Giancarlo González Explained

Giancarlo González
Full Name:Giancarlo González Castro[1]
Birth Date:8 February 1988
Birth Place:Desamparados, San José, Costa Rica
Height:1.86 m[2]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Sporting San José
Clubnumber:26
Youthyears1:2004–2006
Youthclubs1:Alajuelense
Years1:2009–2012
Clubs1:Alajuelense
Caps1:91
Goals1:6
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Vålerenga
Caps2:37
Goals2:2
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Columbus Crew
Caps3:17
Goals3:1
Years4:2014–2017
Clubs4:Palermo
Caps4:84
Goals4:4
Years5:2017–2019
Clubs5:Bologna
Caps5:34
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2021
Clubs6:LA Galaxy
Caps6:30
Goals6:2
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Alajuelense (loan)
Caps7:17
Goals7:1
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:Alajuelense
Caps8:12
Goals8:1
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Sporting San José
Caps9:9
Goals9:1
Nationalyears1:2007–2008
Nationalteam1:Costa Rica U20
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2010–
Nationalteam2:Costa Rica
Nationalcaps2:90
Nationalgoals2:2
Club-Update:09:34, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:20 November 2023

Giancarlo González Castro (born 8 February 1988) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga FPD club Sporting San José, which he captains, and the Costa Rica national team.

Club career

Early career

González spent his youth career with Alajuelense, apart from a stint with Saprissa when he was between 12 and 14 years of age.[3] He began his professional career with Alajuelense in 2007 and was a key player in helping his club win three league titles.

González joined Norwegian club Vålerenga after his contract expired on 31 July 2012.[4] During his time at Vålerenga, González appeared in 37 league matches and scored two goals.

Columbus Crew

On 21 February 2014, González signed with Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew.[5] On 15 April 2014, the MLS Disciplinary Committee fined González an undisclosed amount for "embellishment" of an incident in the 92nd minute of the game against the San Jose Earthquakes on 13 April.[6] [7] González was also nominated for the satirical "Fallon d'Floor" award for this effort.[8] [9]

Palermo

After his performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, González received interest from a number of European clubs, and on 26 August 2014 Palermo of Italy's Serie A confirmed they had signed him on a three-year deal.[10] The transfer fee was reported to be $5 million, with 5% of the fee being distributed among González's youth clubs Alajuelense and Saprissa as per the FIFA solidarity contribution rules.[3] He made his debut on 19 October 2014 in a home game against Cesena, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring the winning goal in the first minute of injury time.[11]

Palermo's 2016–17 season ended in relegation from Serie A, with González making 21 appearances.[12]

Bologna

On 22 June 2017, Bologna announced the signing of González.[12] [13]

LA Galaxy

On 11 April 2019, González signed with the LA Galaxy.[14]

International career

González played at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada.

Nicknamed Pipo,[15] he made his senior international debut for Costa Rica in a friendly against Slovakia on 5 June 2010. In January 2013, he scored the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Honduras in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana final.

2014 World Cup

In June 2014, González was named in Costa Rica's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[16] In the team's first two group matches, he and his central defensive colleagues Michael Umaña and Óscar Duarte allowed only one goal as Los Ticos beat Uruguay (3–1) and Italy (1–0) to qualify for the knockout stage.[17] [18] Costa Rica completed the group stage unbeaten, recording a second consecutive shutout in a 0–0 draw with England in Belo Horizonte.[19] González's play at the back was listed by several as key to the team's progression from the group stage. His countless interceptions and tackles led to him being named to the ESPN Best XI of the group stage.[20] During the round of 16, González was the third of five Costa Rican players to successfully convert his kick in a 5–3 penalty shootout defeat of Greece.[21] He was included in the BBC's team of the tournament.[22]

2018 World Cup

In May 2018 he was named in Costa Rica's 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[23]

