by JAKE NUTTING

The first season for the reincarnated Tampa Bay Rowdies (known then as FC Tampa Bay) in 2010 didn’t quite reach disaster proportions, but it was clear that some work needed to be done to the roster if they were going to find more success the following year.

After finishing dead last in the conference standings and having head coach Paul Dalglish resign before the season’s end, the club’s technical director Perry Van Der Beck went to work with new head coach Ricky Hill to assemble a new squad.

Midfielder Keith Savage was high on Van Der Beck’s list of players to bring in to the fold.

“Keith was with the Portland Timbers and they were playing in Charleston, so I took a road trip up there to scout some players,” recalls Van Der Beck. “I’ll never forget, I was talking with Portland’s coach and I asked if they had another game tomorrow night and he said no. I said, ‘oh okay,’ but he asked, ‘no, what do you mean?’ I said, ‘well I know you guys sometimes play two games in one weekend. The fact that you took Keith Savage off, I was just wondering if you were trying to rest him for the other game.’ He told me he thought Keith Savage wasn’t giving his best effort and it was time to make a change. Well I didn’t see it that way at all [laughs]. I thought he was taking one of his best players off.”

Fortunately for Van Der Beck and the Rowdies, they only had to wait one season for Savage to become available. With the Timbers dropping most of their players before their move to MLS, the Rowdies were able to ink Savage to a deal in January of 2011. Six years later and Savage has now become the third player to appear in 100 league matches for the Rowdies in the modern era.

“This day and age at any level, whether it’s in MLS, NASL, USL, whatever level there is, for any player to have that loyalty and consistency is special,” asserts Van Der Beck. “When changes are made, things happen, but Keith has been able to get through all that.”

For Savage the milestone is affirmation of a goal he set for himself at the outset of his career. It may not have been as flashy as others, but Savage was seeking longevity and fidelity to one club and a community.

“My mindset has always been that success would be being part of one club for a long time and that’s what I really wanted early on in my career,” says Savage. “I didn’t desire to move around from club to club or make as much money as I could, or pursue the next best option for myself. I think I wanted to be a part of something.”

Savage has enjoyed many perks for sticking around Tampa Bay as long as he has; including a front row seat to the incredible growth the club has gone through in a short amount of time.

“It’s so cool looking back to see how much we’ve been able to build this club,” he explains. “Seeing it through every phrase, in transition of owners, transition of players, has been pretty incredible. It’s definitely a blessing to be here for this long.”

Crossing the 100th appearance threshold was all the more sweeter for Savage after being sidelined for over a year at the start of last season, first with a torn ACL and then several nagging injuries in the offseason. The unexpected setbacks stung the veteran, leading him to even question whether he’d ever see the field again, let alone make it to 100 appearances.

“I knew I was close to 100 coming into 2015,” he acknowledges. “There was almost a burning desire, some anxiousness about getting there, and then I get injured and I missed that entire season. There were times when I thought I might not play again, so then it became motivation, to get back healthy on the field and get in that 100 club, which is so exciting.

Savage joins stalwarts Takuya Yamada and Frankie Sanfilippo as the only modern era Rowdies with over 100 appearances, and Sanfilippo couldn’t be happier to welcome Savage into the club. He and Savage both joined up with the Rowdies ahead of the 2011 season and quickly hit it off. Sanfilippo is ecstatic to see his current teammate and friend healthy and donning the green and gold of the Rowdies again.

“It’s a truly great accomplishment,” says Sanfilippo. “He’s been with the club for six years. He’s a great person, great player, and a great teammate. He always has a smile on his face every morning when you see him. He’s been a good friend. It’s just been awesome to play with him. From what happened last year to where he’s at now, it’s just awesome to see him back playing again and doing what he’s doing to get his 100 caps for the Rowdies. It’s definitely been an honor to play next to Keith Savage. ”

Like Sanfilippo, Savage’s historic appearance came on the road, meaning the celebration was somewhat reserved, especially after the club earned a disappointing loss in the match. With the Rowdies back in town this Saturday, though, the stage is set for Savage to be embraced by Ralph’s Mob and the rest of the home crowd like Sanfilippo was on his big day.

“For me it was just awesome to get the acknowledgement, to see Ralph’s Mob and everyone in the crowd,” says Sanfilippo. “It’s just a great feeling. To know that you’ve been a part of a club for 100 games is just a great achievement.”

The usually calm and collected Savage admits the moment is likely to stir some emotions, saying, “There’s so many people that I have to thank for me being able to be here. I think a lot of those people will be in attendance, including all those fans who have been so good to me. And also [Rowdies COO] Lee Cohen and the current staff, and also Perry. I think it’ll be emotional. I think it’ll give me a little something extra. Hopefully we can use the celebration for motivation for a win and forget about that one on the road.”

The atmosphere at Al Lang will also be special due to the fact that many family members and friends are also set to show up to support Savage on his big night, including his father Bruce Savage. The senior Savage was actually a longtime player for Saturday’s opponent, the rival Fort Lauderdale Strikers, but another benefit of Savage being with the Rowdies for so long is that his dad no longer waffles on who to support.

“I think I’ve been here long enough that I’ve got people confused and thinking my dad used to play for the Rowdies [laughs]. He will be there, and I think his allegiance is definitely for the Rowdies, which is pretty cool. I know he’ll be pretty excited to watch.”

For all the joyous moments Savage has witnessed and played a part in on the field while with the Rowdies, one of his personal favorites actually happened off the field and speaks volumes about what he truly values.

After the dismissal of Ricky Hill at the end of the 2014 season, Savage found himself on the outs after Farrukh Quraishi and Thomas Rongen were brought in to run things. He was released by the Rowdies but was given a chance to earn his place back with the club. So the veteran swallowed his pride and came into preseason camp hungry to earn a new contract with the new-look Rowdies. His efforts and skills won over the new regime, and he even impressed enough to win a starting spot in the starting lineup for the season opener.

“Winning the championship was definitely a huge milestone, but another one is when we moved from Shimberg at the training facility to now being full-time at Al Lang,” he says. “When I signed that contract to be a part of this, almost like a new club, it was very special, because I was gone that offseason. I was released from the club and ended up being brought back. That moment was very significant because it was what I wanted for a long time. I just want to be here for as long as I can.”