The rest, as they say, is history.
For James, it was exactly the traits that Rodriguez had been quietly displaying that made him an asset. “Maxi’s desire to want to do well [is one of his greatest attributes],” the coach said. “He’s put a lot of pressure on himself to do well, and in doing so his desire makes him do everything else well.”
“I remember telling myself to just enjoy it,” said Rodriguez, determined to not let his new opportunity slip away. “Being back in a team, being a professional, waking up and doing what you love every day.”
The more he enjoyed it, the better he played. Detroit City FC dominated NISA that final year, winning four trophies including the Spring and Fall season championships. Rodriguez finished the year with a team-leading seven-goal haul and started every game but one.
Full Circle & Open Cup Glory
There was a big shift on the horizon for DCFC at the start of 2022 – as the club was about to officially transition up from NISA to the USL Championship.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Rodriguez, now playing for coach Danny Dichio, who has the club off to a hot start in the league (in third place as of May 13th). “I went to NISA thinking it was one of my last years, to just enjoy it, but my focus was Detroit City and repaying them for the opportunity they gave me.”
The team stepped into the new league just as Rodriguez knew they would – like they belonged there. They reached the playoffs, eventually losing out to Louisville City in the conference semifinals.
In the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, Rodriguez was at the heart of an historic run.
He scored the winner against eventual Major League Soccer (MLS) champions Columbus Crew in the Third Round in front of a raucous crowd at Keyworth Stadium. And it was in that same riot of a venue that he was at it again this year – scoring a late winner to see off old NISA rivals the Michigan Stars and send Detroit City through to the Round of 32.
“Our fans are amazing,” said Rodriguez who contributed on the road in Houston in the last round – a come-from-behind Detroit City win that ranks among the biggest upsets in U.S. Open Cup history. “On gamedays, home or away, I wake up to 40+ tweet mentions and good luck messages, it’s just incredible.”
“Sometimes it even feels fake when you’re out there,” he added, still disbelieving of the matchday atmosphere in Hamtramck. “It’s awesome.”
Up next for Detroit City is another away day. They’ll play on Wednesday, May 22nd at IUPUI Michael A. Carroll Stadium against fellow USL Championship side Indy Eleven. Rodriguez and Co won’t have that unrivaled home energy to lean on, but there’s still the motivation of keeping up a run that’s soaked in pixie dust – and trying for a place in the rare air of a Quarterfinal.
Should Detroit City FC reach that Quarterfinals stage, it would be a first for the club and the talismanic Rodriguez. And, looking out further into the world of possibilities, should it be drawn at Keyworth Stadium, well, then, look out for some serious fireworks.
Luis Leyva is a senior contributor for usopencup.com
