The first-ever Homegrown Player in New England Revolution history and a 10-year MLS veteran despite having just turned 25 years old, Diego Fagundez is a fascinating character.
Here are five fast facts about the kid from Leominster.
1. Youngest in MLS History to …
Fagundez’s name is littered throughout both the Revs and MLS record books, primarily as the youngest player to reach several different milestones.
He’s the youngest player in Revolution history to sign with the team (15 years old), play in a game, start a game, score a goal, record an assist (all done at 16 years old), and score two goals in a game (19 years old).
Meanwhile, he’s the youngest player in MLS history to score 50 career regular-season goals (23 years, 254 days) and make 200 career regular-season appearances. Last season he also became the first Homegrown Player in MLS history to play 15,000 minutes.
2. Diego’s Dog Pack
Describing himself as a soccer player in the morning and a farmer in the afternoon, Fagundez runs a veritable zoo at his home, highlighted by seven dogs: Champ, Bella, Luna, Mia, Roxy, Nala, and Tito.
Fagundez also has several other animals, including rabbits, turtles, iguanas, fish … and chickens, which provide the Revolution midfielder with fresh eggs every morning.
3. Representing La Celeste
Although he did spend time with both the United States Under-14 and Under-15 teams, Fagundez is tied to Uruguay on the international stage, having appeared for La Celeste at the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship, where he made four appearances (two starts).
Fagundez was born in Uruguay and moved to the United States with his family at the age of five.
4. A Famous Namesake
Fagundez is named after his godfather, Diego Dorta, who played professionally for clubs in both Uruguay and Argentina, and who was a midfielder on the Uruguay side that won the 1995 Copa America.
Dorta, who made 23 appearances for Uruguay between 1990 and 1996, was once a teammate of Diego’s father, Washington, who was a goalkeeper with Central Espanol.
5. Fagundez the Fisherman
Often asked what career path he’d have chosen if he wasn’t a professional soccer player, Fagundez always says he’d have been a fisherman. From deep sea fishing with former teammate Lee Nguyen to casually casting a line on a local lake, Fagundez can typically be found on a boat.
And when he’s not fishing, Fagundez enjoys several other outdoor activities, from hunting to off-roading.
