Herculez Gomez Explained

Herculez Gomez
Full Name:Herculez Gomez[1]
Birth Date:6 April 1982
Birth Place:Oxnard, California, U.S.
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:2001–2002
Youthclubs1:Cruz Azul
Years1:2002
Clubs1:San Diego Gauchos
Caps1:17
Goals1:17
Years2:2002–2006
Clubs2:LA Galaxy
Caps2:53
Goals2:16
Years3:2003
Clubs3:Seattle Sounders (loan)
Caps3:17
Goals3:1
Years4:2004
Clubs4:San Diego Sockers (loan)
Caps4:10
Goals4:5
Years5:2007–2008
Clubs5:Colorado Rapids
Caps5:37
Goals5:6
Years6:2008–2009
Clubs6:Kansas City Wizards
Caps6:34
Goals6:1
Years7:2010
Clubs7:Puebla
Caps7:15
Goals7:10
Years8:2010–2011
Clubs8:Pachuca
Caps8:29
Goals8:5
Years9:2011
Clubs9:Tecos
Caps9:16
Goals9:7
Years10:2012–2013
Clubs10:Santos Laguna
Caps10:45
Goals10:13
Years11:2013–2015
Clubs11:Tijuana
Caps11:21
Goals11:0
Years12:2014
Clubs12:Tigres UANL (loan)
Caps12:15
Goals12:1
Years13:2015
Clubs13:Puebla (loan)
Caps13:13
Goals13:1
Years14:2015
Clubs14:Toronto FC
Caps14:7
Goals14:1
Years15:2016
Clubs15:Seattle Sounders FC
Caps15:21
Goals15:0
Totalcaps:350
Totalgoals:85
Nationalyears1:2007–2013
Nationalteam1:United States
Nationalcaps1:24
Nationalgoals1:6

Herculez Gomez (born April 6, 1982) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He currently works as a commentator in both English and Spanish for ESPN.

Early life

Gomez, the oldest of five children, was born in Oxnard, California[2] to Mexican-American parents.[3] He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada,[4] and played on the soccer team at Las Vegas High School.[5]

Club career

Early career

Gomez started his career in 2001 with Cruz Azul of the Mexican Primera División on their second-division squad, and transferred to second-division team Aguilas Blancas de Puebla later that year. The following season, he returned to the Primera División with Durango. However, playing opportunities were scarce for him there. The Los Angeles Galaxy staff noticed him during a friendly match and he joined the team in September.[6]

MLS

Gomez broke his foot while on loan to the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues, and recovery took a long time. When he was able to play again, he joined the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.[7] He returned to the Galaxy for the 2005 season on a developmental contract, and played well enough to make it to the first team. His big chance came when Landon Donovan was called up to the national team. Donovan's absence gave Gomez many more starts at striker, and he was able to shine as a breakout goal-scorer.[8]

He scored the game-winning goal in the 2005 U.S. Open Cup Final, then helped the Galaxy to a rare Cup 'double' when they also won the 2005 MLS Cup. Gomez ended the 2005 season with eighteen goals scored for the Galaxy (in all matches), and was voted by the local L.A. media as the year's Most Valuable Player.[9]

Early in the 2006 season, Gomez was moved to the bench with then-coach Steve Sampson. Sampson used Gomez as a midfielder to see if he could score goals running at defenses. After Sampson's firing, however, Gomez scored several times under new coach Frank Yallop, and ended that season with five goals.[10]

In December 2006, Gomez was traded to the Colorado Rapids along with Ugo Ihemelu in exchange for Joe Cannon.[11] He scored the first goal in the history of Dick's Sporting Goods Park in his first game for Colorado, a 2–1 win over D.C. United on April 7, 2007. Gomez tore his ACL during training with the Rapids in September of that year and underwent a lengthy recovery process.[12]

Gomez was traded to Kansas City Wizards in exchange for allocation money, a fourth round 2009 MLS SuperDraft pick and a first round 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft pick in September 2008.[13] His only goal for the Wizards was an injury time winner against San Jose Earthquakes, a must win game in their 2008 play-offs push.[14]

Mexico

After being released by Kansas City in late 2009, Gomez signed with Mexican club Puebla in January 2010.[15] He scored ten goals in the 2010 Mexican season[16] to tie for the lead for most goals; this feat marked the first time any American player led a foreign league in goals.[17] He moved to Pachuca in the summer 2010 window.

Pachuca placed Gomez, along with its entire squad, on the transfer list.[18] During the transfer window he moved along with teammate Braulio Luna to Estudiantes Tecos.[19] Gomez scored his first goal for his new club in the second game of the Mexico Apertura season, coming in a 2–1 loss to San Luis.[20] On August 19, Gomez scored the winner as a sub against his former club Pachuca.[21]

Cash-strapped Estudiantes Tecos were forced into selling Gomez to league rivals Santos Laguna in December 2011.[22] Gomez scored 11 goals in his first 12 appearances for the team across all competitions.

