Emmanuel Ochoa Explained

Emmanuel Ochoa
Fullname:Emmanuel Ochoa
Birth Date:5 May 2005
Birth Place:Salinas, California, United States
Height:6 ft 2 in
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:San Jose Earthquakes
Clubnumber:41
Youthclubs1:El Camino
Youthyears2:2017–2019
Youthclubs2:Santa Cruz Breakers
Youthyears3:2019–
Youthclubs3:San Jose Earthquakes
Years1:2021–
Clubs1:San Jose Earthquakes
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2022–
Clubs2:The Town FC
Caps2:38
Goals2:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:United States U15
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021
Nationalteam2:Mexico U18
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2022
Nationalteam3:United States U19
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalteam4:Mexico U20
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears4:2024
Club-Update:July 21, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:July 25, 2024

Emmanuel "Emi" Ochoa (born May 5, 2005) is a professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.[1] Born in the United States, he is a youth international for Mexico.

Club career

Born in Salinas, California, Ochoa started his career with local side El Camino before joining the Santa Cruz Breakers.[2] [3] He joined the San Jose Earthquakes academy in 2019, before being promoted to the first team ahead of the 2020 season.[4]

Ochoa made national sports headlines in November 2019 when, at only 14 years and 191 days old, he signed as a Homegrown Player for the San Jose Earthquakes, making him the youngest ever Homegrown Player in Major League Soccer history.[1] [2] [4] He is also the second youngest player to register for an MLS team, behind Freddy Adu, and at the time of his signing was considered to be the best goalkeeper of his age group in the country.[5] [6] [7]

International career

Born in the United States, Ochoa is of Mexican descent. He has represented the United States at under-14 and under-15 level.[1] [2] [8] [9] He is also eligible to represent Mexico.[6] On March 9, 2020, Ochoa received a call up to the Mexico U-16 side, his first for any of Mexico's national team squads.[10] He played in a scrimmage match against the youth team of Club Puebla on March 12, 2020.[11] [12]

In August 2021, Ochoa was called up to the Mexico under-18 squad, and made his debut in a 2–1 loss to the Republic of Ireland under-17s.[13] [14]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Jose Earthquakes2021MLS0000
2024001010
Total001010
The Town FC2022MLS Next Pro150150
20233030
Total180180
Career total180100000190

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Emmanuel Ochoa. mlssoccer.com. February 16, 2020.
  2. Web site: Emmanuel Ochoa. sjearthquakes.com. February 16, 2020.
  3. Web site: San Jose Earthquakes sign 14-year-old goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa. November 11, 2019. mlssoccer.com. February 16, 2020.
  4. Web site: Earthquakes sign 14-year-old keeper, youngest homegrown player in MLS history. November 11, 2019. sfchronicle.com. February 16, 2020.
  5. Web site: 'It feels really good': Star keeper Ochoa latest Salinas talent to sign with Earthquakes. November 12, 2019. thecalifornian.com. February 16, 2020.
  6. Web site: San Jose signs Emmanuel Ochoa, 14, second-youngest MLS signing after Freddy Adu. November 12, 2019. espn.co.uk. February 16, 2020.
  7. Web site: Earthquakes sign 14-year-old to Major League Soccer contract. November 11, 2019. mercurynews.com. February 16, 2020.
  8. Web site: Eighty Players Called in for YNT U-14 TID West Region Mini-Camp. January 17, 2019. ussoccer.com. March 29, 2020.
  9. Web site: U-15 Boys' National Team Heads to Poland for UEFA Development Tournament. October 17, 2019. ussoccer.com. March 29, 2020.
  10. Web site: Página Oficial de la Selección Nacional de México. miseleccion.mx. es. 2020-03-10.
  11. Web site: La SNM Sub-16 se impuso al Club Puebla. November 11, 2019. The SNM Sub-16 prevailed over Club Puebla. Spanish. miseleccion.mx. March 29, 2020.
  12. Web site: NEWS: Emi Ochoa called to Mexico U-18 National Team. 31 August 2021. 8 November 2021. sjearthquakes.com.
  13. Web site: MLS homegrown trio called into Mexico youth national team camps. 31 August 2021. 8 November 2021. mlssoccer.com.
  14. Web site: REPORT - Ireland U17 2-1 Mexico U17. 5 September 2021. 8 November 2021. fai.ie.