Herculez Gomez

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox football biography 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 and raised in Oxnard, California,[1][2][3] to Mexican-American parents.[4] He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada,[5] and played on the soccer team at Las Vegas High School.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11]

In December 2006, Gomez was traded to the Colorado Rapids along with Ugo Ihemelu in exchange for Joe Cannon.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

Mexico

File:Herculez Gómez.jpg
Gomez playing for Santos Laguna in 2012

After being released by Kansas City in late 2009, Gomez signed with Mexican club Puebla in January 2010.[16] He scored ten goals in the 2010 Mexican season[17] to tie for the lead for most goals; this feat marked the first time any American player led a foreign league in goals.[18] He moved to Pachuca in the summer 2010 window.

Pachuca placed Gomez, along with its entire squad, on the transfer list.[19] During the transfer window he moved along with teammate Braulio Luna to Estudiantes Tecos.[20] 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.[21] On August 19, Gomez scored the winner as a sub against his former club Pachuca.[22]

Cash-strapped Estudiantes Tecos were forced into selling Gomez to league rivals Santos Laguna in December 2011.[23] 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.[24] In 2013, he moved to Club Tijuana. After struggling with Tijuana, he was loaned to Tigres UANL for the 2014–15 season.[25] 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.[26]

After his release from Toronto at the beginning of the 2016 MLS season, Gomez joined Seattle Sounders FC.[27] He won MLS Cup for the second time in his career. He retired following the season and joined ESPN as an analyst.[28]

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.[29]

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.[30] 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.[31][32]

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.[33] 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.[34]

Career statistics

Club

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
USA League Cup League Cup CONCACAF Total
2003 LA Galaxy Major League Soccer 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2003 Seattle Sounders A-League 17 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 21 1
2005 LA Galaxy Major League Soccer 22 11 4 6 4 1 0 0 30 18
2006 30 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 31 5
2007 Colorado Rapids 20 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 21 5
2008 17 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 2
2008 Kansas City Wizards 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 1
2009 26 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 28 0
Mexico League Cup League Cup CONCACAF Total
2009–10 Puebla Liga MX 15 10 0 0 – – 15 10
2010–11 Pachuca 29 5 0 0 – – 29 5
2011–12 Tecos 16 7 0 0 – – 16 7
Santos Laguna 17 7 0 0 – 6 6 23 13
2012–13 33 8 0 0 – 10 3 43 11
2013–14 Tijuana 21 0 0 0 – 4 3 25 3
2014–15 Tigres UANL (loan) 15 0 7 5 – – 22 5
Puebla (loan) 13 1 7 2 – – 20 3
Canada League Cup League Cup CONCACAF Total
2015 Toronto FC Major League Soccer 7 1 0 0 2 0 – 8 1
USA League Cup MLS Cup CONCACAF Total
2016 Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer 21 0 3 1 1 0 – 25 1
Total USA/Canada 169 25 11 8 12 1 0 0 192 33
Mexico 131 37 14 7 0 0 20 12 165 56
Career total 300 62 25 15 12 1 20 12 357 90

International

National team Year Apps Goals
United States
2007 2 0
2008 0 0
2009 0 0
2010 6 2
2011 0 0
2012 11 3
2013 5 1
Total 24 6
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 May 25, 2010 Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States {{ Template:Yesno alias = Czech Republic flag alias = Flag of the Czech Republic.svg flag alias-1990 = Flag of Bohemia.svg flag alias-air force = Flag of the Czech Air Force.svg link alias-air force = Czech Air Force flag alias-army = Flag of the Czech Land Force.svg link alias-army = Czech Land Forces size = name = variant = altlink = national football team altvar = football

}}

2–2 2–4 Friendly
2 June 5, 2010 Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort, South Africa {{ Template:Yesno alias = Australia flag alias = Flag of Australia (converted).svg flag alias-1901 = Flag of Australia (1901-1903).svg flag alias-1903 = Flag of Australia (1903-1908).svg flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg flag alias-colonial = Australian Colonial Flag.svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Australia.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Australia.svg flag alias-naval-1913 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg link alias-naval = Royal Australian Navy link alias-army = Australian Army flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Australia.svg link alias-air force = Royal Australian Air Force flag alias-air force-1948 = Air Force Ensign of Australia (1948–1982).svg flag alias-air force-1922 = Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg link alias-football = Australia men's national soccer team flag alias-marines=UCP 2RAR.svg link alias-marines=2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Australia.svg link alias-navy = Royal Australian Navy flag alias-military = Ensign of the Australian Defence Force.svg link alias-military = Australian Defence Force size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}}

