Player Details

Name

Leonardo González

Height

6' 1"

Weight

174 lbs

Date of Birth

11.21.1980 (43)

Birthplace

San José, Costa Rica

Position

Defender
Career Summary

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed on July 2, 2009.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2014 (Seattle): Gonzalez played in 23 matches during the regular season, including 20 starts, to become the fifth player in club history to make 100 appearances for Seattle. Gonzalez made his first appearance of the season against Montreal (March 23), and his first start of the season at Portland (April 5). He started all four postseason matches and appeared in four U.S. Open Cup matches, earning an assist on the game-clinching goal in the 114th minute of the U.S. Open Cup final against Philadelphia (September 16).

2013 (Seattle): Voted 2013 Sounders FC Defender of the Year by his teammates. Started all 27 of his appearances, matching career-highs set in 2010, and finished fourth on the club with 2,318 minutes. Team was 14-9-4 with a 1.00 goals against average with Gonzalez in the lineup, as opposed to 1-3-3 with a 2.14 GAA without. Recorded lone assist of season in 2-2 draw at PHI (5/4) when he found Mauro Rosales for his first goal of the season. Made a team-high 20 straight starts from April 13 to August 31. Tied-second on the team with 33 starts across all competitions and third among field players with 2,852 minutes.

2012 (Seattle): Appeared in 19 league games with 15 starts, helping a defense that ranked second in MLS with a 0.97 goals against average. Lone assist of 2012 came in the first game, a 2-1 win vs. Santos Laguna (3/7) in the CCL quarterfinals. Played in 597 straight minutes towards the end of the season from 8/25-10/7 before suffering a calf injury that kept him out the rest of the season. Made 26 appearances and 21 starts across all competitions.

2011 (Seattle): Made 14 appearances and started 12 games at left back. Recorded second career assist on his first corner kick of the season vs. NY (6/23). Played full 90 minutes in both MLS Cup Playoff games. Game-winning assist in CCL match vs. San Francisco FC (8/3). For the first time, he returned to Costa Rica to play against former team at CS Herediano (9/14). 25 appearances and 22 starts across all competitions.

2010 (Seattle): Started 27 games and played 90 minutes in 22, logging 2347 minutes. Scored first MLS goal, the game-winner, vs. NE (6/5). Also recorded first MLS assist vs. NE (6/5). Missed match at COL (7/25) due to yellow card accumulation and missed game vs. CHI (8/28) with red card suspension. Led team with 6 cautions.

2009 (Seattle): Joined Seattle following 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and became fixture at left back. Started all 13 appearances, including both playoff legs vs. HOU (10/29, 11/8). Made debut vs. FC Barcelona in friendly (8/5). Played 81 minutes in first league appearance at RSL (8/8). Played full 90 minutes in U.S. Open Cup Final 2-1 win at DC (9/2).

2009 (Municipal Liberia): Transferred in 2009 to Municipal Liberia and made four appearances en route to the first division title before signing with Seattle.

2000-08 (Herediano):  Started club career in 2000 for CS Herediano, making 154 appearances and scoring three goals over nine seasons.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Gonzalez has been capped 61 times by the Costa Rican National Team, including 15 times in World Cup Qualifying. He represented Los Ticos in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2003, 2007 and 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

PERSONAL

Gonzalez is married to Alejandra Abarca Hernandez, and has two children. He is the son of Alice Arde and Jose Gonzalez, and has two brothers: Alexander and Jose Andreas. He played against his former team, Herediano, in the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League.