SD Loyal SC join in on the frenzy, sign three first-team caliber players
SD Loyal
Just like the San Diego Padres, the Loyal are loading up for a playoff run.
The team announced Tuesday, Striker Rubio Ruben, defender Tarek Morad, and midfielder Alejandro Guido would join the Loyal on loan for the remainder of the 2020 season.
It is clear Manager Landon Donovan and the team are going all out to improve play on the field.
“We are always looking to add quality to our roster and Alejandro, Rubio and Tarek bring tremendous quality and experience to Team 1.”, said Landon Donovan, EVP of Soccer Operations and Club Manager. “We are confident that they will help our push to get into the playoffs.”
Last week, San Diego signed forward Miguel Berry to help with the lack of scoring. The Loyal has scored one goal in their previous five matches. The leading goalscorer for the Loyal is Francis Atuahene with two on the season.
The trio of players added to Team 1 all have professional value, which will be crucial for working their way back to first place in Group B of the USL Championship.
Rubio Ruben – Striker
Ruben is 24-years-old who last played for Dorados de Sinaloa for Liga MX. He has also appeared in seven matches for the US Men’s National Team.
A striker with @USMNT experience.
Welcome to San Diego, @RubioRubin!#SDLoyal pic.twitter.com/geL63m1E1m
— San Diego Loyal (@SanDiegoLoyal) September 1, 2020
Ruben attended the IMG Academy in Florida from 2011-12. He was then named the 2012 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year.
In 2014, around the age of 18, Ruben signed a four-year contract with FC Utrecht in The Eredivisie. He scored three goals in 41 appearances from 2014-17. The Eredivisie is the biggest soccer league in the Netherlands.
Ruben later signed with Club Tijuana in 2018 after playing in Denmark and then in the Norwegian League. The Oregon native scored only one goal in 15 appearances for the Xolos, before being assigned off loan to Dorados. In 34 appearances from 2019-20, Ruben scored five goals.
Tarek Morad – Defender
Morad last played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship in 2019.
Veteran USL Championship defender with a USL Cup Final win to his name.
Welcome to Team 1, @TarekMMorad.#SDLoyal pic.twitter.com/6YtlVsPJG2
— San Diego Loyal (@SanDiegoLoyal) September 1, 2020
The 28-year-old grew up in Chino Hills, California, and attended UC Irvine from 2011-14.
Morad would go un-drafted in the 2014 MLS Superdraft, but that would not stop his determination to play pro. He signed with OKC Energy FC in the United Soccer League, making 13 appearances.
He most notably played for Louisville City FC from 2015-17, where he won a USL Championship Cup. Since they were an expansion team at the time, he left the team in 2017 with the all-time record in appearances with 88 overall.
Morad is 6-foot-2 and can play defensive midfielder or center-back.
Alejandro Guido – Defensive Midfielder
Guido was born in Chula Vista, California and is also a former Tijuana Xolo.
¡Venga, Guido! 👊 ¡Bienvenido a la Frontera! ❤️🖤 https://t.co/BClfTidYje
— Xolos (@Xolos) September 1, 2020
Guido was a part of the United States U-17 National Soccer Team during the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The San Diego native then spent seven seasons for the Xolos, scoring two goals in a total of 56 appearances in Tijuana.
The 26-year-old is currently in the MLS for Los Angeles FC. He never made an appearance for LAFC but will begin his development in San Diego.
📝 #LAFC loans midfielder Alejandro Guido to @SanDiegoLoyal. https://t.co/BtZA22W2g3
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 1, 2020
Expect this trio of players to get a lot of minutes going forward, as the end of the season is approaching.
The next match for the Loyal is on the road Wednesday, Sept. 2nd, against Las Vegas Lights FC at 7:30 p.m.
All matches are streamed on ESPN+ and The CW San Diego.
Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris is also an athlete and is huge fan of San Diego sports. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and contributes regularly about the Padres.