With Santos Laguna's 2012 Clausura victory, Gomez became the first player to have won both the MLS Cup and the Primera División championship.[23] In 2013, he moved to Club Tijuana. After struggling with Tijuana, he was loaned to Tigres UANL for the 2014–15 season.[24] However, he ended the season poorly with only one goal. His loan was not extended.

Return to MLS

In August 2015, Gomez joined Toronto FC.[25]

After his release from Toronto at the beginning of the 2016 MLS season, Gomez joined Seattle Sounders FC.[26] He won MLS Cup for the second time in his career. He retired following the season and joined ESPN as an analyst.[27]

International career

Gomez was named to the United States roster for the 2007 Copa America and earned his first cap as a second-half substitute against Argentina, with his first start coming against Colombia.[28]

After a lengthy absence from the national team, Gomez was named to the provisional 30-man U.S. squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup after a highly productive club season in Mexico. He scored a goal for the U.S. national team in a 4–2 friendly defeat to the Czech Republic on May 25; the next day he was named to the final 23-man squad.[29] Gomez played in 3 out of the 4 games for the United States at the World Cup, including the round of 16 game against Ghana.

Gomez made his return to the national team in 2012, appearing in friendlies against Scotland and Brazil and scoring a goal against the latter. Later in 2012, he scored goals in World Cup qualifying against Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica

His last national team appearance came during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[30] [31]

Broadcaster

In January 2017, Gomez announced his retirement from professional soccer, and joined the broadcasting team at ESPN. He typically appears as a studio analyst / pundit for ESPN FC, MLS games, and U.S. National Team games.[32] Also, he is the co-host of several podcasts, most notably the Max and Herc podcast with Max Bretos, where they discuss news around Major League Soccer and the United States national team, and the Two on Tri podcast with Sebastian Salazar, where they discuss the Liga MX, the Mexico national team, and Mexican players abroad.

He and Salazar also host "Fútbol Americas" on ESPN+.

Personal life

Herculez is the brother of MMA fighter Ulysses Gomez.[33]

Career statistics

Club

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
Season Club LeagueApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
USALeagueCupLeague CupCONCACAFTotal
2003LA GalaxyMajor League Soccer1000000010
2003Seattle SoundersA-League171004000211
2005LA GalaxyMajor League Soccer22114641003018
2006305100000315
2007Colorado Rapids204110000215
2008172000000172
2008Kansas City Wizards8100100091
2009260200000280
MexicoLeagueCupLeague CupCONCACAFTotal
PueblaLiga MX1510001510
2010–11Pachuca29500295
2011–12Tecos16700167
Santos Laguna17700662313
2012–13338001034311
2013–14Tijuana2100043253
2014–15Tigres UANL (loan)15075225
Puebla (loan)13172203
CanadaLeagueCupLeague CupCONCACAFTotal
2015Toronto FCMajor League Soccer71002081
USALeagueCupMLS CupCONCACAFTotal
2016Seattle Sounders FCMajor League Soccer2103110251
TotalUSA/Canada169251181210019233
Mexico1313714700201216556
Career total300622515121201235790

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
United States
200720
200800
200900
201062
201100
2012113
201351
Total246
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1May 25, 2010Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States2–22–4Friendly
2June 5, 2010Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort, South Africa3–13–1
3May 30, 2012FedExField, Landover, United States1–21–4
4June 8, 2012Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States3–13–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5September 11, 2012Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United States1–01–0
6July 5, 2013Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United States1–06–0Friendly

Honors

LA Galaxy

2002, 2005

2005

Santos Laguna

Clausura 2012

Puebla

Clausura 2015

Seattle Sounders FC

2016

United States

2013[34]

