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Santos Laguna

File:Club Santos Laguna logo.svg
Full name	Club Santos Laguna S.A. de C.V.
Nickname(s)	Albiverdes (White and Green) Los Guerreros (The Warriors)
Founded	September 4, 1983
Ground	Estadio Corona Torreón, Coahuila (Capacity: 30,050[1])
Owner	Grupo Modelo
Chairman	Alejandro Irarragorri
Manager	Benjamín Galindo
League	Primera División de México
Clausura 2012	1st (League) Finals (Champion)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Club Santos Laguna is a Mexican football club. They represent the urban area of Comarca Lagunera, which is made up of Torreón, Gomez Palacio, and Lerdo. Santos Laguna currently plays in the Primera División. The club was founded in 1982, and reached Mexico's top division after buying the franchise belonging to the Ángeles de Puebla. The club's debut in Mexico's top division was in the 1988/89 tournament. They have won the league championship four times: first in the Invierno 1996 tournament, second in the Verano 2001 tournament, third in the Clausura 2008 tournament, and the most recent in the Clausura 2012 tournament. They have also reached the finals in the 1993–1994 season, the Verano 2000 tournament, the Bicentenario 2010 tournament, the Apertura 2010 tournament, and the Clausura 2011 tournament.

History[link]

Alternate logo.

Club Santos Laguna was founded in 1982 under the auspices of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) of the State of Durango. IMSS Santos Laguna was the first official name of this team, which was founded and hosted in his first season with the Mexican Social Security Institute and that is where its origins.

Since the late seventies, the IMSS organized a national football tournament, with teams representing different parts of the country attended these competitions for five consecutive years, the hometown of Gomez Palacio, a team that won several championships and always left a good impression, this group of players who mostly played on the team, "Asturias" Gomezpalatinian League were represented at the IMSS base for their city.

Jose Diaz Couder, as head of social services in the IMSS Gomez Palacio, was invited to participate in those tournaments without having its own team, drew on the expertise to shape a team, building on the Asturias. Regularly results were good, so on the insistence of Diaz Couder with senior management of the Institute to send a franchise of the second division to La Laguna.

In 1982, Tuberos de Veracruz, forming part of the Second Division "B" of Mexican soccer disappeared, giving the franchise to IMSS, one to his collection, as they had several, the most important and Oaxtepec Atlante. That franchise was offered in the last minute to Gomez Palacio, but with time running out and little infrastructure declined to accept and went to Santa Cruz, Tlaxcala, a small town, where Social Security is the resort located in La Trinidad, with a good stage there arose the first Santos Laguna, a name taken by the town, Santa Cruz, its people thus were Santos Laguna.

With poor results, the team only spent a year in Tlaxcala and by the end of 1983 it was resolved that at the end of the season, the team would migrate to Comarca Lagunera.

Jose Diaz Couder, Sports Coordinator of the IMSS in Gomez Palacio, received the news from Professor Lorenzo García González, Director of Soccer Schools and Social Security of Mr. Juan Antonio Carranza, Assistant Director of Corporate Services of the IMSS, so spread Diaz Couder news and chained to the Comarca Santos Laguna.

Due to a lack of facilities in Gomez Palacios, efforts were made to acquire Moctezuma Stadium in Torreon, then owned by John Abusaid. An agreement was struck and Santos began hosting home games at what later became Estadio Corona (now replaced by Corona II or Territorio Santos Laguna).

As the team was formed, training began under the direction of Juan Manuel Ramirez Meza "Janiel". However, because coach Ramirez Meza did not have license to train professionally in Mexico, the club had to resort to Don Grimaldo Gonzalez. Because Don Grimaldo Gonzales was not naturalized and could not participate as a foreigner in lower divisions of Mexican Football, the coach post had to be replaced yet again, this time by Fernando Zamora, only filling in a few days before the start of the tournament.

The only reinforcement that came with professional experience was Carlos Gonzalez, who had debuted years ago with the Green Wave, old equipment neighboring towns, the rest of the players were those who represented IMSS Gómez Palacio for years. With the aim of spreading the sport and health, the Santos team began recruiting players from the region and enrolled in professional football to establish a new circuit between the second and third divisions that the Mexican Football Federation called "II B" . Short has won 3 championships.

Second Division "B"[link]

On September 4, 1983 the Warriors played their first game with his name Santos Laguna, winning 2 goals to 0 against the Second Division Bachilleres with annotations Leobardo Avalos and José Luis Hernández. A year later, on July 8 and being champions of the Second Division "B", the Warriors defeated in the final of the Champion of Champions at the Autonomous University of Querétaro in the two games by a score 1–0. Both teams reached the Second Division "A ".

