Memo Rodríguez Bio
José Guillermo “Memo” Rodríguez (born December 27, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, he is known for his versatility, work rate, and ability to contribute goals and assists from midfield. Rodríguez began his professional career with the Houston Dynamo organization and has since represented several clubs across MLS and the USL Championship.
Born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in nearby El Campo, Rodríguez developed through the Houston Dynamo academy before breaking into the professional ranks in 2015. He has spent most of his career in Texas, with stints in California, before joining Sporting Kansas City.
Early Life and Background
Rodríguez was born in Wharton, Texas, and grew up in El Campo, a small community southwest of Houston. He is of Mexican descent, with his mother, Velia, originally from Zacatecas, Mexico. His father, Guillermo Sr., died in a car accident before Rodríguez was born. He was raised by his mother, stepfather, and three younger brothers, and the family instilled in him a strong work ethic from a young age.
His mother played a central role in his development as a player, driving him more than an hour each way for 12 years so he could train and play club soccer at a more competitive level in Houston. That commitment helped him access better coaching and competition than he could find in El Campo, and it laid the foundation for his move into the Houston Dynamo academy.
Path to Soccer
Rodríguez began his youth career with Houstonians FC, a youth soccer club in Houston, Texas. In 2011, at the age of 15, he joined the Houston Dynamo academy, where he spent the next several years training and competing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. He appeared in 83 Development Academy matches for the Dynamo, scoring 18 goals during that developmental stretch.
His progress was recognized by the club, as he was named the Dynamo Academy Players’ Player of the Year in both 2012 and 2013. He also trained with the Dynamo first team on multiple occasions during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, giving him valuable exposure to professional-level soccer before he signed his first contract.
Memo Rodríguez Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
On December 4, 2014, Rodríguez signed a homegrown contract with the Houston Dynamo, becoming the sixth homegrown player in club history. The following March, he was sent on loan to the Dynamo’s USL affiliate, the Charleston Battery, where he made his professional debut on March 21, 2015, in a 3–2 victory over Toronto FC II. He scored his first professional goal on April 18, 2015, in a 1–1 draw with New York Red Bulls II and finished the regular season with 17 appearances, 1 goal, and 1 assist as Charleston finished third in the USL Eastern Conference.
Released by the Dynamo ahead of the 2016 season, Rodríguez signed with the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, the Dynamo’s new USL affiliate. He enjoyed a strong campaign under head coach Wilmer Cabrera, recording 6 goals and 7 assists in 30 games to help RGVFC reach the USL Playoffs. He also made his first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup during this period.
Houston Dynamo Breakthrough (2017–2022)
Rodríguez re-signed with the Houston Dynamo on March 1, 2017, reuniting with Cabrera, who had become the Dynamo’s head coach. He made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017, as a substitute in a 2–0 win over the New England Revolution, and scored his first MLS goal on July 5, 2017, in a 3–1 victory over the Montreal Impact. He finished his first full MLS season with 9 appearances, 2 goals, and 1 assist, helping Houston return to the MLS playoffs for the first time since 2013.
In 2018, Rodríguez played every match of the Dynamo’s run to the U.S. Open Cup title, the first in club history, finishing with 3 goals and an assist in the competition. The 2019 season proved to be his breakout year, as he scored 7 goals and added 5 assists in 26 MLS appearances, earning Dynamo Young Player of the Year honors. His form was rewarded with a contract extension in October 2020, keeping him at the club through 2022, with options for 2023 and 2024.
New head coach Tab Ramos converted Rodríguez to a central midfielder in 2020, and he responded with 5 goals and 3 assists in 21 appearances during the COVID-19-shortened campaign. He remained a regular starter in 2021 and 2022, although Houston missed the playoffs in each of his final four seasons with the club. Following the 2022 season, the Dynamo declined the option on his contract.
LA Galaxy and Austin FC (2023)
On January 5, 2023, Rodríguez signed with the LA Galaxy as a free agent on a one-year deal with club options for 2024 and 2025. Later that year, on August 1, 2023, he was traded to Austin FC in exchange for Diego Fagúndez, with Austin signing him through the end of the 2023 season. On November 17, 2023, Austin FC announced it would not exercise its 2024 option on his contract.
Sporting Kansas City Era (2024–Present)
Rodríguez joined Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City in 2024, signing a contract that began that year. The move gave him a fresh start in a new conference and reunited him with an opportunity to compete for a regular starting role in central midfield. His combination of MLS experience and versatility has made him a useful squad piece for the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although “driving style” is more often used in motorsport, Rodríguez’s profile as a player centers on a high work rate, strong passing range, and the ability to play multiple midfield roles. Originally deployed as a winger, he was converted to a central midfielder in 2020, where he has contributed goals from distance and timely assists in the final third.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rodríguez was a key contributor to the Houston Dynamo’s 2018 U.S. Open Cup championship, the first in club history, appearing in every match of the tournament. He was named Dynamo Young Player of the Year in 2019, scored an MLS Goal of the Week winner in 2019, and has been named to the MLS Team of the Week on multiple occasions during his career.
Memo Rodríguez Career Wins
Rodríguez’s most notable team trophy is the 2018 U.S. Open Cup with the Houston Dynamo, a competition in which he featured in every match and contributed 3 goals and an assist. Across his career, he has helped both the Charleston Battery and Rio Grande Valley FC reach the USL Playoffs, and he has been a regular contributor in MLS since his 2017 debut.
Houston Dynamo Highlights
With the Houston Dynamo, Rodríguez played a central role in the club’s 2018 U.S. Open Cup triumph and was a consistent starter in MLS from 2017 through 2022. He scored 7 goals in 2019, was named the team’s Young Player of the Year, and finished the 2020 season with 5 goals and 3 assists during a campaign shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of Houston, Rodríguez helped Rio Grande Valley FC reach the 2016 USL Playoffs with 6 goals and 7 assists in 30 regular-season matches, and he contributed to the Charleston Battery’s strong 2015 USL regular season. At LA Galaxy and Austin FC in 2023, he provided experienced depth in midfield before joining Sporting Kansas City.
Memo Rodríguez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rodríguez is of Mexican descent and grew up in a close-knit household led by his mother, Velia, originally from Zacatecas, Mexico. His father, Guillermo Sr., died in a car accident before Rodríguez was born. His mother’s long daily drives from El Campo to Houston for 12 years were foundational to his development as a professional player.
Personal Life
Rodríguez grew up in El Campo, Texas, with his mother, stepfather, and three younger brothers. He is eligible to represent either the United States or Mexico at the international level and has publicly expressed a willingness to play for either nation, though he has not yet been called up to a senior national team.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Rodríguez is in his second season with Sporting Kansas City after joining the club in 2024. The 2025 campaign offers him an opportunity to consolidate a regular role in central midfield and build on his MLS experience, which now spans the Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, Austin FC, and Sporting KC.
Throughout his career, Rodríguez has been valued for his durability and ability to contribute in both attacking and central midfield roles. His track record of scoring timely goals and providing assists, combined with his familiarity with multiple systems, makes him a dependable option for Sporting Kansas City as the club shapes its roster for the 2025 season.
With another full offseason of work behind him, Rodríguez will look to add to his verified totals in MLS appearances, goals, and assists while helping Sporting Kansas City compete in the Western Conference. His consistency and professionalism continue to define a career that began as a homegrown signing in Houston more than a decade ago.