Hector Jiménez (soccer)

Hector Osvaldo Jiménez (born November 3, 1988) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Austin FC.

For the Mexican actor, see Héctor Jiménez.
Hector Jiménez
Jiménez in 2017
Personal information
Full name Hector Osvaldo Jiménez[1]
Date of birth (1988-11-03) November 3, 1988
Place of birth Huntington Park, California, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Austin FC
Number 16
Youth career
2002–2006 Arsenal FC (California)
2005 IMG Soccer Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 California Golden Bears
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 LA Galaxy 43 (4)
2014–2020 Columbus Crew SC 133 (2)
2021– Austin FC 41 (1)
Medal record
LA Galaxy
First placeSupporters' Shield2011
First placeMLS Cup2011
First placeMLS Cup2012
Columbus Crew
First placeMLS Cup2020
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:32, June 23, 2023 (UTC)

College and amateur career

Hector played two years at Bell Gardens High School from 2004 to 2006 where he established himself as one of the team's leaders and caught the eye of various soccer programs across the country.

Jiménez is a product of the University of California Berkeley where he played between 2006-2010. He was three-time First Team All-Pac-10 (2008–2010), NSCAA Second Team Far West Region, no. 2 on Cal’s all-time assist list, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 team, NSCAA First Team Far West All-Region and was three-time Second Team Pac-10 All-Academic.[2] During his college years, Jiménez also played with the Bay Area Ambassadors of the National Premier Soccer League.

Professional career

LA Galaxy

On January 14, 2011, Jiménez was drafted in the second round (34th overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy.[3] He played three seasons with the Galaxy, recording four goals and six assists in 43 appearances while helping the Galaxy win titles in 2011 and 2012.

Columbus Crew SC

On January 14, 2014, Jiménez was traded to the Columbus Crew for a Second Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (42nd overall) and allocation money. [4] He made his club debut on March 8, 2014 in a 3–0 victory over D.C. United.[5] His first goal for the Crew came on April 19, 2014, also against D.C. United. Jiménez's 90th-minute goal earned the Crew a 1–1 draw and would be nominated for MLS AT&T Goal of the Week honors.[6] He went on to appear in both legs of the Crew's playoff series against the New England Revolution.

Jiménez made 23 appearances in 2015, including his 75th professional appearance on May 16 against the San Jose Earthquakes. He notched four assists on the season while playing at four different positions. However, he did not appear in the playoffs as Crew SC made a run to MLS Cup 2015, where they would fall 2–1 to the Portland Timbers.

Jiménez racked up 25 appearances in 2016, playing five different positions. He made his 100th career appearance on July 3, in a 3–2 defeat to Sporting KC.[7] During the 2017 season, Jiménez made 23 appearances for Columbus. However, in 2018, the signing of Milton Valenzuela, a young Designated Player, saw Jiménez's time on the field significantly decrease, with him only making 12 total appearances.[8] However, during the 2019 season Valenzuela suffered a long-term injury which again saw Jiménez seize the starting left back position and he made a total of 23 appearances.[8]

In his last season with Columbus, Jiménez made a total of 10 appearances. One of these appearances was during the 2020 MLS Cup where Columbus beat the Seattle Sounders 3–0.[9] On December 14, 2020, Columbus declined their contract option on Jiménez following their 2020 season ending his time with the club.[10]

Austin FC

On December 21, 2020, Jiménez joined Austin FC as a free agent ahead of their inaugural season in 2021.[11] He made his first start for Austin on May 15 against former club LA Galaxy, but was removed on a stretcher in the first half.[12] His next appearance came on June 24, replacing injured right-back Nick Lima.[13] Jiménez scored the final goal of Austin's 4–1 win over Portland Timbers on July 1, the club's first win at Q2 Stadium.[14]

Career statistics

Club
As of July 21, 2023[15][16]
Club Season League League cup[lower-alpha 1] U.S. Open Cup CCL Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
LA Galaxy 2011 MLS 20—1010—40
2012 151101040—211
2013 263101030—313
Total 434203080—564
Columbus Crew SC 2014 MLS 2412020——281
2015 230—10——240
2016 250—20——270
2017 1904010——240
2018 1101010——130
2019 231—20——251
2020 8020———100
Total 13329090——1512
Austin FC 2021 MLS 251————251
2022 140—10——150
2023 200010101050
Total 41100201010451
Career total 217711014090102527
  1. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. Includes Leagues Cup

Personal life

Both of Jiménez's parents are Mexican immigrants, who met in the United States.[17]

Honors

LA Galaxy

Columbus Crew SC

References
  1. "Hector Osvaldo Jimenez". California Birth Index. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. "Hector Jimenez | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  3. "2011 MLS SuperDraft Tracker | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  4. "Crew acquires Hector Jimenez and First Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection from LA Galaxy | Columbus Crew". Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  5. "Columbus Crew 3–0 D.C. United". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  6. "Columbus Crew 1–1 D.C. United". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  7. "Kamara records brace in wild match at Kansas City". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  8. "USA - H. Jiménez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  9. Goff, Steven. "Columbus Crew roars past Seattle Sounders to win MLS Cup behind Lucas Zelarayan's dominance". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  10. "RELEASE | Core of 2020 MLS Cup-winning Columbus Crew SC roster to return in 2021 | Columbus Crew".
  11. "Austin FC sign versatile midfielder Hector Jimenez | MLSSoccer.com".
  12. Sigal, Jonathan (May 15, 2021). "Recap: LA Galaxy 2, Austin FC 0". MLS Soccer.
  13. Craven, Mike (June 24, 2021). "Austin FC winless streak continues with 2-0 loss at Minnesota United". Austin American-Statesman.
  14. Sigal, Jonathan (July 2, 2021). "Austin FC savor "momentous occasion" of first win, first goals at Q2 Stadium". MLS Soccer.
  15. Hector Jiménez at Major League Soccer
  16. Hector Jiménez at Soccerway
  17. "Immigrant, Coach, Dad: Crew SC's Hector Jimenez proves his father's hopes & training methods". MLS. June 21, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.