- Omar Gonzalez
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Omar Gonzalez
Gonzalez with the Galaxy in August 2010Personal information Full name Omar Gonzalez Date of birth 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 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, 2011Omar 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.
Contents
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
References
External links
- MLS player profile
- Omar Gonzalez at National-Football-Teams.com
Los Angeles Galaxy – current squad 1 Ricketts · 2 Dunivant · 4 Gonzalez · 5 Franklin · 6 Hejduk · 7 Kirovski · 8 Birchall · 10 Donovan · 11 Barrett · 12 Saunders · 14 Keane · 15 Keat · 16 Jiménez · 17 Cristman · 18 Magee · 19 Juninho · 20 DeLaGarza · 21 McCarty · 22 Leonardo · 23 Beckham · 24 Perk · 25 López · 26 Stephens · 27 Jordan · 28 Thomas · 29 Robinson · 30 Cardozo · 32 McBean · 33 Alvarado ·
Head Coach: Arena Associate Head Coach: Sarachan Assistant Coach: Onalfo Player/Assistant Coach: Berhalter Goalkeeper Coach: Feuer
Categories:- 1988 births
- Living people
- American people of Mexican descent
- American soccer players of Mexican descent
- Hispanic and Latino American people
- American soccer players
- Soccer players from Texas
- Los Angeles Galaxy players
- Maryland Terrapins men's soccer players
- Footballers at the 2007 Pan American Games
- United States men's international soccer players
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