CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (October 22nd, 2020) – The Chattanooga Red Wolves have picked up Ricky Ruiz’s option for the 2021 season. Ricky was one of two Red Wolves players to earn the All-League Team honors. Ruiz won 107 of 169 duels, tied for most in the league, and made the second-most interceptions in the league with 38, while making 19 key passes and tallying two assists. Ruiz also had 14 starts and consistently made the most out of his time while on the pitch. Ruiz will gladly be welcomed back, and is the second defender the club has optioned for the 2021 season.
Ricky Ruiz will be going into his second year of the club, and second year of being in League One. Despite playing in a new league, Ruiz rose to the occasion and became a dominant player known throughout the league. President and General Manager Sean McDaniel said, “Ricky was the best defender in League One. His performances speak for themselves and the Red Wolves are thrilled to have him anchoring the team next season.”
Ruiz is a player that minimizes damage and creates offensive chances in the final third, which in essence is the perfect combination for an outside back. Ruiz proved this to be true in the very first game of the season by serving Greg Hurst a back-post cross that he collected from a poorly cleared corner kick. Ruiz provided an assist for a late-game equalizer which showcased that he has more to offer than a typical outside back. “What can we say about Ricky that no one already knows or has seen. The kid is absolute quality. One of the top defenders in League One, is coming back to showcase even more his talents”, said Head Coach Jimmy Obleda.
Ricky Ruiz was an integral part of the backline and will be an enormous asset to the team for the 2021 season. Ruiz has proved himself, and not only that, he was recognized on the league level for his achievements. He was also a part of the historic youth team with Coach Obleda, Marky Hernandez, and Ronaldo Pineda so joining them once again will only deepen the preexisting connection between the four of them. The 2021 roster is shaping up to be an incredibly strong roster, and given Ricky’s 2020 performance it seemed to be an easy decision to exercise his option for the upcoming season. For additional information and news about the club make sure to follow @chattredwolves on all social platforms to get up to date information regarding new signings, seasonal promotions, and upcoming events.
About Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Founded in 2018, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a professional soccer club in Chattanooga, Tenn. The USL League One founding member is led by business executive Robert Martino and President Sean McDaniel. The club is constructing a state-of-the-art 5,500-seat soccer-specific stadium in Chattanooga for the 2020 season. For more information, visit https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/chattanoogaredwolves-sc/.
