Kevin Rodríguez (footballer, born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin José Rodríguez Cortez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 March 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Ibarra, Ecuador | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Union SG | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2013–2017 | Imbabura | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2022 | Imbabura | 67 | (25) |
| 2023 | Independiente del Valle | 16 | (4) |
| 2023– | Union Saint-Gilloise | 62 | (12) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Ecuador | 28 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2026 | |||
Kevin José Rodríguez Cortez (born 4 March 2000) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and the Ecuador national team.[2]
Imbabura
Born in Ibarra, Rodríguez joined hometown side Imbabura at the age of 13. He progressed through the youth setup until making his first team debut in 2017, featuring in two matches as his club was relegated from the Serie B.
Rodríguez started to feature more regularly in 2018, scoring seven times in the national stage of the Segunda Categoria. After scoring 11 goals overall during the 2019 season, he only scored once in five matches in 2020. In 2021, he only scored twice as his side returned to the second level.
Rodríguez became a regular starter for Imbabura in the 2022 Serie B, scoring ten times as his side finished fifth.[3] In the 2022 Copa Ecuador, he notably scored the winner to knock out LDU Quito in the round of 16.[4]
Independiente del Valle
On 2 December 2022, Independiente del Valle announced the signing of Rodríguez.[5]
Union Saint-Gilloise
On 1 September 2023, Belgian Pro League club Union Saint-Gilloise announced the signing of Rodríguez on a four-year deal, with an option for an additional year.[6] Rodríguez made his debut as a substitute in Union's opening UEFA Europa League group game against Toulouse on 21 September 2023, which Union drew 1–1.[7] Later that year, on 12 November, he scored his first goals by netting a brace in a 3–0 win over Kortrijk.[8]
International career
Rodríguez was called up to the Ecuador national team for the first time in November 2022, as part of a preparation match against Iraq ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup later that month.[9] He made his debut in the match, which finished as a 0–0 draw, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute for José Cifuentes.[10] Two days later, he was included by coach Gustavo Alfaro in Ecuador's squad for the World Cup.[11]
On 12 October 2023, Rodríguez scored his first international goal – a 96th minute winner against Bolivia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.[12]
Rodríguez was named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[13] He was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América.[14]