Second Division "A"[link]

Santos Laguna changed owners, when the IMSS decided to get rid of all the professional clubs, so entrepreneur harrier Salvador Necochea Sagui bought the club. Warriors in their first year in the Second Division "A" fought to save himself in the league for non-drop, which succeeded thanks to 3 wins, 2 draws and only one defeat, the players featured were William "The Clash" Galindo, Carlos González^{[disambiguation needed ]}, Julio Cesar Armendariz, Tomas Moreno and Fernando de la Rosa.

In 1985, the Guerreros earned the nickname after the campaign began with bad results, changed technical and managed to reach the 10° position of the table, not just that the fans began to grow in number and also achieved have its own stadium when the owners bought the old Estadio Corona.

In 1986, there were several changes to the team, previous first coat was replaced by the current shield the idea was the then owner Salvador Necochea, the latter was first played in the uniform settlement in green and white stripes and third at last a league ranked by the rise when 4 dates to finish the regular season defeat to Santos Laguna Tepic by a score of 1:0 and gets the lead in the Second Division "A".

In 1987, the Guerreros returned to be leaders and scored again at 4 days to finish the regular season, however, despite only having lost a home game in the tournament Santos Laguna went back to the shore in their struggle to ascend to the Mexican First Division.

Of the 18 founding clubs of the new professional circuit in the Second Division "B", only two made it to the first division, the Correcaminos UAT and Santos Laguna. Although the Roadrunners as monarchs of the second, moved up 87–88, after eight seasons of staggering, fell to the new branch promotion dubbed Primera A, which is still struggling to return.

Instead, the Guerreros arrived at the maximum circuit for the purchase of the franchise Angeles de Puebla and justified his rise over time because not won on the field becoming 15 years in a successful club it is today.

Early years in First Division[link]

Santos Laguna was promoted in 1988 to buy the franchise of Angeles de Puebla and although it was not sporting manner as warriors with reinforcements Wilson Graniolatti, Martin Zuniga and Miguel Herrera gave a good image in the Cup Tournament with 3 wins, 4 draws and one defeat. Santos Laguna in this tournament began with a tie at 1 as against Atlético Morelia, and scoring the first goal in the first division Lucas Ochoa. Warriors in the hands of Carlos (the banana) Ortiz would be saved from falling, when, thanks to two goals from Miguel Herrera, Santos Laguna defeated Atletico Potosino 3:1 Potosino in Week 34.

In 1991, the company Grupo Modelo became majority shareholder of the club. That same year would mean one of the saddest for Santos Laguna when Roberto Matos save the Warriors in the last round thanks to a miraculous 0:0 tie against Atlético Morelia, young Ramon Ramirez also make his debut in First Division scored in the Chivas de Guadalajara. In late 1992, the club gets hit very hard by the death of its president, Armando Navarro Gazcón, who perished along with his wife in a car accident.

In 1993 begins the ascent sports club with the arrival of President Alberto Canedo and Chilean coach Pedro Garcia, who after finishing the 1991–1992 season indicated to the local press newspaper Noticias El Sol de La Laguna continue only on the computer if you gave players to be within the top 10 in Mexico and it was. There was a strong investment between Ruben Martinez stressed reinforcements who arrived after being crowned three-time scoring in Chile and achieved the championship in the Libertadores Cup in 1991, the Recopa Sudamericana in 1991 and in 1992 with the Chilean Colo-Colo, Antonio Apud (who was injured in his right knee before his arrival but I get to wear the Argentina jersey.), Daniel Guzmán, Olaf Heredia, Diego Silva^{[disambiguation needed ]}, Héctor Adomaitis (a young man who came to be a stranger and national football eventually became a benchmark of soccer in the Comarca Lagunera) and Richard Zambrano, who joined the players who came from the second division as Guadalupe Rubio and Pedro Muñoz. This season was achieved for the first time qualifying for the playoffs in the first division and reached the final in their tenth anniversary of the foundation, which lost in overtime to Tecos UAG.

Standout teams[link]

1993–94 Runner-up[link]

In the first leg the team defeated Tecos UAG 1–0 in Corona Stadium; in the second leg it lost 2–0 in 3 de Marzo Stadium.

