Leonardo González (Costa Rican footballer) explained

Leonardo González
Fullname:Leonardo González Arce[1]
Birth Date:21 November 1980
Birth Place:San José, Costa Rica
Position:Leftback
Years1:2000–2008
Clubs1:Herediano
Caps1:154
Goals1:3
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Municipal Liberia
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2009–2015
Clubs3:Seattle Sounders FC
Caps3:133
Goals3:2
Years4:2016–2019
Clubs4:Herediano
Caps4:50
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2002–2009
Nationalteam1:Costa Rica
Nationalcaps1:61
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:October 28, 2016
Nationalteam-Update:December 6, 2010

Leonardo González Arce (born November 21, 1980) is a Costa Rican former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Career

Club

González made his professional debut for Herediano on September 24, 2000, against Puntarenas and scored his first league goal on August 4, 2002, against Carmelita.[2] González was an important player for Herediano, appearing in 154 league matches and scoring 3 goals in nine years at the club. He stayed with the team until his transfer to Municipal Liberia, also known as Liberia Mia in early 2009.[3] On July 2, 2009, it was announced that he was signed to Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer.[4] [5] [6]

Upon signing González, Coach Sigi Schmid said, “It’s nice to have a naturally left-footed player. He can play left back, play center back in a pinch, and he can also play wide and run the whole line for us. He is an attacking left fullback with good size and athleticism. He’s very willing to get forward out of a defensive position and does a good job defensively.”[5]

González stayed with Seattle through the end of the 2015 MLS season. On December 22, 2015, González signed with Herediano, his original Costa Rican club.[7]

International

González made his debut for Costa Rica in a November 2002 friendly match against Ecuador and earned a total of 61 caps, scoring 1 goal.[8] He represented his country in 15 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2003,[9] 2007[10] and 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cups.[11] He was also selected to play in the UNCAF Nations Cup 2007, where he scored against Honduras.

His final international was a July 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup match against El Salvador.

International goals

Personal life

González is married to Alejandra Abarca Hernández and they have two children.

González received his U.S. green card in March 2011.[12] This qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.

Honors

Costa Rica

Municipal Liberia

Club Sport Herediano

Seattle Sounders FC

2014

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Costa Rica . FIFA . 5 . 21 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf . 10 June 2019.
  2. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2003/junio/29/deportes10.html Datos: Leonardo González
  3. http://www.nacion.com/deportes/futbol-costa-rica/Leo-Gonzalez-jugara-Liberia_0_1025697458.html Leo González jugará con Liberia
  4. http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2009/julio/03/deportes2015880.html Leonardo González jugará en el Sounders de Seattle
  5. http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2009/07-July/Leonardo-Gonzalez.aspx Sounders FC sign Leonardo Gonzalez – Seattle Sounders Football Club
  6. http://www.monumental.co.cr/noticiaD.aspx?idParrafo=5147 Monumental
  7. Web site: Leo Gonzalez returns to Costa Rica after signing contract with CS Herediano | Seattle Sounders.
  8. Web site: Mamrud, Roberto . Costa Rica - Record International Players . June 2, 2009 . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20090706072055/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/cos-recintlp.html . July 6, 2009 .
  9. https://www.rsssf.org/tables/03gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2003 - Full Details
  10. https://www.rsssf.org/tables/07gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2007 - Full Details
  11. https://www.rsssf.org/tables/09gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2009 - Full Details
  12. Web site: Public . Sounders FC . Defender Leo Gonzalez Receives Green Card - Seattle Sounders Football Club . Soundersfc.com . March 29, 2011 . July 9, 2012.