Luchi Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Luchi Gonzalez is a former American soccer forward
.
at Southern Methodist University
, emerging in 2001, his senior season, to win the Hermann Trophy
as college soccer's best player.
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, and in the offseason, was acquired by the Columbus Crew
. Gonzalez failed to make the Crew's roster, and left the United States for Sweden
, where he signed with second division club Bodens BK
. Gonzalez scored 8 goals and had 4 assists on his first season in Europe; along with Leighton O'Brien
, Luchi was one of the most respected players in the squad.
He left Boden in late October 2003 and got back to USA. Gonzalez found a job with the major Peru
vian Sporting Cristal
, where he was acquired to be a backup striker. Although he has not played a prominent role with the club, Gonzalez has appeared in the prestigious Copa Libertadores tournament. He came back to MLS in 2005, signing with Colorado. Following the 2006 season, Gonzalez was waived by the Rapids, and signed for Miami FC
in 2007. He was the Boys Soccer coach at Felix Varela High School
. He won the state championship with Varela in 2008.
On March 17, 2009 Gonzalez officially announced his retirement from professional soccer in order to pursue a career in teaching Algebra at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida
and also coach the boys varsity soccer team. Now he teaches Algebra at Gulliver Academy.
Gonzalez was also a coach for the Coral Gables Toros, taking the place of former coach, Greg Sheen.
Luchi has is now the coach for the Kendall u16 Academy and the head coach for Gulliver Prep. Luchi went a long way last year with Gulliver, making Regional Semi-Finals, losing to University.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Playing career
Gonzalez played four years of college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, emerging in 2001, his senior season, to win the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as college soccer's best player.
Upon graduating, Gonzalez was drafted 6th overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft
2002 MLS SuperDraft
The 2002 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
by the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. Gonzalez failed to make a mark with the Earthquakes, however, playing only 47 minutes in his rookie season, and in the offseason, was acquired by the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Gonzalez failed to make the Crew's roster, and left the United States for Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where he signed with second division club Bodens BK
Bodens BK
Bodens BK is a Swedish football club located in Boden in Norrbotten. The club, formed 1916, is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Division 1...
. Gonzalez scored 8 goals and had 4 assists on his first season in Europe; along with Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien is an American soccer player, currently serving as the Director of Coaching for the Renton Football Club for youth since 2006 and the head coach of the Seattle Sounders Women....
, Luchi was one of the most respected players in the squad.
He left Boden in late October 2003 and got back to USA. Gonzalez found a job with the major Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian Sporting Cristal
Sporting Cristal
Club Sporting Cristal is a Peruvian football team. Based in the Rímac District, in the department of Lima, it plays in the professional league known as the Peruvian First Division. Founded on November 16, 1926 in the Rimac District given its approval to the merger and Snuff Sporting merging with...
, where he was acquired to be a backup striker. Although he has not played a prominent role with the club, Gonzalez has appeared in the prestigious Copa Libertadores tournament. He came back to MLS in 2005, signing with Colorado. Following the 2006 season, Gonzalez was waived by the Rapids, and signed for Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in 2007. He was the Boys Soccer coach at Felix Varela High School
Felix Varela High School
Felix Varela Senior High School is a secondary school located at 15255 SW 96th St in The Hammocks, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. Its principal is Connie Navarro.Varela was built as an overcrowding relief school for G...
. He won the state championship with Varela in 2008.
On March 17, 2009 Gonzalez officially announced his retirement from professional soccer in order to pursue a career in teaching Algebra at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and also coach the boys varsity soccer team. Now he teaches Algebra at Gulliver Academy.
Gonzalez was also a coach for the Coral Gables Toros, taking the place of former coach, Greg Sheen.
Luchi has is now the coach for the Kendall u16 Academy and the head coach for Gulliver Prep. Luchi went a long way last year with Gulliver, making Regional Semi-Finals, losing to University.