Darwin Espinal

Last updated

Darwin Espinal
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Richmond Kickers
Youth career
Plantation FC
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013–2014 Darton Cavaliers 35 (52)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2015–2016 Tampa Bay Rowdies 25 (4)
2016 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 2 (1)
2017 South Florida Surf 2 (0)
2017–2018 Reno 1868 13 (2)
2018–2019 New York Cosmos B 16 (9)
2020 New York Cosmos 5 (0)
2020 → Oakland Roots (loan) 0 (0)
2020 → Detroit City (loan) 0 (0)
2021 Detroit City 19 (2)
2022–2024 Maryland Bobcats 60 (34)
2025– Richmond Kickers 0 (0)
International career‡
2015 Honduras U23 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 25, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 December 2015

Darwin Espinal (born 16 January 1995) is a Honduran professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Richmond Kickers in USL League One.

Contents

Career

College and Youth

Espinal was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, though his family moved Washington DC, Espinal and family later moved to Broward County, Florida where he played high school soccer for J. P. Taravella High School. While at Taravella, Espinal was named the 2012–2013 Florida Class 5A-4A Player of the Year. Espinal also enjoyed success at the club level in Broward, playing for Plantation FC. Espinal led Plantation to the Florida State Cup Championship and a spot in the Region III Championship, where he was named tournament MVP.

Coming out of high school, Espinal had an offer to join the Chicago Fire SC Academy, but he opted to go to college at Albany, Georgia's Darton State College. In his freshman season as a Darton Cavalier, Espinal scored 23 goals and notched 10 assists in just 16 games. During his 2014 sophomore season, Espinal continued his impressive form, scoring 29 goals with 19 assists in 19 games. He was a 1st Team NJCAA All-American both years and helped the Cavaliers win the Region 17 Championship in 2014. His 52 goals and 81 points were both good for school records.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

On 23 December 2014 it was announced that Espinal had signed his first professional contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. [1] During the Rowdies preseason tour of Portugal ahead of their 2015 campaign, Espinal scored goals against the 'B' teams of S.L. Benfica [2] and Sporting CP. [3]

Espinal's strong preseason performance earned him a spot in Coach Thomas Rongen's starting eleven for the Rowdies first match of the 2015 season against the San Antonio Scorpions. Espinal cashed in on the opportunity, scoring a goal in first half stoppage time off an assist by Darnell King. [4]

South Florida Surf

In 2017, Espinal signed on to play with the South Florida Surf of the Premier Development League. For three weeks, Espinal was listed as the PDL's top prospect.

Reno 1868 FC

On June 21, 2017, it was announced that Espinal had signed with Reno 1868 FC of the USL in a one-year deal. [5] He scored his first goal for the team on July 3 in its historic 9–0 rout of LA Galaxy II; Espinal's 88th-minute strike, Reno's ninth of the game, set the league record for largest margin of victory. [6] He was one of five Reno players called up by the San Jose Earthquakes, Reno's Major League Soccer affiliate, to play in its July 14 friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt, and made his first appearance for the club off the bench during the 4–1 victory in the 33rd minute for Danny Hoesen. [7]

New York Cosmos

In April 2018, Espinal joined New York Cosmos B in the National Premier Soccer League. [8] In February 2020, Espinal signed with the New York Cosmos first team as they came out of hiatus to compete in the National Independent Soccer Association. He was initially sent on loan to the Oakland Roots for the Spring season of NISA. [9] In the beginning of March, Espinal's loan was transferred to Detroit City FC, though he was recalled to the Cosmos before appearing for Detroit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [10]

Detroit City FC

In May 2021, Espinal signed with Detroit City FC on a permanent basis. [10]

Maryland Bobcats FC

On January 26, 2022, NISA side Maryland Bobcats announced that they had signed Espinal. [11] Espinal proved to be a prolific goalscorer for the Bobcats, winning the league Golden Ball Award for most valuable player in 2023, [12] Golden Boot Award for top goalscorer in 2024. [13] Espinal ended his tenure in NISA as the league's all-time leading scorer.

Richmond Kickers

In January 2025, Espinal joined the Richmond Kickers of USL League One. [14]

International career

Espinal was called up to represent Honduras for the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in the United States.

Personal life

Darwin's younger brother, Isaac is also a professional footballer, and currently plays for Loudoun United FC in USL Championship.

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References

  1. ↑ "Attacking Prospect Darwin Espinal Signs with Rowdies". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Rowdies Beat Benfica U-20 3-1 in Second Match of Portugal Tour". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Espinal and Boggs Score in 3-2 Loss to Sporting Lisbon B". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Rowdies Open Season With 3-1 Win Over Defending Champions San Antonio Scorpions". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Amato, Aldo (21 June 2017). "Reno 1868 FC Signs Dynamic Midfielder Darwin Espinal". Reno1868FC.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Reno Sets Record in Rout of Galaxy II". USL Soccer. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "RECAP: Earthquakes Defeat Bundesliga's Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1". San Jose Earthquakes. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  8. ↑ Chiara, Michael. "Cosmos B sign Rafa Garcia, Darwin Espinal". TwiceACosmo.com. Twice A Cosmo. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Darwin Espinal Signs with the Cosmos". NYCosmos.com. New York Cosmos . Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Darwin Espinal joins Detroit City FC". TheMajors.net. The Majors Detroit. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Darwin Espinal signs for 2022". Twitter.com. Maryland Bobcats . Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "NISA Honors 2023 Annual Award Recipients". NISASoccer.com. National Independent Soccer Association . Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Media Alert: Maryland's Espinal Takes 2024 Golden Boot, Los Angeles' Torman Earns 2024 Golden Glove". NISAOfficial.com. National Independent Soccer Association . Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "Richmond Kickers sign Honduran goalscorer Darwin Espinal". USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One . Retrieved 25 January 2025.
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