Gael Sandoval Explained

Gael Sandoval
Fullname:Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras[1]
Birth Date:5 November 1995
Birth Place:Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Height:1.68m (05.51feet)
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:2009–2010
Youthclubs1:Guadalajara
Youthyears2:2010–2011
Youthclubs2:Club Oro
Youthyears3:2010–2012
Youthclubs3:Tecos
Youthyears4:2012–2014
Youthclubs4:Santos Laguna
Years1:2012
Clubs1:Tecos
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2017
Clubs2:Santos Laguna
Caps2:49
Goals2:2
Years3:2015–2016
Clubs3:Juárez (loan)
Caps3:35
Goals3:0
Years5:2019
Clubs5:Juárez (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years4:2018–2022
Clubs4:Guadalajara
Caps4:42
Goals4:2
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Santos Laguna (loan)
Caps6:14
Goals6:3
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Mazatlán (loan)
Caps7:17
Goals7:0
Years8:2022
Clubs8:Wellington Phoenix (loan)
Caps8:20
Goals8:6
Years9:2023
Clubs9:Tepatitlán
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years10:2023
Clubs10:Vancouver FC
Caps10:12
Goals10:1
Years11:2023–2024
Clubs11:UdeG
Caps11:28
Goals11:4
Club-Update:10 May 2024

Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras (born 5 November 1995) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays for Leones Negros in the Liga de Expansión MX.

Club career

Youth career

Sandoval played for many academies in the state of his native Jalisco, starting with Club Oro in 2010 and then settled with Estudiantes Tecos, until they were dissolved in 2012. Santos Laguna signed him to play for their under 17s shortly after. He went on trial with Roma in 2013, but was not signed.[2]

Santos Laguna

In 2012, Sandoval moved to Santos Laguna. He made his Liga MX debut on July 17, 2016, against Tigres UANL coming in as substitute.[3]

Loan at Juárez

In the summer of 2015, Sandoval joined Juárez on an one-year loan in the Ascenso MX, to gain professional playing experience.[4] [5] In his first season, he won the Liga Ascenso Apertura 2015.[6]

Guadalajara

It was confirmed on November 18, 2017, that Sandoval will play for Guadalajara.[7]

Loans

On 9 January 2020, Sandoval returned to Juárez, joining the club on a six-months loan.[8]

On 10 July 2020, Sandoval returned to Santos Laguna on loan, for the Apertura 2020.[9]

In December 2020, Sandoval was loaned out to Mazatlán FC, wearing the squad number 1, a number typically used by goalkeepers.

In December 2021, Sandoval joined New Zealand A-League club Wellington Phoenix on loan until the end of the season.[10]

Tepatitlán

On 15 January 2023, after being without a club for six months, Sandoval joined Liga Expansión club Tepatitlán on a free transfer.[11] Shortly after, on 6 February 2023, and without playing a game, he agreed a mutual termination with the club, with the intent of joining a MLS club.[12]

Vancouver FC

Instead of a MLS club, on 1 March 2023, Sandoval joined Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC as their marquee signing.[13] On 13 July 2023, after a disappointing stint at the club, he and the team agreed on a mutual contract termination.[14]

Leones Negros

On 27 July 2023, returned to Mexico to join his hometown club Leones Negros in Liga de Expansión MX.[15]

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tecos2012–13Ascenso MX1010
Santos Laguna2013–14Liga MX004040
2014–15001010
2016–1735280432
2017–1814020160
Total49214010642
Juárez (loan)2015–16Ascenso MX35030380
Guadalajara2017–18Liga MX13030160
2018–192225221295
2019–207040110
Total4229251565
Juárez (loan)2019–20Liga MX103040
Santos Laguna (loan)2020–21Liga MX143143
Mazatlán (loan)2020–21Liga MX140140
2021–223030
Total1700000170
Wellington Phoenix (loan)2021–22A-League20610216
Vancouver FC2023Canadian Premier League12110131
Leones Negros2023–24Liga de Expansión MX284284
Career total219183126125621

Honours

Santos Laguna

Clausura 2015

Apertura 2014

2015

Guadalajara

2018[16]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018: List of Players: CD Guadalajara . FIFA . 2 . 6 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181206234932/https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FCWC/2018/pdf/FCWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF . 6 December 2018 . dead.
  2. Web site: Sandoval recibe oportunidad en el primer equipo santista . Julio Carrillo . ElSigloDeTorreon.com . 2017-10-30.
  3. Web site: Gael Sandoval, la perla de Santos Laguna. Medio Tiempo . MedioTiempo.com. Spanish . 2017-03-09 . 2017-11-19.
  4. Web site: Hernández Castrejón . Carlos . 2015-06-12 . Rafa Figueroa se va a Leones Negros . 2024-05-10 . milenio.com.
  5. Web site: Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras . LIGA BBVA Bancomer MX . LigaMX.net . 2017-10-30.
  6. Web site: Lopez & Rodriguez . Luis Carlos & Juan Antonio . 2015-12-05 . First-year Bravos win championship for Juárez . 2024-05-10 . El Paso Times . en-US.
  7. Web site: Chivas se refuerza con Gael Sandoval.... Univision Deportes. Univision.com. Spanish . 2017-11-18 . 2017-11-19.
  8. Web site: 2020-01-09 . Oficial: Gael Sandoval es nuevo jugador del FC Juárez . 2024-05-10 . Rebaño Pasión . es-ES.
  9. Web site: Torreón . El Siglo de . 2020-07-10 . Gael Sandoval tendrá una nueva oportunidad con Santos Laguna . 2024-05-10 . www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx . es.
  10. Web site: Mexican Playmaker Joins Phoenix on Loan. Wellington Phoenix. 21 December 2021.
  11. Web site: Mediotiempo . Editorial . 2023-01-15 . Gael Sandoval se convirtió en refuerzo del Tepatitlan FC . 2024-05-10 . Mediotiempo . es-MX.
  12. Web site: Redacción . 2023-02-08 . Gael Sandoval deja al Tepatitlán a menos de un mes de ser presentado con "bombo y platillo" . 2024-05-10 . telediario.mx.
  13. Web site: Clarke . Charlie . 2023-03-01 . Vancouver FC sign 'game-changer' Gael Sandoval from Liga MX as 1st international star . 2024-05-10 . onesoccer.ca.
  14. Web site: Jacques . John . 2023-07-13 . Statement Signing Sizzles Out: Sandoval Leaves Vancouver . 2024-05-10 . Northern Tribune . en-US.
  15. Web site: Reynoso . Alma . 2023-07-27 . Walter Gael Sandoval llega para reforzar a Leones Negros . 2024-05-10 . Quadratin Jalisco . es.
  16. Web site: ¡CAMPEONES DE CONCACAF! . chivasdecorazon.com.mx. 25 April 2018. 25 April 2018.