- Mark González
-
Mark González 
Personal information Full name Mark Dennis González Hoffman Date of birth July 10, 1984 Place of birth Durban, South Africa Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) Playing position Winger Club information Current club CSKA Moscow Number 11 Youth career Universidad Católica Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2002–2004 Universidad Católica 42 (8) 2004–2006 Albacete 25 (5) 2006 → Real Sociedad (loan) 16 (5) 2006–2007 Liverpool 25 (3) 2007–2009 Betis 44 (10) 2009– CSKA Moscow 33 (7) National team‡ 2003– Chile 46 (4) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:58, 30 April 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 June 2010This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is González and the second or maternal family name is Hoffman.Mark Dennis González Hoffman (born 10 July 1984), commonly known as Mark González, is a South African-born Chilean footballer whose preferred position is as a left winger. Renowned for his lightning pace, he is nicknamed "Speedy González". González currently plays for CSKA Moscow.
Contents
Early life
Mark González was born in Durban, South Africa. He was named after Mark Tovey and Dennis Wicks, both footballers his father Raúl González, himself a Chilean international, was friends with while playing for NSL champions Durban Bush Bucks during the mid-1980s.[1] During an interview Mark González explained how a coin had been tossed to decide whose name would feature first, with "Mark" being the winning outcome. He moved to Chile with his mother as a 10-year-old.
Career
Albacete
González had agreed a move to Liverpool F.C. on loan for the 2005–06 season (with a view to a permanent £1.5 million move) from Albacete Balompié. However, he was denied a work permit by the Department of Education and Employment in August 2005. The Liverpool management showed great faith in González, pursuing his services despite work permit troubles and a cruciate knee ligament injury. After a quicker than expected return to fitness Liverpool were persuaded to make the move permanent in October 2005, but the player was immediately loaned back to Albacete to continue his recouperation after an appeal against the earlier work permit decision was rejected (a new work permit application can only be put forward one year after the original application). Arrangements were then made for the player to spend a loan spell at Real Sociedad until summer 2006.
Real Sociedad
At Sociedad González put in some impressive performances, most notably against Real Madrid, against whom he scored Sociedad's equaliser as the game finished 1–1. He only started 12 games for Sociedad scoring 5 goals. Sociedad have shown interest in taking him permanently, along with several other La Liga clubs, but González is quoted to have said "I am very thankful to Real Sociedad and their coach Jose Mari Bakero, but while they'd like me to stay I'm going to England to join Liverpool."[2]
González is now eligible for a Spanish passport, and a work permit application has now been granted. On 30 June 2006, Mark González retired from international football, at the age of 21. This was due to a rift with the national team coach who had sent him home from the Chilean international tour. However he has recently made himself available again for selection with the national team.
Liverpool FC
On July 5, 2006, González was granted a work permit, and was allowed to start his Liverpool career, wearing the number 11 shirt. His manager, Rafael Benítez, said "This is very good news for us and I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mark González to Liverpool as he is a player the supporters will like to see," Mark González made his first appearance coming on as a sub at half time in a pre-season friendly against Crewe Alexandra.
González made an excellent first impression on his competitive debut on August 9, 2006 against Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, coming off the bench (in the 85th minute for Steven Gerrard) to score an 88th minute winner in Liverpool's Champions League 3rd Round Qualifier to seal a 2–1 win.[3] He scored his first Premiership goal in Liverpool's 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on his first Premiership start for the club.[4] He scored just once more for Liverpool, in a 4–0 win over Fulham in December.[5]
González was injured inside the first ten minutes of the quarter finals of the Carling Cup against Arsenal F.C. on January 9, 2007. He was brought off on a stretcher for Luis García, who was also subbed injured later in the match. He played his last game for Liverpool on 5 May 2007 against Fulham FC in a 1–0 defeat.[6]
Real Betis
On May 24, 2007, Rafael Benítez confirmed that Liverpool had almost reached an agreement with Real Betis over the Chilean winger.[7] On June 12 Mark González confirmed he has signed a contract for £5 million with Real Betis. Real Betis presented the player to the press and fans on July 17, 2007. He went on to score on his home debut with a penalty goal in the 1–0 victory over Champions League Winners AC Milan in the Centenary Match in front of 55,000 Beticos. González scored in a famous 2–1 victory over high-flying Real Madrid to steer Real Betis out of the relegation zone in La Liga. González scored ten goals in 44 first team appearances for the club. Betis received an offer of €11M from an unnamed club in July 2008.[8]
CSKA Moscow
In June 2009 and following the relegation of Real Betis, Greek double holders Olympiacos F.C. made an offer of €3M in order to secure him a starting eleven position in their squad for the forthcoming Champions League, but CSKA Moscow offered €6.5M and on August 11, 2009, he signed 5-year deal with the Russian club.[9][10] He debuted for the club on August 16, 2009, in a league match away to Lokomotiv Moscow.
