Playing for Melbourne Victory against Gamba Osaka in April 2008.
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Rodrigo Alejandro Vargas | ||
Date of birth | 20 October 1978 | ||
Place of birth | Melbourne, Australia | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Centre back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
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Dandenong Thunder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996 | Springvale City | 17 | (0) |
1997–1999 | Port Melbourne Sharks | 67 | (1) |
1999–2004 | Melbourne Knights | 127 | (4) |
2004–2006 | Green Gully Cavaliers | 60 | (9) |
2006–2012 | Melbourne Victory | 139 | (6) |
2012–2016 | Green Gully Cavaliers | 111 | (7) |
2017– | Dandenong Thunder | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2009 | Australia | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 September 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 August 2009 |
Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas (born 20 October 1978) is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays as a central defender for the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 club Dandenong Thunder SC, but is mostly known for his time at Melbourne Victory, Green Gully Cavaliers and at Melbourne Knights, where he was club captain.
Vargas started his career at the Victorian Premier League side, Springvale City, where he debuted at the age of 17 under Gus McLeod. After three seasons with Port Melbourne, at the age of 21, he was recruited by National Soccer League side Melbourne Knights. He had a very successful tenure at the club, playing in over 100 games in five seasons as well as being awarded the captaincy. When the National Soccer League came to an end in 2004, he moved to the Victorian Premier League side Green Gully in 2005, where he developed a reputation as a goal scoring defender from set pieces.
Vargas was drafted into the Melbourne Victory squad in 2006 after a successful trial, and soon became a key member of the Victory back line. He was involved in a controversy when he was allegedly called a "black monkey" by the Newcastle United Jets midfielder, Stuart Musialik. Vargas was a key member of the Melbourne Victory team in their first appearance in the Asian Champions League in 2008 against Chunnan Dragons at the Telstra Dome. Vargas capped off a great performance with a brilliant goal, the club's second ever in Asia and only the second by Vargas for Melbourne Victory. Vargas was also captain for Melbourne Victory in their pre-season Cup win over Wellington Phoenix on 6 August 2008. On 28 March 2012, it was announced that he had been released from Melbourne Victory after six seasons with the club.