Omar Esparza

Omar Alejandro Esparza Morales (born 21 May 1988) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a right-back and manager. He is the brother of the professional football player, Rigoberto Esparza.

Club career

File:Guadalajara Chivas vs Juventus FC, 2011, Reto Ziegler.jpg

Esparza (left) playing against Juventus in 2011

Esparza made his debut on October 15, 2005, against CF Monterrey, playing only 12 minutes. He had switched playing time between Chivas and CD Tapatio since then, with a brief stay in Chivas Coras in the 2004–2006 season.

He took part in Chivas's Championship win in the Apertura 2006.

Esparza was given high praise by Mexico coach Javier Aguirre for his performances and was expected to cement a place in the 2010 World Cup starting line-up. However a knee injury picked up in the final game of the season ended his world cup hopes and he is not expected to be back in full training until June 2010.

International career

Omar Esparza has played with the Mexico national football team in three categories.

He was present with the Mexico U-17 Team, in which he and his teammates won the U-17 World Cup in Peru in 2005. He played in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship Match where Mexico obtained the cup against Brazil. The score was 3–0, and Esparza scored the 2nd goal of the final.

He has also played with U-20 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup that was held in Canada where he was an important player. Mexico played well but was eliminated by Argentina in the quarter-finals, losing 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Maximiliano Moralez after bouncing the ball off a Mexican defender in the 45th minute .

On August 22, 2007, Esparza made his first appearance for the senior side.

Career Statistics

As of 16 April 2008

International appearances
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition
1.	22 August 2007	Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Colombia	flag alias = Flag of Colombia.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Colombia (WFB 2013).gif	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Colombia (2004 World Factbook).gif	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Colombia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Colombia.svg	link alias-naval = Colombian National Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Colombian Army.svg	link alias-army = Colombian National Army	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Colombian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Colombian Aerospace Force	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Colombian Naval Infantry.svg	link alias-marines=Colombian Naval Infantry	link alias-navy = Colombian National Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Colombian Navy.svg	flag alias-military = Military flag of Colombia.svg	link alias-military = Military Forces of Colombia	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 0–1 || Friendly
2.	9 September 2007	Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Mexico	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Panama	flag alias = Flag of Panama.svg	link alias-naval = Panamanian Public Forces	link alias-navy = Panamanian Public Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || 1–0 || Friendly
3.	17 October 2007	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, 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 }} || 2–3 || Friendly
4.	16 April 2008	Qwest Field, Seattle, United States	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = China	flag alias = Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg	flag alias-1862 = Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1862-1889).svg	border-1862 =	flag alias-1889 = Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1889-1912).svg	flag alias-Qing = Flag of the Qing Dynasty (1889-1912).svg	flag alias-1912 = Flag of China (1912–1928).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of the Republic of China.svg	flag alias-army-1949 = Flag of the People's Liberation Army.svg	flag alias-marines-1949 = Flag of the People's Liberation Army.svg	flag alias-navy-1949 = Flag of the People's Liberation Army.svg	flag alias-naval-1949 = Flag of the People's Liberation Army.svg	flag alias-air force-1949 = Flag of the People's Liberation Army.svg	flag alias-military = People's Liberation Army Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg	link alias-military = People's Liberation Army	flag alias-coast guard=Flag of China.svg	link alias-coast guard=China Coast Guard	flag alias-army = Ground Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg	link alias-army = People's Liberation Army Ground Force	flag alias-marines=Naval ensign of China.svg	link alias-marines=People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps	flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of China.svg	link alias-navy = People's Liberation Army Navy	flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of China.svg	link alias-naval = People's Liberation Army Navy	flag alias-air force = Air Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg	link alias-air force = People's Liberation Army Air Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || 1–0 || Friendly

Honours

Guadalajara

• Mexican Championship: Apertura 2006
• InterLiga: 2009

Pachuca

• Liga MX: Clausura 2016

Mexico U17

• FIFA U-17 World Championship: 2005

External links

• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at National-Football-Teams.com