Squad[link]

• Adrián Marmolejo
• Ramón Ramírez
• Hector Adomaitis
• Diego Silva
• Antonio Apud Nieva
• Daniel Guzmán
• Richard Zambrano
• Felipe de Jesús Amezcua
• Jose Antonio Alcantara
• Jesús Gómez
• Ricardo Wagner de Souza

Invierno 1996 Champions[link]

In the Invierno of 1996 Santos Laguna won its first title, defeating Necaxa 4–3 on aggregate (first leg 0–1, second leg 4–2). The winning goal is still controversial, as the team's detractors assert that the scorer (Jared Borgetti) was off-side.

Squad[link]

• Jose Miguel
• Francisco Gabriel de Anda
• Pedro Muñoz
• Jose Guadalupe Rubio
• Ricardo Wagner de Souza
• Nicolás Ramírez
• Miguel España
• Benjamín Galindo
• Héctor Adomaitis
• Jared Borgetti
• Gabriel Caballero

Verano 2001 Champions[link]

In the Verano of 2001 Santos Laguna won its second title, 4–3 on aggregate (first leg 1–2, second leg 3–1) against Pachuca.

Squad[link]

• Adrián Martínez
• Héctor Altamirano
• Héctor López
• Miguel Ángel Carreón
• Mariano Trujillo
• Carlos Cariño
• Luis Romero
• Johan Rodríguez
• Rodrigo "El Pony" Ruiz
• Joaquín Reyes Chávez
• Jared Borgetti
• Carlos Augusto Gomes "Guto"
• Robson Luiz
• Luis Fernando Soto
• Ignacio Vázquez
• Enrique Vizcarra

Current years[link]

In the Clausura 2007 season, Santos was in grave danger of being relegated to the Primera División A along with other teams Querétaro and Tigres UANL. Despite having bought several important players such as Oswaldo Sánchez, Daniel Ludueña and Vicente Matías Vuoso, the team lost five games of their first seven. However, the team managed to keep a steady pace and scored 22 points during the season. They were benefited by the "20/11 rule", which made Querétaro lose three points for not using enough players under 20 years, 11 months. Thanks to this, Santos remained in the Primera División. Not only did they save themselves from relegation, but they made enough points to play the repechage. There they would face the preferable San Luis to whom they had lost the 1st leg 1–0 at home, but miraculously came from behind and won the 2nd leg 2–0, thus eliminating San Luis. In the quarter finals, Santos would lose to the champion of the season, Pachuca in a global score of 2–2 eliminating Santos for the positioning on the table.

The Apertura 2007 season was a much better season for Santos leaving them first place on the regular season standings, eliminating Monarcas Morelia with a global score of 5–2 in the quarter-finals, but they were defeated by Pumas UNAM with a global score of 5–4 in the semi-finals.

Clausura 2008 Champions[link]

In the Clausura 2008 season Santos would come out champion by defeating Monterrey in the semi-finals with a last minute goal, and finally Cruz Azul by an aggregate score of 3–2.

Torneo Bicentenario 2010[link]

In the finals they played against FC Toluca. In the first game, the final score was 1–1 with a goal by Vicente Matias Vuoso. In the second game the scored was tied 0–0 and lead to penalty kicks, Santos was 2 penalties ahead of Toluca, the ones that scored the penalties were: Lacerda, Chato and Ludueña, Santos only needed to score a goal and the championship was theirs, but Vuoso failed his penalty kick, then toluca scored, then Morales also failed his pk, the penalty kicks were 3–3, then Arce failed his shoot, and then Toluca scored, leaving Santos in the second place.

Apertura 2010[link]

In the Apertura 2010, Santos Laguna played against Monterrey. The first leg was at TSM with a score of 3-2 in favor of Santos Laguna with goals of Gutty 23', Quintero 41', Davino (own goal) 85' and for Monterrey Suazo 37' and Cardozo 54' scoring their goals. The second leg was played in Monterrey, with Los Regios winning 3-0 with goals of Suazo 28' & 85' and Basanta 72' winning aggregate 5-3.

Apertura 2011[link]

In this tournament, Santos Laguna went to the final playing against Tigres. The first leg was played at TSM with Tigres winning 1-0 with the goal of Damian Alvarez. The second leg was at El Volcan, with Tigres also winning that game 3-1 with goals of Mancilla 52', Danilinho 63', and Pulido 87' and for Santos Laguna, Peralta scored at 30' with Tigres winning aggregate 4-1. The referee for the second leg's match, was Marco Antonio Rodriguez with very controversial decisions, including the sending off of Oswaldo Sanchez at 12' of the first half. Later on, he would send off Baloy of Santos Laguna and Jimenez of Tigres at 69'.

