Sounders Sign Costa Rican Defender

Posted by Mike on July 2, 2009 · Under Leonardo Gonzalez, Transactions · View Comments 

Leonardo González played for Costa Rica in the 2006 World Cup

We mentioned it last week, it’s official now- Seattle Sounders FC have Signed Costa Rican National Team Defender Leonardo Gonzalez.

The 28-year old González has 59 caps for the Costa Rican National Team and represented them in the 2006 World Cup. He last played for Municipal Liberia int eh CR Primera Division.

There is no doubt that Leo could secure a wing back position for the Sounders and help firm up the defense. He will join the squad after the Gold Cup.

Press Release:

Sounders FC Signs Costa Rica International Gonzalez

RENTON, WASH. – The Seattle Sounders FC have signed Costa Rican defender Leonardo Gonzalez, it was announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed. Gonzalez’s signing will be finalized upon receipt of his P-1 work permit and International Clearance.

Gonzalez, 28, will join Sounders FC after completing his call in to the national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He has been capped 59 times by Costa Rica, including three starts during the 2006 World Cup.

“It’s nice to have to have a naturally left-footed player. He can play left back, play center back in a pinch, and he can also play wide and run the whole line for us,” said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC coach. “He is an attacking left fullback with good size and athleticism. He’s very willing to get forward out of a defensive position and does a good job defensively.”

Costa Rica currently leads the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF. There are five qualifiers remaining, beginning August 12 at Honduras.

The Ticos open Gold Cup play on July 3 against El Salvador in Los Angeles. They face Jamaica in Columbus on July 7 and complete group play versus Canada on July 10 in Miami. The Gold Cup runs through July 26, with the final being played in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Gonzalez last played for Liberia Mia, newly crowned champion of the Costa Rican first division. Previously he was with Club Sport Herediano, which was runner-up in 2007.

Transaction: Seattle Sounders (MLS) – Signed MF Leo Gonzalez

Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 174
Birthdate: 11/21/1980
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
Last Club: Liberia Mia (Costa Rica)

  • yamsmos

    nice.

    i do feel like this could be tough for wahl b/c likely he will take his position, or at leas fight him for it. as i posted before, i think wahls defence had been coming on nicely even if i didn’t like his distribution. but sturgis and scott never made the cut for me, not on their form that i saw.

    so although wahl won’t like it, i like the feeling that we have him as a back up especially since gonzalez can play center back as  well, and lord knows we seem to need to fill in a hole there almost every week.

    what can’t you not like about everything sigi said about him?

    “It’s nice to have to have a naturally left-footed player. He can play left back, play center back in a pinch, and he can also play wide and run the whole line for us. He is an attacking left fullback with good size and athleticism. He’s very willing to get forward out of a defensive position and does a good job defensively.”

  • http://seattle.theoffside.com/team-news/so-why-doesnt-our-new-leftback-have-a-wiki-page-in-spanish.html So Why Doesn’t Our New Costa Rican Leftback Have a Wiki Page in Spanish? – - The Offside – Seattle soccer blog MLS

    [...] Sounders has the full press release here. Which I recommend you go read, both because it’s informative and because I like Go Sounders [...]

  • Gary B.

    If Gonzalez moves right into left back I will feel bad for Wahl and no doubt Wahl will feel hard done by as he has done an okay job thus far.

    But… a national team defender is a national team defender. He will give us the depth we need to finish out the season and play in what I hope will be additional competitions next year based on this year’s performance.

  • jz

    I like this move.  It will give our attack an added dimension when he is in.  Reilly already provides width and crosses from the right but we seldom get that left-to-right cross.  When Zakuani wants to cut inside, he can now have an overlapping runner to lay the ball off to.

  • jt

    Well, looks like we’re waiting another week for Leo to finish up with Costa Rica – a draw with Canada keeps him tied to the national team.

    Quarter-final match is July 19th.

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