Fredy Montero

Montero was loaned to Atlético Huila in 2006, where he was named "Top Goal Scorer" in the Copa Mustang with 13 goals. Despite rumors and interest from European clubs, he returned to Deportivo Cali in 2007; he was again the top goal scorer in the 2008-II Copa Mustang, with 16 goals.[1]

Montero (right) crosses the ball in front of Chicago Fire defender Arne Friedrich

Montero was acquired by Seattle Sounders FC in January 2009 on loan from Deportivo Cali despite interest from European side Real Betis. There were unconfirmed reports that suggested Montero's contract was owned by a third-party.[2] Montero scored nine goals in nine preseason games in 2008/09. Montero made his MLS debut on 19 March 2009, in the 2009 season opener against New York Red Bulls, and scored the first and third goals in Seattle Sounders FC club history.[3] Montero was named the MLS Player of the Week for the first week of the 2009 MLS season for his two goals.[4] An additional goal against Real Salt Lake helped Montero be named MLS Player of the Month for March 2009 as he won the first two Goals of the Week.[5]

In April 2009, Montero told Sports Illustrated that he would like to play in Europe in the future and that the mix of players in MLS appealed to him as a place to learn.[6] He later dismissed a rumor of a transfer to Fulham and told the press that he was focused on the Sounders.[7]

Montero was selected to the 2009 MLS All-Star Game against Everton and played during the first half alongside teammates Kasey Keller and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.[8] He would go on to be named the MLS Newcomer of the Year.[9][10] In August 2009, it was incorrectly reported that MLS had negotiated the transfer of Deportivo Cali's portion of Montero's rights to Major League Soccer.[11] It was believed that the league owned his rights, but details of any such deal were never publicly clarified.[12]

Montero in a 2010 match against Dallas

Montero did not meet the high expectations of coach Schmid and the fans at the beginning of the 2010. He was left out of the starting lineup for the ninth game of the year. By July, he was named player of the month and selected to the inactive roster of the 2010 MLS All-Star Game.[13] A scheduling conflict between a team CONCACAF Champions League match and the game made him unable to start in the exhibition game.[14] Montero earned his second career MLS Player of the Month in July 2010.[15] Although he failed to score a goal in league play between 1 September and the end of the season on 23 October,[16] Montero finished the year with 10 goals and 10 assists.[17] He totaled 12 goals, of which 6 were game-winners, and 11 assists in all competitions. A total of 22 goals and 17 assists in league play between 2009 and 2010 was the third most in the league.[18] Montero was also named as the top player in the MLS "24 Under 24" list, which honors players under 24 years old who perform well in MLS.[19]

On 1 December 2010, Seattle Sounders FC announced that Montero had agreed to a contract extension with his rights permanently transferred to the club and Major League Soccer. He became the third Designated Player and the highest paid player on the team with a base salary of $500,000.[16][20]

Before the second game of the 2011 season, Montero fractured his wrist. He missed two matches and played with a cast that may have contributed to multiple matches of reduced performance. His play improved by midseason. Schmid attributed it to increased growth, maturity, and fitness. The addition of Mauro Rosales to the team's midfield also helped Montero in the second half of the season.[16] Montero ended the regular season of league play with 12 goals. He ended the year with 18 goals in all competitions. His goals scoring efforts made him the MLS player who scored the most goals across all competitive match in 2011. The Sounders won the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Montero was named Player of the Tournament after scoring three game-winning goals in the final three games.[21]

Montero was officially loaned to Colombian champions Millonarios, playing in the Categoría Primera A, on 21 January 2013,[22][23] also signing a multi-year extension to his contract with the Sounders.[24]

Montero was loaned to Primeira Liga side Sporting CP on 22 July 2013 for US$1.2 million[25] with an option to buy.[26] On his debut for the Portuguese club, Montero scored a hat-trick against newly promoted side F.C. Arouca, in a 5–1 win in the first round of the Primeira Liga season.[27] On 31 August, Montero opened the scoring with a header in a 1–1 draw with Lisbon rivals Benfica at the Alvalade.[28]

On 30 January 2014, it was announced that Montero had signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Sporting for an additional $1.55 million transfer fee plus bonuses.[25][29] Montero scored his first goal for Sporting since December 2013, netting in a 4–0 win over Penafiel on 4 October 2014.[30]

On 6 February 2016, Montero transferred to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda for €5 million.[31][32]

On 15 February 2017, Montero transferred to Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps FC on loan from Chinese Super League side Tianjin TEDA F.C..[33]

On 17 January 2018, it was announced that Montero had returned to Sporting CP on an 18-month contract.[34] Months later, on 15 May, he and several of his teammates, including coaches, were injured following an attack by around 50 supporters of Sporting at the club's training ground after the team finished third in the league and missed out on the UEFA Champions League qualification.[35][36] Despite the events, he and the rest of the team agreed to play in the Portuguese Cup final scheduled for the following weekend.[37]

On 15 February 2019, Montero and Sporting agreed to mutually terminate his contract with the club.[38] The same day, Vancouver announced he had joined the club on a permanent deal.[39]

As of 23 January 2019[58][59][60][61][62]

As of 12 August 2009[2][40][41][42][43][44]

• Categoría Primera A top goalscorer (2): 2007 Torneo Apertura, 2008 Torneo Finalización[1]
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Player of the Tournament: 2011[21]
• MLS 24 Under 24 Top Player: 2010[19]
• MLS All-Star (2): 2009,[8] 2010,[13]
• MLS Humanitarian of the Month: March 2010[50]
• FutbolMLS.com's 2010 Latino del Año: November 2010,FutbolMLS.com
• MLS Newcomer of the Year Award: 2009[9][10]
• Major League Soccer Player of the Month (2): March 2009,[5] July 2010[15]