GUADALAJARA, Mexico – If Juan Pablo Ocegueda’s relationship with the US national team setup over the last two years was a social network relationship status, it would likely be “it’s complicated.”
The 21-year-old Riverside, Calif., native – a dual American and Mexican citizen – had enjoyed an exemplary youth team career with the Stars and Stripes, culminating in a starting role for the US Under-20s national team at the World Cup in June 2013 in Turkey.
Then it was announced one month later that he was joining Chivas de Guadalajara on loan from fellow Liga MX outfit Tigres, with a club statement indicating he wouldn’t be accepting future call-ups from the United States in line with the club’s policy of only allowing players to feature who choose to play for the Mexican national team.
Despite the intensity of the press surrounding the loan in both Mexico – where many Chivas fans weren’t happy he had only played for the US – and in the United States, Ocegueda doesn’t look back with regret on the move to the club in the Mexican state of Jalisco, from where his family hails.
“I learned, it helped me grow and kept me active,” he wrote in an email to MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday. “My goal [of being in the first team] wasn’t reached, but I don’t regret the move.”
Ocegueda played 18 games for Chivas’ U-20 side in the Apertura 2013, before he returned to Tigres, where he featured in the Clausura 2014 with the U-20s, waiting for a first-team debut that eventually came in the Copa MX against Puebla on March 3.
From there, a loan move in the summer of 2014 to Ascenso MX side Alebrijes de Oaxaca – located in the south of Mexico, a world away from the bright lights of Guadalajara and Monterrey – has put Ocegueda’s career back on track.
After what he admits was a shaky first couple of games, Alebrijes coach Ricardo Rayas has backed Ocegueda with a regular starting spot at left back and he has notched a total of 20 first-team appearances since.
“It might not be the same as the first division, but with the Copa MX and how intense these games get, I've been able to mature a lot more,” Ocegueda said.
Ocegueda was also called-up to all three US national team 2016 Olympics camps last year and says his teammates stuck by him despite his temporary isolation from US duty.
“I am really happy to be back in the set-up,” said Ocegueda. “Once I left Chivas, I was just hoping to receive a call up soon and I knew I wasn't going to say no.
“The other players knew about the situation but didn't have a negative reaction and received me like good friends would,” he added.
His national-team reconciliation almost took another step forward last month, with Ocegueda admitting that “there was talk” about him being included in the recently completed January camp with the full national team. However, his responsibilities as a first-team regular at Alebrijes meant he wasn’t released.
At the end of the current Clausura, Ocegueda is likely to once again have a career decision to make, with the loan to Alebrijes running out. As yet, he’s not sure what Tigres is planning but is determined to get minutes and consolidate his spot in the 2016 Olympic squad.
“I'll consider any option as long as it's good for me and my career,” stressed Ocegueda. “My priority is to keep growing, stay active and I'll always consider going to MLS.”
