The Rowdies feature several players who have worked under coach Thomas Rongen's tutelage in the past

In soccer, relationships can be like bridges. Connections are made across the U.S., Canada, and the world. And there is always a chance that the bridge may need to be crossed once again.

For several members of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, they are taking full advantage of those connections.

When Thomas Rongen took the reins as the Rowdies’ coach before the 2015 Spring Season, amid a rebuilding process, there was a good possibility he would acquire players he was familiar with. Currently in the squad, there are four who worked with Rongen on U.S. youth national teams – Gale Agbossoumonde, Rich Balchan, Freddy Adu, and Omar Salgado.

The relationships, or bridges, that Rongen formed with the players in their formative years – although it should be noted the players are still young with Adu and Balchan the oldest at 26 – have lasted despite different twists and turns in their careers.

“You like to bring in players you’re familiar with,” Rongen told NASL.com. “Not necessarily from a personal standpoint – that helps as well – but players that understand my coaching philosophy, my coaching style, but more so on the field – how we play, how we implement certain things.”

It is a source of pride for Rongen that his coaching for the U.S. has affected several players enough that when the opportunities presented themselves for a reunion, the players jumped at them.

“The majority of the guys are here because of the relationship that I and they enjoyed in the past,” Rongen said.

“If they wanted to come here because it’s a great team and a great stadium, which it is, I’d be fine with that, but in those cases these guys really wanted to play for me again, which is gratifying.”

And as Adu and Salgado joined Tampa Bay for the Fall Season, Rongen may not have planned to have so many of his former charges in the team so quickly.

As the Rowdies rebuilt before the league’s kickoff in April, Agbossoumonde and Balchan were free agents, while the opportunity to add Adu, and eventually Salgado on loan from Tigres, only happened recently.

But just what makes these players want to return and play under Rongen? It could certainly be that the players found success and also has to do with the coach’s personality and coaching philosophy.

“I know the style he likes to play, and I think it will benefit me in the long run,” Agbossoumonde said. “He’s a great coach, but more importantly, he’s a good person. Sometimes he’s hard on you, but it’s needed to get better.”

Salgado echoed his new teammate’s words, saying: “He’s someone you can go up to and talk to about anything. He’s hard on you, he wants the best for you, and that’s always important.”

For Rongen’s part, he has stayed in contact with many of his former players, always willing to lend an ear, which has certainly helped in securing their services for the Rowdies.

“What was very gratifying was that, not all, but quite a large number of players I was able to coach – very small, not saying I made the players who they are today – from Michael Bradley, to Clint Dempsey, to Mix Diskerud, to Jonathan Brooks, to Chad Marshall, the four guys here, we talk,” Rongen said. “It might be through Facebook, Twitter, it might be a phone call. From their end it’s, ‘Coach, how are you doing?’ and most of the time they ask me some questions, and what do I think.”

Salgado’s arrival was also aided by his relationship with Agbossoumonde and Balchan in addition to the working relationship he shared with Rongen.

“Knowing that Thomas was here and that I could count on him was important,” he said. “It was important with the players as well. I know Rich Balchan really well and Gale Agbossoumonde as well.”

It also provides a reboot for several of the players. Agbossoumonde has dealt with injuries and limited playing time, Adu has had numerous stops around the globe, and the youngest of the group, Salgado, needs playing time to continue his development.

“If you’re playing you’ll get better,” Agbossoumonde said. “If you’re not playing, you could practice as much as you want, but it’s the game time that matters. That’s what I’m looking to do. Knowing what kind of coach Rongen is, he’s produced a lot of good players, and I want to be coached by a coach like that.”

The Rowdies have had a slow start to the Fall Season, sitting in eighth place (by no means out of a Fall title race), but will take confidence from a recent 3-2 win against Coastal Cup rival Jacksonville Armada FC. The Rowdies are in the thick of the Combined Standings, in third, and currently are in a position to reach The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.

And the players Rongen acquired are not purely in the squad because he has history working with them. Agbossoumonde and Balchan have put in strong performances on the back line, and Rongen believes Adu can add that creative spark to help create goals, while Salgado can certainly be the one at the other end finishing them off.

Now, the players want to repay the faith that Rongen has shown throughout their careers, even if at times from afar.

“I really want him to be successful here and for him to win a championship,” Salgado added. “I want to help him do that.”