Leonardo González facts for kids
González with Seattle Sounders
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonardo González Arce | ||
| Date of birth | November 21, 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Leftback | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Herediano | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2008 | Herediano | 154 | (3) |
| 2009 | Municipal Liberia | 4 | (0) |
| 2009–2015 | Seattle Sounders FC | 133 | (2) |
| 2016– | Herediano | 13 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2002–2009 | Costa Rica | 61 | (1) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Leonardo González Arce (born November 21, 1980) is a talented Costa Rican professional football player. He's known for playing as a defender, often on the left side, and currently plays for Herediano.
Discovering Leonardo González's Football Journey
Playing for Top Clubs: A Look at His Club Career
Leonardo González started his professional football journey with Herediano in Costa Rica. He made his very first appearance for the team on September 24, 2000, playing against Puntarenas.
He scored his first goal in a league match on August 4, 2002, against Carmelita. Leonardo was a really important player for Herediano. He played in 154 league games and scored 3 goals during his nine years there.
In early 2009, he moved to another team called Municipal Liberia, also known as Liberia Mia. Later that year, on July 2, 2009, it was announced that he would join Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
The coach of Seattle Sounders FC, Sigi Schmid, was very happy to have him. He said that Leonardo was a natural left-footed player who could play in different defensive positions. He also noted that Leonardo was a strong and athletic player who liked to move forward and help with attacks, while also being good at defending.
Leonardo played for Seattle Sounders FC until the end of the 2015 MLS season. After that, on December 22, 2015, he returned to his original club, Herediano, in Costa Rica.
Representing His Country: International Matches
Leonardo González also played for his country, Costa Rica. His first game for the national team was a friendly match against Ecuador in November 2002.
Overall, he played in 61 international games for Costa Rica and scored 1 goal. He was part of the team for 15 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and even played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
He also participated in several CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, including those in 2003, 2007, and 2009. In the UNCAF Nations Cup 2007, he scored a goal against Honduras. His last international game was in July 2009, during a 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup match against El Salvador.
International Goals Scored
Here is the goal Leonardo González scored for his national team:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 9, 2007 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador |  Honduras |
2 – 0 | 3 – 1 | UNCAF Nations Cup 2007 |
Personal Life
Leonardo González is married to Alejandra Abarca Hernández, and they have two children together.
In March 2011, Leonardo received his U.S. green card. This was important because it meant he was considered a domestic player for MLS teams, which helped with team roster rules.
Awards and Achievements
Honors with Costa Rica
- UNCAF Nations Cup (1): 2007
Honors with Municipal Liberia
- Primera División de Costa Rica (1): Verano 2009
Honors with Club Sport Herediano
- Primera División de Costa Rica (1): Verano 2016
Honors with Seattle Sounders FC
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (3): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 2014