CONCACAF Champions League 2011-2012 Final[link]

Santos Laguna lost to Monterrey in this CCL, with Monterrey winning the first leg 2-0 Humberto Suazo scoring for the Regios when he was supposed to be sent off before scoring the goals. Santos Laguna won 2-1 the second leg, Daniel Luduena and Oribe Peralta scoring for the Laguneros and Nery Cardozo for the Regios. This was the 4th lost final for Santos Laguna.

Clausura 2012 Champions[link]

In the Clausura 2012 season, Santos would come out champion by fourth time, defeating Tigres dramatically in the semi-finals with two last minute goals, and defeating Monterrey in the finals by a winning aggregate score of 3–2. The goals were scored by Daniel Luduena at 6' and Oribe Peralta at 64' for Santos, and Aldo De Nigris at 78' for Monterrey.

Squad[link]

• Oswaldo Sanchez
• Ivan Estrada
• Felipe Baloy
• Aaron Galindo
• Osmar Mares
• Marc Crosas
• Rodolfo Salinas
• Carlos Darwin Quintero
• Christian Suárez
• Daniel Luduena
• Oribe Peralta
• Juan Pablo Rodriguez
• César Ibáñez
• Candido Saul Ramirez

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Shirt sponsors and manufacturers[link]

• Championship jerseys

Stadium[link]

Santos Laguna currently play at Estadio Nuevo Corona, which holds 30,050 people. The new stadium cost $100,000,000 USD. Construction started on February 22, 2008. On November 11, 2009 the new stadium opened its doors hosting a friendly match between Santos Laguna and Santos F.C., of the Brazilian Série A. The sold out crowd included Mexican President, Felipe Calderón, and Brazilian legend, Pelé. Santos Laguna won 2–1.

Business[link]

On December 9, 2010, Santos formed a partnership with current Scottish champions and Old Firm Giants, Celtic F.C.

Like Celtic, Santos wear a green and white hooped kit.

The two clubs regularly mention one another on Twitter and Facebook.^[2]

Honours[link]

• Primera División de México: 4

Invierno 1996, Verano 2001, Clausura 2008, Clausura 2012

Runner-up (5): 1993–94, Verano 2000, Bicentenario 2010, Apertura 2010, Apertura 2011

• Interliga: 1

2004

• Copa Independencia: 1

2007

• CONCACAF Champions League:

Runner-up (1): 2011-12

Current squad[link]

For recent transfers, see List of Mexican Football Transfers Winter 2011-12. As of June 9, 2011^[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Oswaldo Sánchez (captain) 2 DF Oswaldo Alanís 3 FW Carlos Darwin Quintero 4 DF Jorge Iván Estrada 5 DF Aarón Galindo 6 MF Marc Crosas 8 MF Juan Pablo Rodríguez (vice-captain) 9 FW Carlos Ochoa 10 MF Daniel Ludueña 13 FW Christian Suárez 15 MF Jaime Toledo 16 FW Herculez Gomez 17 MF Rodolfo Salinas 18 DF Santiago Hoyos

No. Position Player 19 DF Rafael Figueroa 20 DF Osmar Mares 23 DF Felipe Baloy 24 FW Oribe Peralta 25 GK Miguel Becerra 27 DF José Antonio Olvera 29 FW Juan Carlos Enríquez 37 MF Cándido Ramírez GK Julio González 46 MF Arnulfo González FW Alonso Escoboza GK Leonardo DeSantos DF José León Hoyo

Out on loan[link]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Milton Aguilar (to Alacranes de Durango) DF Alejandro Martínez (to Lobos BUAP) DF Jonathan Lacerda (to Puebla) DF Jorge Barrera (to Correcaminos) DF Juan Pablo Santiago (to Tijuana) DF Uriel Álvarez (to Veracruz) DF Jorge Alberto Campos (to Albinegros de Orizaba) DF Juan Carlos Arellano (to Leones Negros) MF Diego Armando Esqueda (to Leones Negros)

No. Position Player MF Francisco Javier Torres (to Atlas) MF Miguel Zepeda (to Leones Negros) MF Pedro Javier Jiménez (to Irapuato FC) FW Agustín Enrique Herrera (to Veracruz) FW Daniel Guzmán Jr (to Veracruz) FW Gustavo Ruelas (to Jaguares) FW Joaquín Reyes (to Celaya) FW José Rodolfo Reyes (to Estudiantes Tecos)

Notable players[link]

This list of "famous" or "notable" sporting persons has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help to define clear inclusion criteria and edit the list to contain only subjects that fit that criteria.

