Giancarlo González
Giancarlo "Pipo" González Castro (Spanish pronunciation: [ʝaŋˈkaɾlo ɣonˈsales]; born 8 February 1988; also known as Juan Carlos González in Spanish) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for American club LA Galaxy and the Costa Rica national team.
![]() González playing for Costa Rica at the 2018 FIFA World Cup | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Giancarlo González Castro | ||
Date of birth | 8 February 1988 | ||
Place of birth | Desamparados, San José, Costa Rica | ||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
Playing position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | LA Galaxy | ||
Number | 21 | ||
Youth career | |||
2004–2006 | Alajuelense | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2009–2012 | Alajuelense | 91 | (6) |
2012–2013 | Vålerenga | 37 | (2) |
2014 | Columbus Crew | 17 | (1) |
2014–2017 | Palermo | 84 | (4) |
2017–2019 | Bologna | 34 | (0) |
2019– | LA Galaxy | 20 | (1) |
National team‡ | |||
2007–2008 | Costa Rica U-20 | 2 | (0) |
2010– | Costa Rica | 71 | (2) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 October 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 June 2018 |
Club career
Early career
González spent his youth career with Alajuelense except for a stint with Saprissa when he was between 12 and 14 years of age.[2] He began his professional career with Alajuelense in 2007 and was a key player in helping his club win three league titles.
González joined Norwegian club Vålerenga after his contract expired on 31 July 2012.[3] During his time at Vålerenga, González appeared in 37 league matches and scored two goals.
Columbus Crew
On 21 February 2014, González signed with Columbus Crew.[4] On 15 April 2014, the MLS Disciplinary Committee fined González an undisclosed amount for "embellishment" of an incident in the 92nd minute of the game against the San Jose Earthquakes on 13 April.[5][6] González was also nominated for the satirical "Fallon d'Floor" award for this effort.[7][8]
Palermo
After his performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, González received interest from a number of European clubs, and on 26 August 2014 Palermo of Italy's Serie A confirmed to have signed him on a three-year deal.[9] The transfer fee was reported to be $5m with 5% of the fee being distributed among his youth clubs Alajuelense and Saprissa as per the FIFA solidarity contribution rules.[2] He made his debut on 19 October 2014 in a home game against Cesena, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring the winning goal in the first minute of injury time.[10]
Palermo's 2016–17 season ended with relegation from Serie A with González making 21 appearances.[11]
International career
González played at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada.[14]
Nicknamed Pipo,[15] he made his senior international debut for Costa Rica in a friendly against Slovakia on 5 June 2010. In January 2013, he scored the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Honduras in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana final.[14]
2014 World Cup
In June 2014, González was named in Costa Rica's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[16] In the team's team's first two group matches, he and his central defensive colleagues Michael Umaña and Óscar Duarte allowed only one goal as Los Ticos beat Uruguay (3–1) and Italy (1–0) to qualify for the knockout stage.[17][18] Costa Rica completed the group stage unbeaten, recording a second consecutive shutout in a 0–0 draw with England in Belo Horizonte.[19] González's play at the back was listed by several as key to the team's progression from the group stage. His countless interceptions and tackles led to him being named to the ESPN Best XI of the group stage.[20] During the round of 16, González was the third of five Costa Rican players to successfully convert his kick in a 5–3 penalty shootout defeat of Greece.[21] He was included in the BBC's team of the tournament.[22]
2018 World Cup
In May 2018 he was named in Costa Rica's 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[23]
Personal life
González is of Spanish origin.[24] He is a son of Roberto González and Elsa Castro and has a sister and brother. He has a son, Andrey.[25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 3 February 2019
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Alajuelense | 2008–2009[26] | Costa Rican Primera División | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
2009–2010[26] | 28 | 3 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 12 | 0 | ||
2010–2011[26] | 34 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
2011–2012[26] | 29 | 3 | ? | ? | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
Total | 91 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 97 | 6 | ||
Vålerenga | 2012[27] | Tippeligaen | 12 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
2013[27] | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | |||
Total | 37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||
Columbus Crew | 2014[26] | Major League Soccer | 17 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||
Palermo | 2014–15[26] | Serie A | 28 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 1 | ||
2015–16[26] | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |||
2016–17[26] | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | |||
Total | 84 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 4 | ||
Bologna | 2017–18[26] | Serie A | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |
2018–19[26] | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |||
Total | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
Career Total | 260 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 273 | 13 |
International
- Statistics accurate as of match played 27 June 2018.[28]
Costa Rica | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
2010 | 3 | 0 |
2011 | 1 | 0 |
2012 | 9 | 1 |
2013 | 18 | 1 |
2014 | 9 | 0 |
2015 | 10 | 0 |
2016 | 3 | 0 |
2017 | 11 | 0 |
2018 | 7 | 0 |
Total | 71 | 2 |
International goals
- Scores and results list. Costa Rica's goal tally first.
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 25 May 2012 | Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José | ![]() | 3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
2. | 27 January 2013 | ![]() | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2013 Copa Centroamericana |
References
- "Giancarlo Gonzalez". Bologna FC 1909. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- Fuentes Alpízar, Ferlin (7 September 2014). "Giancarlo González repartirá millones a Alajuelense y Saprissa" [Giancarlo González divides millions between Alajuelense and Saprissa]. Al Día (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- "Martin Andresen forsterker med costaricansk landslagsspiller" (in Norwegian). TV2 Sporten. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- "Crew signs Costa Rican International Giancarlo Gonzalez". Columbus Crew. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- "MLS fines Giancarlo Gonzalez for flop". ESPNFC. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- http://gfycat.com/BothBrightHalicore
- Hautmann, Thomas (17 December 2014). "Checking out the contestants for the first annual Fallon D'Floor". Fox Soccer Blogs. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- Brankovic, Maja (18 December 2014). "Wer erhält die Schwalbentrophäe "Fallon d'Floor"?". 11 Freunde (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- "GONZALEZ E' DEL PALERMO CONTRATTO TRIENNALE PER IL CENTRALE" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- Carci, Francesco (19 October 2014). "Palermo-Cesena 2-1, Gonzalez regala in extremis il primo successo ai rosanero". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- "Official: Bologna sign Gonzalez". Football Italia. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "González joins Bologna in permanent deal". BolognaFC. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "LA Galaxy sign defender Giancarlo Gonzalez". lagalaxy.com. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- Giancarlo González – FIFA competition record
- Giancarlo 'Pipo' González es vital en el centro de la defensa de la Selección de Costa Rica - Nación (in Spanish)
- "Costa Rica World Cup 2014 squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- "Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica". BBC. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- "Italy 0-1 Costa Rica". BBC. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- Taylor, Daniel (24 June 2014). "England end disappointing World Cup with barren draw against Costa Rica". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- Molyneux-Carter, Jon (27 June 2014). "Best XI of the group stage". ESPNFC. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- "Costa Rica 1-1 Greece". BBC. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- "World Cup 2014: BBC Sport pundits' team of the tournament". BBC Sport. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- https://www.goal.com/en/amp/news/costa-rica-names-23-man-world-cup-squad-featuring-keylor/1bw2iz8pkma5614bzushqyyo7g
- "ESPAÑOL: No. 10. El Ascenso de Giancarlo González | Mes de la Herencia Hispana". MLSSoccer (in Spanish). 13 October 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- Giancarlo González: El soñador que emergió de sus lágrimas - Nación (in Spanish)
- "G. González". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- "NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk". Norsk internasjonal Fotballstatistikk (in Norwegian). Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- "Giancarlo González". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
External links
- Giancarlo González at Major League Soccer
- Giancarlo González at National-Football-Teams.com