Ringo Cantillo

Julio “Ringo” Cantillo is a former Costa Rican-American soccer midfielder. He played seven seasons in the American Soccer League where he was the league MVP as a rookie. He won MVP honors a total of three times in the ASL. Cantillo also spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the United Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. Cantillo also earned eleven caps with the U.S. national soccer team.

Professional career

Cantillo, a native of Costa Rica, began his professional soccer career with the Cincinnati Comets of the American Soccer League in 1972. Cantilla was only 17 years old, but quickly established himself as among the most talented players in the league when he won MVP honors as a rookie. The Comets also won the league championship that season. Cantillo earned MVP honors in 1974 and in 1975 was a first team All Star. At the end of the 1975 season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League signed Cantillo from the Comets. He played a single season, twenty-one games total, with Tampa Bay before returning to the ASL, this time signing with the New Jersey Americans. Cantillo was part of the ASL’s most exciting team as the Americans played a free flowing attacking game which took them to the 1977 championship. Cantillo was again the league MVP, his third in five years in the ASL, and a first team All Star. Cantillo jumped leagues again...
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