Players

2016 Stats: Eighteen appearances (all starts), playing 1,466 minutes ... Scored on 5/28 vs MNU and on 7/16 vs PRFC ... Two assists, for Tommy Heinemann on 4/16 vs FCE and for Neill Collins on 4/30 vs FTL ... Made Rowdies debut as a starter on 4/2 vs IND.

2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Two appearances (both starts), playing 159 minutes.

Eric Avila signed the Tampa Bay Rowdies on February 26, 2016.

Avila, 28, primarily plays as an attacking midfielder in the wide areas of the field, though he can also play centrally. He brings nine years of Major League Soccer experience to the Rowdies, having played nearly 10,000 minutes in MLS.

His professional career began when FC Dallas selected him as a Generation Adidas member in the second round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. After four seasons in Dallas, including helping the club reach the MLS Cup final in 2010, Avila was traded to Toronto FC in a deal that sent former Rowdies forward Maicon Santos in the other direction.

After two seasons in Toronto, Avila was acquired by Chivas USA, where he played until the franchise disbanded in 2014. Avila then signed with Santos Laguna last year and joined Orlando City on a season-long loan.

Born in San Diego, Avila represented the United States at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels.

2015: 21 appearances (15 starts) for Orlando City of Major League Soccer, including 3 U.S. Open Cup starts ... Only goal came in Orlando's 4-0 win over Los Angeles on 5/17.

2014: Twenty-nine appearances (26 starts) for Chivas USA in MLS, playing 2,169 minutes.

2013: Twenty-eight appearances (24 starts), playing 2,182 minutes for Chivas USA ... Scored on 3/31 vs the Vancouver Whitecaps, on 7/8 vs the Montreal Impact and on 9/22 vs Houston Dynamo ... One start for Chivas USA Reserves, playing 86 minutes.

2012: Twenty-four appearances (16 starts) for Toronto FC in MLS, playing 1,366 minutes ... Scored on 4/29 vs Real Salt Lake.

2011: Thirteen appearances (5 starts) for Dallas in MLS, playing 515 minutes ... Scored on 4/24 vs Whitecaps ... Nine appearances (8 starts) for Toronto FC ... Scored on 8/28 vs San Jose Earthquakes.

2010: Twenty appearances (1 start) for Dallas, playing 474 minutes ... Scored on 4/11 vs Columbus Crew and on 10/30 vs Real Salt Lake.

2009: 18 appearances (zero starts) for Dallas, playing 331 minutes ... Scored on 6/21 vs Columbus Crew.

2008: Fourteen appearances (3 starts) for Dallas, playing 508 minutes.