Omar Gonzalez

Omar Gonzalez

Gonzalez with the Galaxy in August 2010
Personal information
Full name	Omar Gonzalez
Date of birth	October 11, 1988 (1988-10-11) (age 23)
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 Soccer Club
2005	IMG Soccer Academy
2006–2008	Maryland Terrapins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–	Los Angeles Galaxy	87	(5)
National team‡
2005	United States U17	2	(0)
2007	United States U20	3	(2)
2010–	United States	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 19, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 19, 2011

Omar Gonzalez (born October 11, 1988 in Dallas, Texas) is an American soccer player. He played youth soccer for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

College

Gonzalez played college soccer 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. He made his professional debut on March 22, 2009, in Galaxy's first game of the 2009 MLS season against D.C. United,^[1] and scored his first professional goal on April 4, 2009, in a 3-2 loss to Colorado Rapids.^[2] Gonzalez was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for his performances in the 2009 season.^[3] He was named to the 2010 MLS All Star team. He continued his fine form in the 2011 MLS season, forming the heart of the Galaxy's league-best defense, along with goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

International

As a youth, Gonzalez represented the U.S. at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels. In 2005 he played at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru, and in 2007 he played for the U.S. Under-20’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.

Personal

The son of Mexican parents, Gonzalez holds a Mexican passport, as well as dual citizenship. Omar attended Sidney Lanier Elementary School, where his mom is a teacher, W. E. Greiner Middle School and Skyline High School in Dallas, TX.^[4]

Honors

Los Angeles Galaxy

• Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield (2): 2010, 2011
• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (2): 2009 2011
• MLS Cup: 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

See also

• List of current MLS players

References

1. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=03222009_DCLA
2. ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=04042009_COLLA
3. ^ LA's Gonzalez named top MLS rookie
4. ^ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/398759-this-is-the-los-angeles-galaxy-omar-gonzalez

External links

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

Persondata
Name	Gonzalez, Omar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 11, 1988
Place of birth	Dallas, Texas, United States
Date of death
Place of death