Omar Gonzalez

Omar Gonzalez

Gonzalez with the Galaxy in August 2010
Personal information
Full name	Omar Gonzalez
Date of birth	(1988-10-11) October 11, 1988
Place of birth	Dallas, Texas, United States
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Los Angeles Galaxy
Number	4
Youth career
2001–2006	Dallas Texans
2005	IMG Soccer Academy
2006–2008	Maryland Terrapins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–	Los Angeles Galaxy	106	(6)
2012	→ 1. FC Nuremberg (loan)	0	(0)
National team‡
2005	United States U17	2	(0)
2007	United States U18	3	(2)
2010–	United States	6	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 24, 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of March 26, 2013

Omar Gonzalez (born October 11, 1988 in Dallas, Texas) is an American football player. He currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

Career

College

Gonzalez played youth football for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club, and played college football at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he won the 2008 College Cup championship, was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-American First Team and First Team All-ACC, and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2007.

Professional

Gonzalez was drafted in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy. Gonzalez began a regular feature in the Galaxy lineup from the start, scoring his first professional goal in April and was named MLS Rookie of the Year for helping lead the Galaxy from a last-place finish in 2008 to MLS Cup 2009, where they lost to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks.

Gonzalez continued his strong form in 2010. He was named in his first MLS All-Star Game along with being named MLS Best XI as the Galaxy won the Supporters' Shield for the first time since 2002, in part due to conceding just 28 goals in 34 matches. The Galaxy, however, would fall at home to FC Dallas in the Western Conference final.

In 2011, paired alongside former college teammate A. J. DeLaGarza in the center of defense, Gonzalez led the Galaxy to the third-best defensive performance in MLS history, allowing just 28 goals in 34 matches. After repeating as Supporters' Shield winners, the Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo to win MLS Cup 2011. Gonzalez was again named an all-star and to MLS Best XI; for his efforts, he was also named MLS Defender of the Year.

In January 2012, Gonzalez was loaned to 1. FC Nuremberg of the Bundesliga until mid-February. During his first training session with his new club, Gonzalez suffered a torn ACL to his left knee after a collision with national teammate Timothy Chandler. He immediately headed back to the US to undergo surgery. After missing the first part of the 2012 MLS season, Gonzalez made his debut in July, playing in the first half only in a 2-1 Independence Day loss to the Philadelphia Union. Gonzalez went on to be Man of the Match in the 2012 MLS Cup, a 3-1 Galaxy triumph over the Houston Dynamo. He tied the match 1-1 by scoring on a header in the 60th minute.

International

As a youth, Gonzalez represented the U.S. at the Under-17 and Under-18 levels. In 2005 he played at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru, and in 2007 he played for the U.S. Under-18’s at the Pan-American Games, scoring twice in the USA's 4-2 loss to Bolivia.

On December 22, 2009, Gonzalez received his first call-up to train with the senior US national team. On August 10, 2010, he made his international debut in a friendly, starting against Brazil.

However, on October 6, 2011 in an interview with ESPN's U.S. National Soccer Team Blog, Gonzalez announced that he is still open to playing for Mexico. "Why not?" Gonzalez is quoted as saying "Mexico is strong right now, very strong. If something were to come along, I'm definitely going to listen."

In January 2013, Gonzalez was called up by Jurgen Klinsmann to the national team training camp. He started against Canada in a friendly on January 29. Klinsmann then announced that Gonzalez was on the roster for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying Hexagonal. On February 6, 2013, Gonzalez started a World Cup qualifier against Honduras; by playing this qualifier he is permanently tied to the United States and is no longer eligible to play for Mexico.

On March 26, 2013, Gonzalez was given the start at central defense in the United States' 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN, Gonzalez "was the man of the match by a clear margin".

Personal

The son of Mexican parents, Gonzalez holds a Mexican passport and dual citizenship with both the United States and Mexico.

Honors

Los Angeles Galaxy

• MLS Cup (2): 2011, 2012
• Supporters' Shield (2): 2010, 2011

University of Maryland

• NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 2008

Individual

• MLS Rookie of the Year: 2009
• MLS Defender of the Year: 2011
• MLS Best XI of the Year: 2010, 2011
• MLS Cup MVP: 2012

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• MLS player profile
• Omar Gonzalez at National-Football-Teams.com