November 10, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Rowdies attacking midfielder Leo Fernandes was on Thursday named the 2022 USL Championship Most Valuable Player, capping a career season for the Rowdies veteran that saw him lead the league in combined goals and assists while proving an attacking catalyst for the perennial title contenders as they led the league in goals scored during the 2022 campaign.
Fernandes is the first Rowdies player to earn the Championship’s MVP honor and is the third player in team history to earn USL Championship honors overall following former defender Forrest Lasso (Defender of the Year – 2020, 2021) and goalkeeper Evan Louro (Goalkeeper of the Year, 2021).
Entering his sixth campaign for Tampa Bay, Fernandes became the centerpiece for the Rowdies’ attack over the course of this year. The 30-year-old’s 19 goals more than tripled his previous best season in the league of six in 2021, while his nine assists were one shy of his single-season best in 2019. Fernandes set career highs in games played (32), games started (29) and minutes played (2,515) while leading the Championship in combined goals and assists with 28.
“It means a lot to win this award,” said Fernandes. “It’s really a great achievement for me, but it’s something that wouldn’t be possible without my family, my wife, my teammates, and obviously [Rowdies] Coach Neill [Collins]. It’s really been an unbelievable season, and I owe it all to them for how they’ve helped me get here.”
Fernandes is currently the Rowdies’ longest-tenured player, having joined the club prior to the 2017 season. In that time, he has recorded 150 appearances for the team across the Championship’s regular season and playoffs and posted 41 goals and 30 assists. He is one of only three players to reach those landmarks for a single team in the league’s history, with Solomon Asante and Enzo Martinez accomplishing the marks for Phoenix Rising FC and the Charlotte Independence, respectively.
A catalyst for the club’s success in claiming two Eastern Conference titles while advancing to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals in the past three seasons, the manner in which he has been embraced by Rowdies fans is something he greatly appreciates.
“It’s such an honor to represent the Rowdies and it’s an honor every time I get to put that jersey on,” said Fernandes. “I’m so grateful to have been here as long as I have, and I definitely don’t take it for…