Azriel González

Azriel González (born May 24, 2001) is an American professional soccer player for Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship.

Azriel González
Personal information
Full name Azriel González
Date of birth (2001-05-24) May 24, 2001
Place of birth Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Las Vegas Lights
Number 11
Youth career
0000–2015 Heat FC
2015–2017 Seattle Sounders FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Tacoma Defiance[lower-alpha 1] 69 (10)
2021 → FC Edmonton (loan) 16 (5)
2022 York United 0 (0)
2022 → FC Edmonton (loan) 23 (3)
2023– Las Vegas Lights 21 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023

Early life

González has been with the Seattle Sounders FC academy since 2015 when he was 13.[1] In 2016, González's first full season in the academy, González scored 12 goals and 6 assists in 18 matches with the U-16s.[2] In that same season, the team won the Youdan Trophy, a tournament held in Sheffield, England, with González earning Golden Boot honors after scoring five goals and two assists in five matches.[3]

Club career

On April 25, 2017, González made his debut for USL club Seattle Sounders FC 2 (later renamed Tacoma Defiance) in a 3–2 defeat to San Antonio FC. He was subbed in at the 71st minute but was sent off after receiving a straight red card for a two-footed, sliding challenge in stoppage time.[4] On June 3, 2017, he logged his first assist, the game-winning goal, in a 3–0 victory over LA Galaxy II.[5] On July 17, 2017, he officially signed with Sounders FC 2, moving from the Seattle Sounders FC's academy to their USL team, and became the youngest player in club history to sign a professional contract.[6] On July 20, 2017, González made his first professional start, playing the full 90 minutes, in a 2–0 defeat to Swope Park Rangers.[7] On July 23, 2017, after making his second professional start, he was substituted off in the 43rd minute after he sustained a right lateral ankle sprain.[8]

The 2017 season marked the first time that González had trained with Sounders' first team. González spent time with the first team during its preseason, training in Seattle and traveling with the team to Tucson, Arizona for preseason friendlies.[9] He again joined the Sounders' first team with preseason training in Chula Vista, California before the start of the 2018 season with a number of other academy players.[10]

On August 11, 2021, he joined FC Edmonton of the Canadian Premier League on loan.[11]

In April 2022, González signed with York United on a one-year contract, with club options, and was immediately loaned to FC Edmonton.[12] In December 2022, York United declined González's option for 2023.[13]

González was announced as a new signing for USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights on January 25, 2023.[14]

International career

González has represented the United States a number of times playing at the U-16 level.[2]

Style of play

A quick, skillful and creative player, González is capable of playing in several offensive positions. He is usually deployed as a winger or as an attacking midfielder, and has even been used as a lone striker.[15] His club manager Ezra Hendrickson described him as "a gifted and motivated player with great instincts and technical abilities" and later described González as "an excellent finisher and very good at 1v1 defending".[15][16] When describing himself, he stated, "I'm a player that tries to take players on and am confident with the ball".[17]

Notes
  1. In 2017 and 2018, the Tacoma Defiance were known as Seattle Sounders 2

References
  1. Baker, Geoff (January 30, 2017). "For Sounders Academy players like Azriel Gonzalez, it's a taste of the big time". SeattleTimes.com. Seattle Times. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  2. Mondello, Joseph (March 13, 2017). "Azriel Gonzalez called in to United States U-16 Boys National Team". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  3. Mondello, Joseph (August 12, 2016). "Seattle Sounders U16s return from Sheffield as Champions". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  4. "Sounders FC 2 falls to San Antonio FC 3-2 at Starfire Stadium". SoundersFC.com. April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  5. Liljenwall, Ari (June 4, 2017). "16-year-old Academy product Azriel Gonzalez earns first USL assist in S2 victory". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  6. "Sounders FC 2 signs midfielder Azriel Gonzalez". SoundersFC.com. July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  7. "Swope Park Rangers top Sounders FC 2 by a score of 2-0 at Starfire Stadium". SoundersFC.com. July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  8. "S2 struggles continue in Sacramento but season remains successful". SounderAtHeart.com. July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  9. Mondello, Joseph (February 6, 2017). "Academy players train in Tucson with Sounders FC". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  10. Mondello, Joseph (January 23, 2018). "Academy prospects relishing opportunity to train with Seattle Sounders First Team in preseason". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  11. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 11, 2021). "FC Edmonton adds midfielder Gonzalez on loan for 2021 season". Canadian Premier League.
  12. "York United FC announces the signing of Azriel Gonzalez". York United FC. April 1, 2022.
  13. "York United FC announces roster updates ahead of 2023 season". York United FC. December 23, 2022.
  14. "LIGHTS FC ANNOUNCE NEW COACHING STAFF & INITIAL PLAYER SIGNINGS FOR 2023 SEASON".
  15. Ezra Hendrickson on what Azriel Gonzalez brings to S2 (Interview). Youtube.com. Seattle Sounders FC. July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  16. "Gonzalez Signs with Sounders FC 2". USLSoccer.com. July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  17. Azriel Gonzalez on signing with Sounders FC 2 (Interview). Youtube.com. Seattle Sounders FC. July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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