Frisco, Texas (Jan. 10, 2024) – FC Dallas has signed defender Omar Gonzalez to a contract through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025 season, the club announced today.
“Omar brings valuable veteran experience to FC Dallas and will be a great addition to our defensive system,” said FC Dallas Technical Director Andre Zanotta. “We’re excited that he’s coming home to Dallas where his leadership in the locker room will be a tremendous asset for us.”
Gonzalez brings 15 years of professional experience, including 12 seasons in MLS (276 appearances), is a three-time MLS Cup winner (2011, 2012, and 2014), a two-time Supporters’ Shields winner (2010 and 2011), and has featured four-times in MLS Best XI selections (2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014).
Gonzalez, 35, returns to his hometown of Dallas after spending two seasons with the New England Revolution. Last season, Gonzalez featured 18 times in the regular season for the Rev’s, scoring his lone goal of the season on September 17 against the Colorado Rapids. The Skyline High School graduate appeared in 37 matches for the Revolution across all competitions.
“I am extremely excited and proud to be joining FC Dallas after leaving the area at the age of 15. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance to come back home,” said Gonzalez. “This is a full circle moment. When I broke the news to my family in our group chat, I said to them ‘the kid is coming home a man’. It is special to be reunited with them in Dallas. I am thrilled to join the organization and to work together to put a star over the FC Dallas crest.”
Prior to New England, The 6-foot-5 defender spent three seasons with Toronto FC appearing 73 times across all competitions. He made his Toronto FC debut in a 2-0 Toronto win against CF Montréal on July 14, 2019. With Toronto, he made appearances in MLS, MLS Cup Playoffs, Concacaf Champions Cup, and the Canadian Championship.
In 2015, Gonzalez joined Liga MX side C.F. Pachuca where he totaled 88 appearances across all competitions. Gonzalez helped Los Tuzos obtain its sixth Liga MX title after winning the 2016 Torneo Clausura final against C.F. Monterrey. Gonzalez also won the 2017 Concacaf Champions League with Pachuca after defeating Tigres UANL. Gonzalez helped Pachuca finish third in the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup after convincingly defeating United Arab Emirates side Al-Jazira 4-1 on December 16, 2017.
Gonzalez was selected third overall by the LA Galaxy in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. In seven seasons with LA, Gonzalez made 223 appearances across all competitions scoring 17 goals assisting 13. With the Galaxy, Gonzalez was named MLS Rookie of the Year (2009).
On the international stage, Gonzalez has accumulated 52 caps with the United States, including three appearances in the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Brazil. Winner of the 2013 and 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup titles, he remains one of the most experienced players in the U.S. pool, with 18 appearances in World Cup Qualifiers.
Gonzalez was part of the historic Maryland men’s soccer program who obtained its third NCAA National Championship in 2008. Gonzalez, a sophomore with the Terrapins at the time, became an NCAA National Champion after defeating the University of North Carolina on December 14, 2008 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
The Dallas native played his youth soccer with the Dallas Texans prior to moving to Florida and feature for U.S. Soccer’s U-17 Residency Program in 2005. Gonzalez’s family resides in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas.
With the addition of Gonzalez, Dallas now has 30 players under contract for the 2024 season:
Goalkeepers (2): Antonio Carrera, Maarten Paes
Defenders (9): Herbert Endeley, Marco Farfan, Omar Gonzalez, Sebastien Ibeagha, Geovane Jesus, Sam Junqua, Nolan Norris, Nkosi Tafari, Ema Twumasi
Midfielders (15): Eugene Ansah, Paul Arriola, Liam Fraser, Asier Illarramendi, Bernard Kamungo, Sebastian Lletget, Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Isaiah Parker, Paxton Pomykal, Tomas Pondeca, Enes Sali, Tarik Scott, Dante Sealy, Alejandro Urzua, Alan Velasco
Forwards (4): Jesús Ferreira, Malik Henry-Scott, José Mulato, Jesús Jiménez
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