Da Costa Holds Club Records in Goals, Assists, Starts, Minutes Played
TULSA – FC Tulsa’s 2021 club-voted Most Valuable Player is back to continue his record-breaking career in Tulsa next season. Forward Rodrigo da Costa has been re-signed by FC Tulsa to its 2022 roster, pending league and federation approval.
Da Costa is coming off a 2021 season that saw the Tulsa playmaker lead the club in goals (11), assists (6), and chances created (43). He also started all 33 of the club’s matches in 2021, amassing 2,833 minutes, a tally good for the third-most minutes played in a single season in club history.
Only eight players in the USL Championship scored 10+ goals and registered at least five assists in 2021, and da Costa was one of them, while being on the club’s leadership team as the Vice Captain. He also holds the distinction as the most recent player in franchise history to make an All-League Team (Second, 2019).
“Rodrigo has been a major focal point of the attack since 2019,” said head coach Michael Nsien. “My expectation of Rodrigo will only go up heading into season four of working together. The work that Rodrigo puts in every day gives me the belief that his qualities will only continue to increase year in and year out.”
The Brazilian is certainly on the Mt. Rushmore of Tulsa’s professional soccer history. Da Costa is tied for the franchise lead in goals with Joaquín Rivas with 24 scored. His 21 assists are not only the most in club history as well, but the mark is 11 more than the second-best total. Last season, da Costa became the only player to reach the 20/20 Club as a member of FC Tulsa. He also leads the club all-time in both starts (80) and minutes (6,966).
“Returning to Tulsa for the fourth year means a lot to me and my family,” said da Costa. “I believe that as a club, we’ve set an even higher standard this season, and I couldn’t be more excited to get back to work. This year is our year to go even further!”
Da Costa is the second forward announced to FC Tulsa’s 2022 roster as the club gears up for its season opener on March 12 in Charleston, followed by its 2022 home opener on Saturday, March 19 at ONEOK Field.
2022 FC Tulsa Roster
Keepers: Sean Lewis, Austin Wormell
Defenders: Bradley Bourgeois, Jorge Corrales, Johnny Fenwick
Midfielders: Eric Bird, Kembo Kibato, Lebo Moloto, Ciaran Winters
Forwards: Darío Suárez, Rodrigo da Costa