3–1 3–1
3 May 30, 2012 FedExField, Landover, United States {{ Template:Yesno alias = Brazil flag alias-1692 = Flag of the Princes of Brazil.svg flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg flag alias-1822 = Flag of Brazil (1822-1853).svg flag alias-1870 = Flag of Brazil (1853-1889).svg flag alias = Flag of Brazil.svg flag alias-1889 = Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg flag alias-1960 = Flag of Brazil (1960–1968).svg flag alias-1968 = Flag of Brazil (1968–1992).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Brazilian Army.svg link alias-army = Brazilian Army flag alias-air force = Flag of the Brazilian Air Force Command.svg link alias-air force = Brazilian Air Force link alias-naval = Brazilian Navy flag alias-marines=Flag of the Brazilian Marine Corps.svg link alias-marines=Brazilian Marine Corps link alias-military = Brazilian Armed Forces link alias-navy = Brazilian Navy flag alias-navy = Flag of the Brazilian Navy.svg size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}}

1–2 1–4
4 June 8, 2012 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States {{ Template:Yesno alias = Antigua and Barbuda flag alias = Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg flag alias-Barbuda = Flag of Barbuda.svg flag alias-colonial = Flag of Antigua and Barbuda (1956–1962).svg flag alias-naval = Coastguard Ensign of Antigua and Barbuda.svg link alias-naval = Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard flag alias-navy = Coastguard Ensign of Antigua and Barbuda.svg link alias-navy = Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard flag alias-army = Flag of the Antigua and Barbuda Regiment.svg link alias-army = Antigua and Barbuda Regiment size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}}

3–1 3–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 September 11, 2012 Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United States {{ Template:Yesno alias = Jamaica flag alias = Flag of Jamaica.svg flag alias-1875 = Flag of Jamaica (1875–1906).svg flag alias-1906 = Flag of Jamaica (1906–1957).svg flag alias-1957 = Flag of Jamaica (1957–1962).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Jamaica Defence Force.svg link alias-army = Jamaica Defence Force link alias-air force = Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing flag alias-air force = Ensign of the Jamaica Defence Force Air Wing.svg flag alias-coast guard = Naval ensign of Jamaica.svg link alias-coast guard = Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Jamaica.svg link alias-naval = Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Jamaica.svg link alias-navy = Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}}

1–0 1–0
6 July 5, 2013 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United States {{ Template:Yesno alias = Guatemala flag alias = Flag of Guatemala.svg flag alias-1825 = Flag of Guatemala (1825-1838).svg flag alias-1839 = Flag of Guatemala (1839-1843).svg flag alias-1843 = Flag of Guatemala (1843-1851).svg flag alias-1851 = Flag of Guatemala (1851-1858).svg flag alias-1858 = Flag of Guatemala (1858–1871).svg flag alias-1871 = Flag of Guatemala (1871-1968).svg flag alias-1968 = Flag of Guatemala (1968-1997).svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Guatemala.svg link alias-naval = Guatemalan Navy link alias-air force = Guatemalan Air Force link alias-army = Guatemalan Army link alias-navy = Guatemalan Navy size = name = variant = altlink = national football team

}}

1–0 6–0 Friendly

Honors

LA Galaxy

Santos Laguna

Puebla

Seattle Sounders FC

United States

Individual

References

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  1. ↑ Player Bio: Herculez Gomez Template:Webarchive on USSoccer.com. Personal information lists California as birthplace.
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  5. ↑ Herculez Gomez Represents What America Is All About (June 1, 2010). Huffington Post.
  6. ↑ Timeline: the improbable rise of U.S. candidate Herculez Gomez Template:Webarchive (May 24, 2010). Also notes he played for Neusport FC a youth club near Henderson, Nevada (a suburb of Las Vegas).
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Seattle Sounders add veteran striker Herculez Gomez | Seattle Sounders FC
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

Template:Sister project

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