Club records[link]

Santos Laguna Top Scorers
Rank	Player	Goals
1	Jared Borgetti	189
2	Vicente Matías Vuoso	94
3	Rodrigo Ruiz	59
4	Daniel Ludueña	58
5	Christian Benítez	51
6	Héctor Altamirano	37
7	Oribe Peralta	50
8	Johan Rodríguez	31
9	Héctor Adomaitis	30
10	Carlos Quintero	30

• Players in bold are currently active with Santos Laguna
• Players in italic are still active but are not currently with Santos Laguna

Santos Laguna Most Appearances
Rank	Player	Games
1	Jared Borgetti	311
2	Rodrigo Ruiz	293
3	Carlos Cariño	251
4	Pedro Muñoz	241
5	Héctor Altamirano	237
6	Vicente Matías Vuoso	226
7	Adrian Martinez	223
8	Johan Rodríguez	204
9	Iván Estrada	197
10	Juan Pablo Rodríguez	195

• Players in bold are currently active with Santos Laguna
• Players in italics are still active but not currently with Santos Laguna

• All goals and appearances correct as of January 29, 2012
• All goals and appearances counted for the domestic league only.

Managers[link]

• Juan de Dios Castillo (Jan 1999–Oct 99)
• Fernando Quirarte (Oct 1999–Dec 01)
• Sergio Bueno (July 2002–Sept 02)
• Luis Tena (Sept 2002–Dec 03)
• Eduardo de la Torre (Jan 2004–Oct 05)
• Jorge Humberto Vantolra (Nov 2005–Dec 05)
• Benjamín Galindo (Jan 2006–Feb 06)
• Wilson Graniolatti (March 2006–Sept 06)
• Daniel Guzmán (Sept 2006–March 9)
• Sergio Bueno (March 2009–Dec 09)
• Rubén Romano (Jan 2010–Feb 11)
• Diego Cocca (Feb 2011–Sept 11)
• Eduardo Rergis (interim) (Sept 2011)
• Benjamín Galindo (Sept 2011–)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Santos Laguna Official Facebook
• Santos Laguna Official Twitter
• Santos Laguna YouTube
• Santos Laguna Flickr
• Super Santos Laguna
• Federacion Mexicana de Futbol

Hérculez Gómez

Gomez as a player for the Kansas City Wizards
Personal information
Full name	Herculez Gomez Hurtado
Date of birth	(1982-04-06) April 6, 1982 (age 30)
Place of birth	Oxnard, California, United States
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Santos Laguna
Number	16
Youth career
2001–2002	Cruz Azul
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002	San Diego Gauchos	17	(17)
2002–2006	Los Angeles Galaxy	53	(16)
2003	→ Seattle Sounders (loan)	17	(1)
2004	→ San Diego Sockers (loan)	10	(5)
2007–2008	Colorado Rapids	37	(6)
2008–2009	Kansas City Wizards	34	(1)
2010	Puebla	15	(10)
2010–2011	Pachuca	29	(5)
2011	Estudiantes Tecos	16	(7)
2011–	Santos Laguna	8	(5)
National team‡
2007–	United States	10	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of March 25, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 17, 2012

Hérculez Gómez Hurtado (born April 6, 1982) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Santos Laguna in the Primera División de México and the United States men's national soccer team.

Early life[link]

Gómez, the oldest of five children, was born in Oxnard, California^[1] to Mexican-American parents.^[2] He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada,^[3] and played on the soccer team at Las Vegas High School.^[4]

Professional[link]

Gómez started his soccer career in 2001 with Cruz Azul of the Mexican First Division on their second-division squad, and transferred to second-division team Aguilas Blancas de Puebla later that year. The following season, he returned to first-division soccer with Durango. However, playing opportunities were scarce for him there, so he left, thinking he would quit soccer, but instead he joined the San Diego Gauchos of the USL D-3 Pro League in 2002, where he excelled, scoring seventeen goals in seventeen appearances. The Los Angeles Galaxy staff noticed him during a friendly match and he joined the team in September.^[5]

Gómez broke his foot while on loan to the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues, and recovery took a long time. When he was able to play again, he joined the now-defunct San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.^[6] He returned to the Galaxy for the 2005 season on a developmental contract, but played well enough to make it to the first team. His big chance came when Landon Donovan was called up to the national team. Donovan's absence gave Gomez many more starts at striker, and he was able to shine as a breakout goal-scorer.^[7]

