Raúl Mendiola Explained

Raúl Mendiola
Birth Date:18 May 1994
Birth Place:Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Currentclub:Central Valley Fuego
Clubnumber:11
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthyears1:2011–2014
Youthclubs1:LA Galaxy
Years1:2014–2017
Clubs1:LA Galaxy
Caps1:13
Goals1:0
Years2:2014–2017
Clubs2:LA Galaxy II
Caps2:69
Goals2:6
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Las Vegas Lights
Caps3:22
Goals3:10
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Reno 1868
Caps4:28
Goals4:4
Years5:2020
Clubs5:San Diego Loyal
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Las Vegas Lights
Caps6:10
Goals6:2
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Central Valley Fuego
Caps7:3
Goals7:0
Club-Update:April 14, 2024

Raúl Mendiola (born May 18, 1994) is a Mexican professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Central Valley Fuego in the USL League One.

Career

Born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Mendiola joined the LA Galaxy Academy in 2011.[1] While at the academy level Mendiola won back-to-back U-16 Development Academy Player of the Year awards after the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons, playing for California-based development academy club Arsenal FC.[1]

On February 20, 2014, it was announced that Mendiola was signed as a homegrown player by the Galaxy.[1] He then made his professional debut with the LA Galaxy II, the reserve side of the LA Galaxy, on March 22, 2014, in the side's first ever USL Pro match against the Orange County Blues. His first appearance with the LA Galaxy first team came on May 17, 2014, in a regular season MLS match against the Houston Dynamo.[2] [3]

On May 31, 2018, Mendiola joined United Soccer League side Las Vegas Lights.[4]

Mendiola joined USL Championship side Reno 1868 on December 10, 2018.[5]

On July 23, 2020, Las Vegas Lights Head Coach Frank Yallop announced that Mendiola would reunite with the team for the remainder of the 2020 season.[6]

Mendiola signed with USL Championship side San Diego Loyal in January 2020. He returned to former side Las Vegas Lights on July 23, 2020.[7]

After three years without a professional club, Mendiola returned to the professional ranks signing with USL League One side Central Valley Fuego on February 20, 2024.[8]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueLeague CupU.S. Open CupCONCACAFTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
LA Galaxy2014Major League Soccer30000030
00003000
60003191
40002060
Major League Soccer Total130008100181
LA Galaxy II2014USL Pro20200202
2015234234
172172
131131
221000002210
USL Championship2940010294
202010000000
202000000000
USL Championship Total1252300100012523
Career total283000000283

Honors

LA Galaxy

2014

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LA Galaxy sign forwards Bradford Jamieson, Raul Mendiola to Homegrown contracts. Major League Soccer. March 22, 2014.
  2. Web site: No jitters for LA Galaxy Homegrown Player Raul Mendiola in confident MLS debut. Major League Soccer. May 20, 2014.
  3. joetutino. 447553012307734528. @LAGalaxyII.
  4. Web site: Lights FC Bolsters Attack with Mendiola, Mathers. 31 May 2018.
  5. Web site: Reno Makes Mendiola First Addition of Offseason. 10 December 2018.
  6. Web site: Lights FC's Second All-Time Leading Scorer Raul Mendiola Signs for 2020 Season. 23 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Playmaker Mendiola Makes Return to Lights FC. USLChampionship com. Staff. 23 July 2020. USL Championship.
  8. Web site: Central Valley Fuego FC Sign Midfielder Raul Mendiola.