Mark González facts for kids
González with CSKA Moscow in 2013
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| Personal information | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 July 1984 | |||||||||
| Place of birth | Durban, South Africa | |||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m | |||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||
| SG Borken | ||||||||||
| Universidad Católica | ||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||
| 2002–2004 | Universidad Católica | 42 | (13) | |||||||
| 2004–2006 | Albacete | 25 | (5) | |||||||
| 2006–2007 | Liverpool | 25 | (2) | |||||||
| 2006 | → Real Sociedad (loan) | 16 | (6) | |||||||
| 2007–2009 | Betis | 44 | (10) | |||||||
| 2009–2014 | CSKA Moscow | 49 | (6) | |||||||
| 2014–2015 | Universidad Católica | 41 | (14) | |||||||
| 2016 | Sport Recife | 8 | (1) | |||||||
| 2017 | Colo-Colo | 4 | (0) | |||||||
| 2018–2019 | Magallanes | 20 | (5) | |||||||
| Total | 274 | (62) | ||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||
| 2004 | Chile U23 | 7 | (2) | |||||||
| 2003–2016 | Chile | 56 | (6) | |||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Mark Dennis González Hoffmann (born 10 July 1984) is a former professional footballer from Chile. He played as a midfielder and was known for his incredible speed. People often called him "Speedy González" because of how fast he was on the field! Mark played for many top football clubs in countries like Chile, Russia, Spain, Brazil, and England.
He also played for the Chile national team from 2003 to 2016. He represented his country in three Copa América tournaments and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mark helped Chile win the Copa América Centenario in 2016.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Mark González was born in Durban, South Africa, on July 10, 1984. His father, Raúl, was also a professional footballer. Mark was named after two of his father's friends who were also footballers, Mark Tovey and Dennis Wicks.
In 1994, when Mark was 10 years old, he moved from South Africa back to Chile with his mother. This is where he began his journey in football.
Club Career Highlights
Mark González played for many different clubs throughout his career. He started his professional journey in Chile before moving to Europe and then Brazil.
Playing in Spain
Mark first played for Albacete in Spain. His speed and skill caught the eye of bigger clubs.
Loan to Real Sociedad
In January 2006, Mark was loaned to Real Sociedad, another Spanish club. He quickly showed his talent there. He scored five goals in 16 league games. One of his most memorable goals was an equalizer against Real Madrid. Even though Real Sociedad wanted him to stay, Mark had his sights set on England.
Time at Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool, a famous English club, tried to sign Mark in 2005. However, he couldn't get a work permit to play in Britain at first. After some time, he finally received his work permit in July 2006. This allowed him to join Liverpool.
Mark made his first appearance for Liverpool in a friendly match. His official debut was on August 9, 2006, in a Champions League qualifier. He came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal for Liverpool! He also scored his first Premier League goal against Tottenham Hotspur. Mark played his last game for Liverpool in May 2007.
Moving to Real Betis
In May 2007, Mark signed a contract with Real Betis, a club back in Spain. He was presented to the fans in July and scored a goal in his first home game. He scored a total of ten goals for Real Betis in 44 appearances.
Playing in Russia with CSKA Moscow
In June 2009, Mark moved to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow. He signed a five-year deal with the club. He made his debut in August 2009.
Mark played for CSKA Moscow until 2014. During his time there, he helped the team win several important trophies. He won the Russian Premier League twice and the Russian Cup twice. He also won the Russian Super Cup. In January 2014, Mark returned to his first professional club in Chile on loan. His contract with CSKA ended by mutual agreement in December 2014.
Return to Universidad Católica
After playing abroad for ten years, Mark González returned to his first professional club, Universidad Católica, in Chile in January 2015. He joined them permanently as a free agent. He helped the team win the Primera División championship. This was his first time winning Chile's top league! He signed a new contract for the 2015–16 season.
Time in Brazil and Later Career
In January 2016, Mark joined the Brazilian club Sport Recife. He played for them for a short period before moving back to Chile. In December 2016, he signed with Colo-Colo, another Chilean club. Later, he played for Magallanes before ending his professional playing career.
International Career for Chile
Mark González was born in South Africa, but he chose to play for the Chile national team. He made his international debut in 2003.
One of his most exciting moments was scoring the only goal for Chile against Switzerland in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This goal happened in his birthplace, South Africa!
He was part of the Chilean team that won the Copa América Centenario in 2016. This was a huge achievement for him and his country.
International Goals
Here are some of the goals Mark scored for the Chile national team:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11 June 2003 | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras |  Honduras |
1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 30 March 2004 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia |  Bolivia |
2–0 | 2–0 | FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 3. | 9 February 2005 | Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile |  Ecuador |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 21 June 2010 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa |  Switzerland |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 World Cup |
| 5. | 28 January 2015 | Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile |  United States |
2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 6. | 3–2 |
Life After Football
After retiring from playing, Mark González decided to continue his involvement in football. In December 2024, he graduated as a football manager. He studied at the National Institute of Football, Sports and Physical Activity of Chile.
Personal Life
Mark González comes from a family of footballers. His father, Raúl González, was also a Chile international player. His uncles, Carlos Hoffmann and Reynaldo Hoffmann, were also famous footballers.
Mark married Chilean television personality and model Maura Rivera in 2010. They have two children: a son named Mark González, Jr., and a daughter named Luciana González.
In March 2021, Mark had a mild heart condition called pericarditis. Luckily, it was treated successfully, and he made a full recovery.
Honours and Achievements
Mark González won many awards and championships during his football career.
Club Honours
- Liverpool
- FA Community Shield: 2006
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2006–07
- CSKA Moscow
- Russian Premier League: 2012–13, 2013–14
- Russian Cup: 2010–11, 2012–13
- Russian Super Cup: 2013
International Honours
- Chile
Individual Awards
- He was recognized as one of the 33 best football players in the Russian championship in 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Mark González para niños