Personal life

González is of Spanish origin.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Costa Rica . FIFA . 6 . 15 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190611000407/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF . 11 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Giancarlo Gonzalez. Bologna FC 1909. 13 August 2017.
  3. News: Fuentes Alpízar. Ferlin. Giancarlo González repartirá millones a Alajuelense y Saprissa. Giancarlo González divides millions between Alajuelense and Saprissa. 13 December 2015. Al Día. 7 September 2014. es.
  4. Web site: Martin Andresen forsterker med costaricansk landslagsspiller . no . TV2 Sporten . 6 March 2012 . 1 August 2012.
  5. News: Crew signs Costa Rican International Giancarlo Gonzalez . Columbus Crew . 21 February 2014 . 21 February 2014 . 24 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224024720/http://www.thecrew.com/news/2014/02/crew-signs-costa-rican-international-giancarlo-gonzalez . dead .
  6. News: MLS fines Giancarlo Gonzalez for flop. 13 December 2015. ESPNFC. 15 April 2014.
  7. Web site: Pepe over Reacting Vs Morocco (Reddit) GIF by fusir. 17 December 2014. 8 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181008154339/https://gfycat.com/bothbrighthalicore. dead.
  8. Web site: Hautmann. Thomas. Checking out the contestants for the first annual Fallon D'Floor. Fox Soccer Blogs. 13 January 2016. 17 December 2014.
  9. News: Brankovic. Maja. Wer erhält die Schwalbentrophäe "Fallon d'Floor"?. 13 January 2016. 11 Freunde. 18 December 2014. de. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612164209/https://www.11freunde.de/interview/wer-erhaelt-die-schwalbentrophaee-fallon-dfloor. dead.
  10. News: it . 26 August 2014 . US Città di Palermo . 26 August 2014 . GONZALEZ E' DEL PALERMO CONTRATTO TRIENNALE PER IL CENTRALE . 27 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140827070136/http://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=30395 . dead .
  11. News: Carci. Francesco. Palermo-Cesena 2-1, Gonzalez regala in extremis il primo successo ai rosanero. 13 January 2016. la Repubblica. 19 October 2014. it.
  12. Web site: Official: Bologna sign Gonzalez. Football Italia. 22 June 2017. 22 June 2017.
  13. Web site: González joins Bologna in permanent deal. BolognaFC. 22 June 2017. 22 June 2017.
  14. Web site: LA Galaxy sign defender Giancarlo Gonzalez . lagalaxy.com . 11 April 2019.
  15. http://www.nacion.com/deportes/brasil-2014/Giancarlo-Gonzalez-Seleccion-Costa-Rica_0_1418658181.html Giancarlo 'Pipo' González es vital en el centro de la defensa de la Selección de Costa Rica
  16. News: Costa Rica World Cup 2014 squad. 2 June 2014. 20 June 2014. The Telegraph.
  17. News: Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica. 14 June 2014. 22 June 2014. BBC.
  18. News: Italy 0-1 Costa Rica. 20 June 2014. 22 June 2014. BBC.
  19. News: Taylor. Daniel. England end disappointing World Cup with barren draw against Costa Rica. 25 June 2014. The Guardian. 24 June 2014.
  20. News: Molyneux-Carter. Jon. Best XI of the group stage. 13 December 2015. ESPNFC. 27 June 2014.
  21. News: Costa Rica 1-1 Greece. 30 June 2014. 29 June 2014. BBC.
  22. News: World Cup 2014: BBC Sport pundits' team of the tournament. 13 December 2015. BBC Sport. 13 July 2014.
  23. Web site: Costa Rica national team World Cup squad: Oscar Ramirez names 23-man roster featuring Keylor Navas, six MLS players Goal.com.
  24. http://www.nacion.com/deportes/futbol-costa-rica/Giancarlo-Gonzalez-sonador-emergio-lagrimas-Los_Mundialistas_0_1418458191.html Giancarlo González: El soñador que emergió de sus lágrimas
  25. Web site: G. González. Soccerway. 13 December 2015.
  26. Web site: NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk. Norsk internasjonal Fotballstatistikk. 13 December 2015. no.
  27. Web site: Javier Hernandez and Carli Lloyd Named 2015 CONCACAF Players of the Year. CONCACAF.com. 22 January 2016. 4 August 2021. 19 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170819135212/http://www.concacaf.com/article/javier-hernandez-and-carli-lloyd-named-2015-concacaf-players-of-the-year. dead.
  28. Web site: ESPAÑOL: No. 10. El Ascenso de Giancarlo González | Mes de la Herencia Hispana|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2014/10/13/espa%C3%B1ol-no-10-el-ascenso-de-giancarlo-gonz%C3%A1lez-mes-de-la-herencia-hispana|website=MLSSoccer|access-date=13 January 2016|language=es|date=13 October 2014|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305150926/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2014/10/13/espa%C3%B1ol-no-10-el-ascenso-de-giancarlo-gonz%C3%A1lez-mes-de-la-herencia-hispana|url-status=dead}} He is a son of Roberto González and Elsa Castro and has a sister and brother. He has a son.[24]

    Career statistics

    Club

    Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
    ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalPlayoffsTotal
    DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    Alajuelense2008–09[25] Costa Rican Primera División202
    2009–10283283
    2010–113400000340
    2011–122936000353
    Total916008000996
    Vålerenga2012[26] Tippeligaen120120
    201325240292
    Total372400000412
    Columbus Crew2014Major League Soccer171171
    Palermo2014–15Serie A281281
    2015–1635210361
    2016–1721100211
    Total844100000854
    Bologna2017–18Serie A22010230
    2018–1912010130
    Total340200000360
    LA Galaxy2019Major League Soccer201002020241
    20201010000101
    Total302002020342
    Career total29315701002031215

    International

    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Costa Rica201030
    201110
    201291
    2013191
    201490
    2015100
    201630
    2017120
    2018110
    201950
    202010
    202150
    202200
    202320
    Total902

    Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each González goal.

    List of international goals scored by Giancarlo González
    No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    1 25 May 2012 Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica 3–2 3–2 Friendly
    2 27 January 2013 Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica 1–0 1–0 2013 Copa Centroamericana

    Honours

    Alajuelense

    Costa Rica

    Individual

    External links

    .