Luchi Gonzalez

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For the Argentine player, see Lucho González.
Luchi Gonzalez
Personal information
Birth name Luis Gonzalez
Date of birth (1980-07-14) July 14, 1980 (age 41)
Place of birth Hialeah, Florida, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 SMU Mustangs ? (48)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 San Jose Earthquakes 8 (0)
2003 Bodens BK ? (8)
2004 Sporting Cristal ? (5)
2005–2006 Colorado Rapids 22 (2)
2007 Miami FC 26 (4)
2008 Minnesota Thunder 29 (2)
National team‡
1997 United States U17 3 (0)
Teams managed
2012–2018 FC Dallas (academy director)
2018–2021 FC Dallas
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 July 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 July 2019

Luis Gonzalez (born July 14, 1980) is an American soccer coach and former player who most recently served as head coach of FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.[1]

Youth and college[]

Gonzalez was born in Hialeah, Florida, to a Peruvian father and an American mother.[2]

Gonzalez represented the United States U17s at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship making 3 appearances in their group stage exit.[3][4][5] He played four years of college soccer at Southern Methodist University, emerging in 2001, his senior season, to win the Hermann Trophy as college soccer's best player.[citation needed] He had 128 points during his career, including 48 goals and 32 assists.

Playing career[]

Upon graduating, Gonzalez was drafted 6th overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes. Gonzalez failed to make a mark with the Earthquakes, however, playing only 47 minutes in his rookie season. In the offseason he was acquired by the Columbus Crew and made the roster, but could not agree to a deal.

He left the United States for Sweden, where he signed with second-division club Bodens BK. Gonzalez scored 8 goals and had 4 assists in his first season in Europe; along with Leighton O'Brien, Gonzalez was one of the most respected players in the squad.[citation needed] He left Boden in late October 2003. Gonzalez joined Peruvian Sporting Cristal, where he was acquired to be a backup striker. Gonzalez appeared in the prestigious Copa Libertadores tournament, playing against the likes of Boca Juniors during his time.

Gonzalez came back to MLS in 2005. He signed with the Colorado Rapids, but following the 2006 season he was waived. He signed for Miami FC in 2007.

Coaching career[]

In December 2018, Gonzalez was named Head Coach of FC Dallas in MLS, earning a promotion from his academy director role. Gonzalez has adopted a style of play dubbed 'Luchi Ball' by fans, emphasizing possession and counter-pressing.[6][7]

Gonzalez coached Dallas to playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020. On September 19, 2021, he was fired by FC Dallas.[8]

Coaching statistics[]

As of match played 19 September 2021[9]
Coaching record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
FC Dallas United States 16 December 2018 19 September 2021 87 29 26 32 129 121 +8 033.33
Total 87 29 26 32 129 121 +8 033.33

See also[]

  • List of MLS coaches

References[]

  1. ^ "Names Luchi Gonzalez Seventh Coach in Club History". FC Dallas. December 16, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Boehm: Who is Luchi Gonzalez? Get to know FC Dallas' homegrown head coach | MLSsoccer.com".
  3. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Championship Egypt 1997 - Matches - Oman-USA". FIFA.com.
  4. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Championship Egypt 1997 - Matches - USA-Brazil". FIFA.com.
  5. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Championship Egypt 1997 - Matches - USA-Austria". FIFA.com.
  6. ^ {{cite web|url= https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/soccer/soccer/2019/03/08/talk-luchi-ball%7C publisher= DallasMorningNews.com| date= 2019-03-08|access-date=2019-08-12
  7. ^ "From USL League One to MLS: How Luchi Gonzalez got FC Dallas' coaching job". MLSsoccer.com. April 1, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  8. ^ https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-announces-departure-of-head-coach-luchi-gonzalez
  9. ^ "Luchi Gonzalez career sheet". footballdatabase. footballdatabase. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
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