José Antonio Castro
Encyclopedia
José Antonio Castro González (born August 11, 1980 in Mexico City
) is a Mexican
football
player who plays as a defender
for Club Necaxa. He gained notoriety for his performances with Club America
and at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
for Mexico. He is often referred to by his nickname "El Gringo", given to him in his childhood because his parents are both Spaniards
.
. He made his debut in the Mexican Championship
against Leon
in the 2000-2001 season. After receiving little playing time in his first two seasons with the senior team, Castro became a vital player in the Verano 2002 season, displaying fine form which helped Club América win the Mexican league championships in 2002 and the Clausura title in 2005. Since then, the talented Wingback has been a key player and is one of the two players (the other being Guillermo Ochoa
) to start almost every game. The almost being when he has international duties and such. He is a regular starter for the team.
For the Clausura 2008, El Gringo will have the responsibility of being the vice-captain of Las Águilas since Duilio Davino
left the club and Germán Villa
was given the job of being the team's captain. After a poor season with Club América
, El Gringo was put on the transfer list. On December 5, 2008, Castro was loaned to UANL Tigres
for an undisclosed fee.
in Los Angeles
in a friendly match against Argentina
on February 4, 2003. Ricardo Lavolpe
played him as a Right Winger as usual, but as a midfielder instead of defender. He played his first World Cup
match against Portugal
in Germany, a game which the Mexicans lost 2-1. Despite the team losing the match, Castro helped his country reach the Round of 16 where they played against Argentina. Since then, he has been called up to play friendly matches. He was even called up to play the 2007 editions of the Gold Cup
and Copa América
for Mexico
. Recently, he was called up by Mexico
coach Javier Aguirre
for the 2009 Gold Cup
. He made his first goal against the United States in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
:
Mexico
|-
| 1. || July 26, 2009 || Giants Stadium
, East Rutherford
, United States
|| || align=center|4–0 || align=center|5–0 || 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
|}
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
) is a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
football
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
player who plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Club Necaxa. He gained notoriety for his performances with Club America
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
and at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
for Mexico. He is often referred to by his nickname "El Gringo", given to him in his childhood because his parents are both Spaniards
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
.
Club career
Known for his speed and solid defensive work, Castro is a good marker and counter-attacker who was trained in the Club América youth systemSocio Águila
Socio Águila is a Mexican football club which plays in the Primera Division, particularly serving as the reserve team for Club América.-History:...
. He made his debut in the Mexican Championship
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
against Leon
Club León
Club León, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They currently play in the Liga De Ascenso formerly known as "Primera A", the second tier of football in Mexico since their relegation from the Primera Division in 2002.León has won...
in the 2000-2001 season. After receiving little playing time in his first two seasons with the senior team, Castro became a vital player in the Verano 2002 season, displaying fine form which helped Club América win the Mexican league championships in 2002 and the Clausura title in 2005. Since then, the talented Wingback has been a key player and is one of the two players (the other being Guillermo Ochoa
Guillermo Ochoa
Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña is a Mexican goalkeeper who currently plays for French Ligue 1 club Ajaccio. He also plays for the Mexican national football team.-América:...
) to start almost every game. The almost being when he has international duties and such. He is a regular starter for the team.
For the Clausura 2008, El Gringo will have the responsibility of being the vice-captain of Las Águilas since Duilio Davino
Duilio Davino
Duilio César Jean Pierre Davino Rodríguez is a Mexican football defender who plays for Estudiantes Tecos of the Primera Division de Mexico....
left the club and Germán Villa
Germán Villa
Germán Villa Castañeda is a Mexican football player who currently plays for Querétaro he has two children by the name of German VIla Jr. and America Villa....
was given the job of being the team's captain. After a poor season with Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, El Gringo was put on the transfer list. On December 5, 2008, Castro was loaned to UANL Tigres
UANL Tigres
Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, often known only as Tigres or UANL, a Mexican football club that plays in the Primera División. It is one of the two professional football teams of the state of Nuevo León. The team plays home games at the Estadio Universitario, located in San...
for an undisclosed fee.
International career
Castro made his international debut for the Mexican national football teamMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in a friendly match against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
on February 4, 2003. Ricardo Lavolpe
Ricardo Lavolpe
Ricardo Antonio La Volpe Guarchoni, born February 6, 1952 in Buenos Aires, is an Argentine football manager. He is a former Argentine World Cup-winning goalkeeper and the former coach of the Mexican national team. He is known for his tactical flexibility during matches and abrasive manner, as well...
played him as a Right Winger as usual, but as a midfielder instead of defender. He played his first World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
match against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
in Germany, a game which the Mexicans lost 2-1. Despite the team losing the match, Castro helped his country reach the Round of 16 where they played against Argentina. Since then, he has been called up to play friendly matches. He was even called up to play the 2007 editions of the Gold Cup
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
and Copa América
Copa América 2007
The 2007 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, known simply as the 2007 Copa América or 2007 Copa América Venezuela, was the 42nd edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams...
for Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. Recently, he was called up by Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
coach Javier Aguirre
Javier Aguirre
Javier Aguirre Onaindía , popularly nicknamed El Vasco , is a Mexican football manager and former midfielder. He was also a member of the Mexico national team and later became manager in two different occasions, but resigned after the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
for the 2009 Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
. He made his first goal against the United States in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Club Honors
Club AméricaClub América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
:
- CONCACAF Giants CupCONCACAF Giants CupThe CONCACAF Giants Cup was an international football club competition held in 2001 to replace CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup. The cup was for CONCACAF teams with the highest attendance in their national league, and was won by Mexico's Club América...
: 2001CONCACAF Giants CupThe CONCACAF Giants Cup was an international football club competition held in 2001 to replace CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup. The cup was for CONCACAF teams with the highest attendance in their national league, and was won by Mexico's Club América... - Mexican ChampionshipPrimera División de MéxicoThe Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
: Verano 2002, Clausura 2005 - Campeón de Campeones (Mexican Super Cup): 2005
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 2006CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2006The 2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup was the 41st edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CONCACAF region , the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The tournament is also a qualifying event for the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup...
International
MexicoMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
- Winner (1): CONCACAF Gold Cup 20092009 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
Individual Honors
| Golden Ball | Year |
|---|---|
| Best Defense Wing Back | Apertura 2005 |
International goals
- Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.
|-
| 1. || July 26, 2009 || Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, East Rutherford
East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|| || align=center|4–0 || align=center|5–0 || 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
|}