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: USA . FIFA . 32 . June 12, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191018131759/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2010/PDF_BackUp_2010_06_13/FWC_2010_SquadLists.pdf . October 18, 2019.
  2. http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/mnt/g/herculez-gomez.aspx Player Bio: Herculez Gomez
  3. Web site: Herculez Gomez ready to give USA his best shot - USATODAY.com. . July 6, 2016.
  4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-phillips/herculez-gomez-represents_b_592032.html Herculez Gomez Represents What America Is All About
  5. http://www.dailysoccerfix.com/2010/5/24/1485778/timeline-the-improbable-rise-of Timeline: the improbable rise of U.S. candidate Herculez Gomez
  6. Web site: MLS alum Herculez Gomez living his unusual dream in Mexico - Luis Bueno - SI.com . June 10, 2010 . February 16, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100216131308/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/luis_bueno/02/12/herculez.gomez/index.html . dead .
  7. Web site: A road to World Cup paved with heartache. July 6, 2016.
  8. Web site: Herculez Gomez lights up the nets in Mexico - ESPN Soccernet . June 10, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100411231938/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5063896/ce/us/herculez-gomez-lights-nets-mexico?cc=5901&ver=us . April 11, 2010 .
  9. Web site: Hispanic-Americans.com : Herculez Gomez Wins Mexican League Scoring Title . June 10, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711170851/http://hispanic-americans.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/04/26/herculez-gomez-wins-mexican-league-scoring-title.aspx . July 11, 2011 .
  10. Web site: Buddle, Gomez named to final U.S. roster. . July 6, 2016.
  11. Web site: Galaxy acquire goalkeeper Cannon in trade with Rapids - USATODAY.com. July 6, 2016.
  12. Web site: Las Vegas' Herculez Gomez makes U.S. preliminary World Cup roster. May 11, 2010. July 6, 2016.
  13. Web site: Gomez traded from Rapids to K.C. – The Denver Post. September 3, 2008. July 6, 2016.
  14. http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/08/2003091/former-wizard-gomez-takes-improbable.html
  15. Web site: Down the Byline: Herculez Gomez to Puebla FC. July 6, 2016.
  16. Web site: Pachuca signs American forward Herculez Gomez - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports . June 10, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100524180249/http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-pachuca-gomez . May 24, 2010 .
  17. Web site: Gomez likely to train with Chivas USA MLSsoccer.com . April 27, 2010 . July 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100704055328/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/gomez-likely-train-chivas-usa . dead .
  18. Web site: Mexican team Pachuca puts entire squad up for sale - Goal.com. May 4, 2011. July 6, 2016.
  19. Web site: Mexican Primera Transfer Rumors: Herculez Gomez Moves To Estudiantes Tecos, DaMarcus Beasley Observes Pachuca Training. Drew. Epperley. June 2011. July 6, 2016.
  20. Web site: Mexican Apertura 2011 Round 2: Free-scoring Monterrey, Santos highlight exciting weekend - Goal.com. August 1, 2011. July 6, 2016.
  21. Web site: Gringo Report: Gomez scores last-minute winner for Tecos MLSsoccer.com . August 21, 2011 . October 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014060907/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/08/20/gringo-report-gomez-scores-last-minute-winner-tecos . dead .
  22. Web site: Gomez headed to Santos Laguna. December 10, 2011. July 6, 2016.
  23. Web site: Santos Laguna 2-1 Monterrey: Guerreros and Herculez Gomez hoist Clausura trophy. July 6, 2016.
  24. Web site: American Exports: Herculez Gomez completes loan move to Tigres UANL MLSsoccer.com . June 5, 2014 . February 11, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150211190436/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/06/04/american-exports-herculez-gomez-completes-loan-move-tigres . dead .
  25. Web site: TFC signs Hérculez Gómez. Toronto FC. 7 August 2015. August 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150809052420/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2015/08/tfc-signs-herculez-gomez. dead.
  26. http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2016/03/23/seattle-sounders-add-veteran-striker-herculez-gomez Seattle Sounders add veteran striker Herculez Gomez | Seattle Sounders FC
  27. Web site: Herculez Gomez Joins ESPN as Soccer Studio Analyst. January 17, 2017.
  28. Web site: Gomez reignites career in Mexico - News - FOX Sports on MSN . June 10, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100604085727/http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/040110-galarcep-gomez-reignites-career-in-mexico . June 4, 2010 .
  29. News: Two Strikers Score Their Way Into the Picture. May 17, 2010. The New York Times. July 6, 2016.
  30. Web site: Klinsmann Names 23-Player Roster to Compete in 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup . USsoccer.com . U.S. Soccer . July 17, 2013 . June 27, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130710215704/http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/06/23-player-roster-to-compete-in-2013-gold-cup.aspx . July 10, 2013 .
  31. Web site: Gold Cup: Herculez Gomez leaves US team ahead of quarterfinals. MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. July 17, 2013. July 17, 2013.
  32. Web site: HERCULEZ GOMEZ - ESPN MediaZone. espnmediazone.com. en-US. 2017-09-21.
  33. Web site: Big month of May for the Gomez brothers | on the Mat | Worlds Largest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi and No Gi Belt Database . June 10, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722143753/http://www.onthemat.com/blogs-posts/big-month-may-gomez-brothers . July 22, 2011 .
  34. Web site: USA 1–0 Panama – as it happened. July 28, 2013. Guardian UK. July 5, 2023 .