Six-foot-two center back from Arizona United SC will add a strong, physical presence to Jacksonvilleâ€™s backline

Armada FC Public Relations | Dec. 22, 2015

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Armada FC added another strong physical presence to its backline on Tuesday with the signing of defender Tyler Ruthven .

Ruthven, a 6-foot-2 center back, has made total of 105 career professional appearances in the United States, Sweden and Finland. He comes to Jacksonville after spending the last two seasons with United Soccer League club Arizona United SC, where he made 46 appearances and tallied a goal and an assist.

"I had the chance to watch Tyler a few years back at the New York Red Bulls and was impressed with his ability,” said Tony Meola , Armada FC head coach and technical director. “When we had the opportunity to add him to the roster, we did so without hesitation. I expect Tyler to compete for a starting center back position in 2016."

Prior to Arizona, Ruthven spent 2013 in Scandinavian countries, appearing in seven matches for Finnish club KuPS and making 12 appearances for Swedish side IK Brage. Ruthven helped lead KuPS to a runner-up finish in the Soumen Cup, Finland’s main national cup competition.

In 2012, he signed with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls and made five appearances with the club after beginning as a trialist. A native of Alpharetta, Ga., Ruthven played for his hometown North American Soccer League club, the Atlanta Silverbacks, in 2011 and appeared in 27 matches.

Ruthven, 27, began his professional career in 2010 with the USL’s Harrisburg City Islanders and made eight appearances. Prior to Harrisburg, he played four years of NCAA Division I soccer, playing as a freshman with the University of San Francisco in 2006 and finishing out his college career with the University of South Carolina.

At USC, he was named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year in 2007 and was a three-time all-conference selection, including a first team nod as a senior in 2010. In the 2008 college offseason, he played for Premier Development League side Colorado Rapids U-23 and Chicago Fire U-23 in 2009.

The Armada FC will start preseason training in mid-January and play a friendly against MLS’s Philadelphia Union at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6 in at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.