Mexicans and Mexican Americans in MLS

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by voros, Oct 29, 2003.

  1. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    With Chivas looking all but set to happen, and their intentions of trying to give their roster a "Chivas flair" as Garber put it, who exactly are the Mexicans and Mexican Americans who play in MLS. I'll list a few I know who are, but I was hoping others could list other players:

    Carlos Bocanegra
    Alberto Rizo
    Memo Gonzalez
    Chivas Martinez
    Jesus Ochoa

    I believe Herculez Gomez is as well.

    Who else?
     
  2. SpongeBobSquarePants

    Jun 18, 2003
    Silver Spring
    I'm not sure, but Nick Rimando.
     
  3. usagoal

    usagoal Member

    Oct 19, 2000
    Las Vegas
    Ramiro Corrales
     
  4. SpongeBobSquarePants

    Jun 18, 2003
    Silver Spring
  5. CUS

    CUS New Member

    Apr 20, 2000
    Boca doesn't speak Spanish.
     
  6. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not really the issue. Just wondering who is Mexican.

    Bocanegra's not going to play for Chivas anyway.
     
  7. HalaMadrid

    HalaMadrid Member

    Apr 9, 1999
    That doesn't make him not Mexican-American.
     
  8. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not in MLS at the moment, but okay.
     
  9. SpongeBobSquarePants

    Jun 18, 2003
    Silver Spring
    Forgive my ignorance, but where is he now?
     
  10. myshap

    myshap Member

    Jun 19, 2002
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    He's with Necaxa in Mexico
     
  11. Don Boppero 3000

    Don Boppero 3000 DNALMQNLGLLMX!

    Jan 15, 2001
    The Fullerton Hotel Chicago
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
  12. Eric B

    Eric B Member

    Feb 21, 2000
    the LBC
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It just makes him a "coconut"
     
  13. Flyer Fan

    Flyer Fan Member+

    Apr 18, 1999
    Columbus, OH
    Perhaps CUS is just pointing that out since it's been said that the Chivas guy wants Spanish to be "the" language of the team. True, not speaking Spanish doesn't make Bocanegra not Mexican-American but it might limit his theoretical availability.
     
  14. usagoal

    usagoal Member

    Oct 19, 2000
    Las Vegas
    I wonder if they'll take Donovan.
     
  15. CUS

    CUS New Member

    Apr 20, 2000
    Someone that follows along.

    And yes, he won't be available for MLS clubs soon.

    Where's Orlando Perez (or his parents) from?
     
  16. CUS

    CUS New Member

    Apr 20, 2000
    Or maybe Razov? He speaks very fluent Spanish.

    I think Armas' is spotty.

    Denis Hamlett can coach!
     
  17. yellowbismark

    yellowbismark Member+

    Nov 7, 2000
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    Club Tijuana
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I wonder if ex-Mutiny player Martin Vasquez will be considered for coach of Chivas. He lives in the San Diego area, and played for the US after being naturalized from Mexico.(he might have had a cap or two for Mexico in meaningless games)

    He cares for both US and Mexican soccer (I remember in a World Cup 2002 preview article in the Union-Tribune, he was asked about whether he would root for US or Mexico, and he said he was going for both teams), I think he would be the perfect ambassador for the team, the only thing that's left to wonder is if he can coach.
     
  18. FootieBloke007

    FootieBloke007 New Member

    Apr 25, 2003
    Chicago
    Perez is Puerto Rican.
     
  19. SgtSchultz

    SgtSchultz Member

    Jul 11, 2001
    Parts Unknown
    There is no such thing as a Mexican-American. You have Americans of Mexican descent. If you have decided to become a citizen of the US of A, then you have become an American.
     
  20. fdp

    fdp Red Card

    Oct 24, 2001
    Dual citizenship. :)
     
  21. beineke

    beineke New Member

    Sep 13, 2000
    Here's a list of US-raised players of Mexican origin by year or birth

    76: D. Hernandez
    77: A. Martinez, R. Corrales
    78:
    79: F. Gomez, N. Garcia, N.Rimando, C. Bocanegra
    80: A. Torres
    81: J. Ochoa, J. Burciaga
    82: H. Gomez
    83:
    84:
    85:
    86: G. Gonzalez

    Notice that this is a young group of players. Mexican-Americans are only starting to arrive in MLS, and it's a safe bet that they'll make continued progress in the years ahead. Also, notice that there aren't many four-year, major college players on this list. Mexican-Americans appear to be much more willing to jump to the pros.

    Finally, it's worth mentioning that there are currently about a dozen US-born players on the youth teams of Mexican pro clubs. That's also a new phenomenon. MLS needs to do its best to keep that talent here and develop it under our own umbrella. IMO, Chivas USA is a great starting point for doing that.
     
  22. kpaulson

    kpaulson New Member

    Jun 16, 2000
    Washington DC
    Funny I thought there was and I thought the term had nothing to do with citizenship.
     
  23. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It also seems hardly coincidental that 5 of the 11 are currently playing for the Galaxy.

    So if Chivas USA were to start up in 2004 (they're not), they could reasonably get: Daniel Hernandez, Chivas Martinez, Ramiro Corrales, Francisco Gomez, Arturo Torres, Javier Ochoa and Herculez Gomez. The others would be difficult (but not impossible other than Bocanegra) to get.

    They could also get Alberto Rizo, but I'm guessing they'd probably want someone else for their SI spots. That doesn't look like the best of rosters, but it is possible that a change in playing styles might help a few of the players. Then again any group of any Nationality who would be available in an expansion draft wouldn't be particularly great.
     
  24. beineke

    beineke New Member

    Sep 13, 2000
    As you're probably suggesting, this ties in with the fact that all the Mexican-American players are from Texas, California, or Vegas.
     
  25. CUS

    CUS New Member

    Apr 20, 2000
    What is also means is that the price to GET these players just went up.

    By a LOT.
     

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