange County Inks Veteran Midfielder Tony Rocha". 18 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Internationals - Seven Players Called Up in September". New York City FC. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  18. ^ "Game Detail". www.concacafnationsleague.com
  19. ^ "Lopez, Romero goals earn Dominican Republic win at Belize". Concacaf. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  20. ^
  21. ^ "Tony Rocha | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  22. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Tony Rocha". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  23. ^ "2021 MLS Cup". mlssoccer.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.