He scored the game-winning goal in the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, then helped the Galaxy to a rare Cup 'double' when they also won the 2005 MLS Cup. Gómez ended the 2005 season with eighteen goals scored for the Galaxy (in all matches), and was voted by the local L.A. media as the year's Most Valuable Player.^[8]

Early in the 2006 season, Gómez was moved to the bench with then-coach Steve Sampson. Sampson used Gómez as a midfielder to see if he could score goals running at defenses. After Sampson's firing, however, Gomez scored several times under new coach Frank Yallop, and ended that season with five goals.^[9]

On December 1, 2006, Gómez was traded to the Colorado Rapids along with Ugo Ihemelu in exchange for Joe Cannon. He scored the first goal in the history of Dick's Sporting Goods Park in his first game for Colorado, a 2-1 win over D.C. United on April 7, 2007. Gomez tore his ACL during training with the Rapids in September of that year and was forced to undergo a lengthy recovery process.^[10]

On September 3, 2008, Gómez was traded to Kansas City Wizards in exchange for allocation money, a fourth round 2009 MLS SuperDraft pick and a first round 2009 MLS Supplemental Draft pick. His first goal for the Wizards was an injury time winner against San Jose Earthquakes, a must win game in their 2008 play-offs push.^[11]

Gómez signed with Mexican club Puebla F.C. in January 2010.^[12] He scored ten goals in the 2010 Mexican season^[13] to tie for the lead for most goals; this feat marked the first time any American player led a foreign league in goals.^[14]

Estudiantes Tecos[link]

Pachuca placed Gómez, along with its entire squad, on the transfer list.^[15] During the transfer window he moved along with teammate Braulio Luna to Estudiantes Tecos.^[16] Gómez scored his first goal for his new club in the second game of the Mexican Apertura season, coming in a 2-1 loss to San Luis.^[17] Following this good performance, Gómez was included in the starting lineup for his side's next game against Club América at the Estadio Azteca. Gómez played the full 90 and hit the post with one shot, his side won 2-1 and gained their first points of the season.^[18]

On August 19 Gómez started from the bench as his side faced former club Pachuca. Pachuca went up 1-0 in the 22nd minute but Tecos equalized in the 49th. Gómez came off the bench in the 67th minute and led his side to a 2-1 win, striking it past the onrushing goalkeeper after receiving a nice through ball.^[19]

Santos Laguna[link]

Cash-strapped Estudiantes Tecos were forced in to selling Gomez to league rivals Santos Laguna, who Gomez joined on December 10, 2011.^[20] Since joining Santos Laguna, Gomez has been in fantastic form having scored 11 goals in his first 12 appearances for the team across all competitions.

With Santos Laguna's 2012 Clausura victory, Gomez became the first player to have won both the MLS Cup and the Primera División championship.^[21]

International[link]

Gomez was named to the United States roster for the 2007 Copa America, and earned his first cap as a second-half substitute against Argentina, with his first start coming against Colombia.^[22]

On May 11, 2010, Gomez was named to the U.S. national team's provisional 30-man 2010 World Cup roster. He scored a goal for the U.S. national team in a 4-2 friendly defeat to the Czech Republic on May 25, 2010. The next day he was named to the 23-man roster for the 2010 World Cup.^[23]

On June 5, 2010 he scored a goal for the U.S. National Team in a 3-1 win over Australia in the United States' final friendly match before the World Cup.^[24]

Gomez played in 3 out of the 4 games for the United States at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the round of 16 game against Ghana.

Gomez made his return to the national team in 2012, appearing in friendlies against Scotland and Brazil and scoring a goal against the latter on May 30.

International goals[link]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
01.	May 25, 2010	Rentschler Field, East Hartford, USA	Czech Republic	2 – 2	2 – 4	Friendly
02.	June 5, 2010	Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort, RSA	Australia	3 – 1	3 – 1	Friendly
03.	May 30, 2012	FedEx Field, Landover, United States	Brazil	1 – 2	1 – 4	Friendly

Career statistics[link]

Club[link]

As of March 14, 2012.

International[link]

As of May 30, 2012.

Personal[link]

Herculez is the brother of MMA fighter Ulysses Gomez.^[25] He is of Mexican-American heritage.

Honors[link]

Club[link]

Los Angeles Galaxy[link]

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2005
• Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2005
• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (1): 2005

Santos Laguna[link]

• Primera División (1): Clausura 2012

Individual[link]

Puebla FC[link]

• Primera División de México Scoring title: Bicentenario 2010

References[link]