Edgar Bartolomeu


Edgar Jaime Pereira Bartolomeu is a former Angolan Canadian professional soccer player who played the majority of his career in North America within the USL A-League.

Playing career

Bartolomeu started off playing Futsal in 1992 in Portugal with the Sporting Clube de Portugal youth team. After moving to Canada, he signed with the North York Astros of the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He made his debut on October 4, 1998 in a semi-final playoff match against the Toronto Olympians. In 1999, he signed a professional contract with the Toronto Lynx. He made his debut on May 2, 1999 in a match against the Minnesota Thunder. The following season Bartolomeu helped the Lynx finish third in the Northeastern division which clinched a playoff berth for the club for the second time in the franchise's history. In the postseason the Lynx reached the eastern conference finals, but were eliminated by the Rochester Rhinos.
The following year, Bartolomeu returned to the Canadian Professional Soccer League and signed with the newly expansion franchise the Brampton Hitmen. He made his debut for the club on July 27, 2001 in an Open Canada Cup match against St. Catharines Wolves. He featured in 11 matches for the club, but the newly franchise failed to reach the postseason by finishing eighth in the standings. In the winter of 2001, he signed with the Buffalo Blizzard in the now defunct NPSL. That same year the NPSL ceased operation and several of its remaining teams formed the Major Indoor Soccer League, but the Blizzard declined to participate and folded at that time. Edgar was then picked on the dispersal draft by the Philadelphia Kixx for the 2001/2002 Indoor season, being an important part for the team's first ever championship.
In 2002, he played for the Long Island Rough Riders in the USL Pro Soccer League, helping them to a championship and division title.
In 2003 Bartolomeu signed on loan for the MetroStars of Major League Soccer where he played 18 games in total for the team. The MetroStars recalled him for preseason and paid the Philadelphia Kixx for his full player rights but ended up releasing him before the 2004 season started, prompting him to return to the Philadelphia Kixx. In 2004 Bartolomeu, returned to the Lynx and his signing was announced on April 16, 2004. This time to be a starting left-back for the team where he played 23 games and scored his first outdoor career goal. The next season, he only played 3 games because of a complete Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear on his left knee what kept him out for eleven months. In 2006 Bartolomeu helped the Lynx to a team-record undefeated streak at home to 10 games. He also helped the Lynx reach the final of the Open Canada Cup which they lost 2-0 against Ottawa St. Anthony Italia.
After celebrating his second indoors title in the 2006/2007 Indoor Season with the Philadelphia Kixx he announced his retirement to return to his native Angola
After a six-year hiatus, Edgar returned to the Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2013/2014 season to play for the 3 year franchise Rochester Lancers

Honors