On December 6, 2010, it was reported that he's been accused of rape in Moscow. However, later the same day the investigators announced that the accused is an unrelated Portuguese citizen Mario Gonzalez, who is also allegedly a professional footballer.[11]
National team
On June 21, 2010, González scored a goal for Chile in the victorious match against Switzerland, during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
International goals
Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 11 June 2003 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 
Honduras1–1 2–1 International Friendly 30 March 2004 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia 
Bolivia2–0 2–0 FIFA World Cup qualifier 9 February 2005 Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile 
Ecuador1–0 3–0 International Friendly 21 June 2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa 
Switzerland1–0 1–0 2010 World Cup Career honours
- Universidad Católica
- 2003 Liguilla Pre-Sudamericana (Chile)
- Liverpool
- CSKA
- 2010–11 Russian Cup
Statistics
Correct as of 1 January 2011.
Club Performance Club Season Russian Premier League Russian Cup Russian Super Cup Europe --------- Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals CSKA Moscow 2010 21 3 1 0 1 0 11 3 0 0 34 6 2009 6 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 8 3 Club Season Primera Div Spanish Cup --------- --------- --------- Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Real Betis 2008–09 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 2 Club Season Primera Div Spanish Cup --------- --------- --------- Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Real Betis 2007–08 24 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 8 Club Season Premiership FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Liverpool FC 2006–07 25 2 0 0 2 0 8 1 1 0 36 3 Club Season Primera Div Spanish Cup --------- Europe Others Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Real Sociedad Loan 2005–06 16 5 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 16 5 Club Season Premiership FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Liverpool FC 2005–06 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Club Season Primera Div Spanish Cup --------- Europe Others Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Albacete Balompié 2004–05 25 5 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 25 5 Club Season Primera Div Chilean Cup --------- Copa Liber Others Total App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals Universidad Católica 2004 8 1 0 0 - - 0 0 3 0 8 1 2003 28 9 0 0 - - 0 0 9 0 28 9 2002 6 0 0 0 - - 62 0 0 0 6 0 Total 104 22 0 0 2 0 8 1 1 0 111 23 References
- ^ "Bafana are left to rue the one who got away". Capeargus.co.za. February 14, 2009. http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4841875. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Gonzalez committed to Reds". Skysports.com. May 10, 2006. http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=386103&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=2&title=Gonzalez+committed+to+Reds. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Liverpool 2–1 Maccabi Haifa". BBC. 9 August 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5255220.stm. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (23 September 2006). "Liverpool 3–0 Tottenham". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5351884.stm. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Sinnott, John (10 December 2006). "Liverpool 4–0 Fulham". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6201456.stm. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "Fulham 1–0 Liverpool". LFCHistory.net. http://www.lfchistory.net/viewgame.asp?game_Id=5030. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^ "González set to leave Reds". Report on liverpoolfc.tv. May 24, 2007. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N156037070524-0837.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
- ^ "Offer for Betis duo". Report on /www.realbetisbalompie.es. July 16, 2008. http://www.realbetisbalompie.es/noticias/ultimahora.html?id=4740. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
- ^ Mira, Luís (2009-08-11). "Official: CSKA Moscow Sign Betis Winger Mark Gonzalez". Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/08/11/1434886/official-cska-moscow-sign-betis-winger-mark-gonzalez. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "PFC CSKA sign Mark Gonzalez". PFC CSKA Moscow. 2009-08-12. http://www.pfc-cska.com/press.php?lg=en&type=1&id=5034. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ Zheglov, Aleksandr (2010-12-06). "Footballer was accused of rape too soon". Kommersant. http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1553040&NodesID=6. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
External links
- Mark González career stats at Soccerbase
- (Russian) Mark González – CSKA unofficial site
- LFC History Profile
- ESPN Profile
- pfc-cska.org Profile
Chile squads Chile squad – 2004 Copa América 1 Bravo • 2 Álvarez • 3 L. Fuentes • 4 Pérez • 5 Ramírez • 6 Acuña • 7 Valenzuela • 8 Millar • 9 S. González • 10 Jiménez • 11 M. González • 12 Varas • 13 I. Fuentes • 14 Villarroel • 15 Mancilla • 16 Cisternas • 17 Mirosevic • 18 Meléndez • 19 Olarra • 20 Aros • 21 Figueroa • 22 Galaz • Coach: Olmos
Chile squad – 2007 Copa América Chile squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup PFC CSKA Moscow – current squad 1 Chepchugov · 2 Šemberas · 4 Ignashevich · 5 Vasin · 6 A. Berezutski · 7 Honda · 8 Doumbia · 9 Vágner Love · 10 Dzagoev · 11 González · 14 Nababkin · 15 Odiah · 17 Mamayev · 19 Cauņa · 21 Tošić · 22 Aldonin · 24 V. Berezutski · 25 Rahimić · 26 Oliseh · 30 Gabulov · 35 Akinfeev · 42 Schennikov · 89 Necid · Manager: Slutsky
Categories:- 1984 births
- Living people
- Chilean footballers
- Chilean expatriate footballers
- Chile international footballers
- Chilean people of German descent
- 2004 Copa América players
- 2007 Copa América players
- 2010 FIFA World Cup players
- La Liga footballers
- Premier League players
- Russian Premier League players
- Everton de Viña del Mar players
- Universidad Católica footballers
- Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers players
- Albacete Balompié footballers
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Real Sociedad footballers
- Real Betis footballers
- PFC CSKA Moscow players
- Association football midfielders
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Expatriate footballers in Russia
- Chilean expatriates in Spain
- Chilean expatriates in Russia
- Chilean expatriates in the United Kingdom
- Hispanic and Latino American people
- Naturalised citizens of Spain
- People from Durban
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
