MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Acquire Forward Herculez Gomez from Colorado Rapids

Published on September 3, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Kansas City Wizards acquired forward Herculez Gomez Wednesday from the Colorado Rapids for allocation money and two draft selections. Gomez, a graduate of the Cruz Azul youth system, has played for the Colorado Rapids and the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS and has appeared twice for the U.S. National Team. Colorado receives a 4th round selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, a 1st round selection in the 2009 Supplemental Draft* and allocation money in the trade. Per League and team policy, further financial details are not disclosed.

"Herculez Gomez is a talented, hardworking and passionate player who is capable of scoring quality goals," Technical Director Peter Vermes said. "He has the ability to play at forward or in midfield and help bolster our attack. Gomez is a young player who already has a lot of experience and will help us both this season and in the future."

Gomez, 26, has registered 22 League goals in an MLS career that spans five seasons. Gomez broke into MLS with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2003 after being seen playing for the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Gomez spent the 2003-2006 seasons with the Galaxy, scoring 16 goals and adding five assists in 53 games (35 starts) for Los Angeles. In 2005, Gomez was named team MVP by local media after registering 18 goals in all competitions to help Los Angeles capture U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup championships. He recorded the game-winning goal in the Open Cup final that season.

Los Angeles traded Gomez to Colorado prior to the 2007 as part of a trade for veteran goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Gomez scored the first-ever goal in the history of Dick's Sporting Goods Park, recording the opening tally in a 2-1 win over D.C. United on April 7, 2007. He went on to score four goals and record two assists in 20 games before his season was cut short due to injury. He earned his first call to the United States National Team during the season, appearing twice (one start) at the 2007 Copa America competition in Venezuela. Gomez has two goals and one assist in 17 games (5 starts) this MLS season.

Gomez, who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Las Vegas, is Mexican-American and played professionally in Mexico for two seasons before returning to the United States. He appeared for Puebla, Cruz Azul B and Aguila Blanca de Pueblas or the Mexican second division in the 2000-2001 seasons when he was just 18 years old. Gomez speaks fluent Spanish, bringing the number of Spanish-speaking players on the Wizards roster to nine (six are bilingual in English and Spanish). Technical Director Peter Vermes and Head Coach Curt Onalfo also speak Spanish.

Kansas City now has ten total selections in the 2009 entrance drafts. The Wizards control one 1st round selection, two 2nd round selections, two 3rd round selections and one 4th round selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Kansas City also has one pick in all four rounds of the 2009 Supplemental Draft.

*The MLS Supplemental Draft is a four-round draft held at a later date than the MLS SuperDraft. A 1st round Supplemental Draft selection is, in essence, a 5th round draft pick. In the Supplemental Draft, teams can select players from the lower divisions of professional soccer in the United States, including the United Soccer Leagues.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 3, 2008


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