San Antonio FC re-signed decorated Colombian midfielder Rafa Castillo for the 2018 USL season pending league and federation approval, the club announced today. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to have Rafa re-join us for the 2018 campaign,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “His professionalism and appetite for the game day-to-day inspire the players around him, and he will continue to make this team better with his contributions on and off the field.”

Castillo returns to the Alamo City club for his third season after he tallied four goals in 17 appearances throughout the 2017 campaign. Castillo scored the first home goal of the season at Toyota Field and converted three times from the penalty spot along the way. The center-midfielder featured in 1,343 USL minutes for SAFC, ranking fourth on the team in goals scored (four) and shots (23), while also ranking third in shots on target (14). The Colombian featured in the starting eleven regularly until an injury at Reno 1868 FC on August 12 kept him unavailable for selection until the final match of the regular season.

In addition, Castillo played 19 minutes as a substitute in the USL Western Conference Semifinal, during which he recorded one shot and one shot on goal. The midfielder also played 201 minutes in two appearances for the club in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this season.

“Being back with SAFC for another season is a true blessing,” Castillo said. “I’m thankful to the coaching staff, the front office and my teammates for continuing to show faith in me and for once again giving me the opportunity to represent this organization. The fans are the heart of this club and I’ll continue to do my best to represent this city well.”

Overall in his two seasons with San Antonio FC, Castillo has appeared in 49 games in all competitions, making 45 starts, scoring nine goals and recording two assists in 3,937 minutes. The midfielder’s minute total ranks third all-time in club history behind defenders Greg Cochrane and Stephen McCarthy, and Castillo’s nine goals are second-most in team history. The 37-year-old has also captained the team on numerous occasions throughout his two seasons with the club.  

Prior to joining SAFC in 2016, Castillo enjoyed an impressive two years with the now-defunct San Antonio Scorpions, where he helped lead the club to a championship in 2014. Along with a long and illustrious career in his native Colombia where he won the 2009 Primera A Clausura Championship, Castillo also played and won a championship in the first division of Egypt before moving to the United States to join the San Antonio soccer community. The midfielder has also made nine appearances for the Colombian national team from 2001-03, scoring three goals.

San Antonio FC is currently preparing for the upcoming USL season, and fans can purchase 2018 season tickets by calling the SAFC sales office at 210-444-5MLS or by visiting SanAntonioFC.com. Supporters can also follow the club by liking San Antonio FC on Facebook, as well as following the team on Twitter (@SanAntonioFC), Instagram (@sanantoniofc) and Snapchat (SanAntonioFC).