Eriq Zavaleta
Zavaleta playing for Indiana Hoosiers in 2011
Personal information
Full name Eriq Anthony Zavaleta[1]
Date of birth (1992-08-02) August 2, 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Westfield, Indiana[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 LA Galaxy
Number 15
Youth career
2008–2009 IMG Soccer Academy
2009–2010 FC Pride
2010–2011 Real Salt Lake
2011 Chivas USA
2011 Columbus Crew
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Indiana Hoosiers 46 (28)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Seattle Sounders FC 5 (0)
2013 → San Antonio Scorpions (loan) 4 (1)
2014 → Chivas USA (loan) 17 (0)
2015–2021 Toronto FC 118 (2)
2016 → Toronto FC II (loan) 2 (0)
2019 → Toronto FC II (loan) 1 (0)
2022– LA Galaxy 15 (2)
International career‡
2008–2009 United States U17 23 (0)
2021– El Salvador 27 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 10, 2023

Eriq Anthony Zavaleta (born August 2, 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Born in the United States, he plays for the El Salvador national team.

Youth and college

Zavaleta played his freshman and senior seasons of high school soccer at Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana. He scored 25 goals and nine assists as a freshman and twenty goals and ten assists as a senior. He also spent his youth career with FC Pride, Real Salt Lake, and Chivas USA, and was also part of Columbus Crew's USL Super-20 championship team in 2011.

On February 7, 2011, Zavaleta signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Indiana University.[3] In his freshman year with the Hoosiers in 2011, Zavaleta started 22 games and led the team with ten goals and five assists and was also the team leader in points with 25. He went on to be named College Soccer News All-Freshman first team, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region first team selection, Soccer America All-Freshman first team and Chicagoland Soccer News Player of the Year.

In his sophomore year, Zavaleta started all 24 matches and again was the team leader with 40 points, with 18 goals and four assists. He led the team to their eighth national title. One of the four assists came in the 2012 College Cup final against no. 3 Georgetown, when he set up teammate Nikita Kotlov for what turned out to be the title-clinching goal.[4] He went on to be named Big Ten All-Tournament team, NSCAA third-team All-American, College Soccer News first-team All-American and the College Cup All-Tournament team. At Indiana University he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Club career

Seattle Sounders FC

On January 5, 2013, it was announced by agent Ron Waxman that Zavaleta had signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, making him eligible for the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.[5][6] On January 17, Zavaleta was selected 10th overall by Seattle Sounders FC and immediately added to the roster.[7][8] He made his professional debut on March 23, 2013, in a 1–0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.[9]

Chivas USA

On February 28, 2014, Chivas USA announced that they had added Zavaleta to their roster on loan from Seattle Sounders FC for one year.[10] In 2014, he replaced Bobby Burling as the center back was out of play after he underwent a knee surgery.[11]

Toronto FC

On January 26, 2015, Toronto FC announced that they had traded their 2016 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick to Seattle for Zavaleta.[12]

On September 5, 2015, Zavaleta scored his first goal for Toronto in a 2–1 loss against his former club, the Seattle Sounders.[13] In 2016, he was briefly loaned to Toronto FC II.[14]

On February 23, 2021, Zavaleta re-signed with Toronto FC.[15] At the end of the season, his contract option was declined.[16]

LA Galaxy

On March 10, 2022, Zavaleta signed a one-year deal with LA Galaxy.[17] He made his debut on April 19, 2022, against the San Diego Loyal SC in the U.S. Open Cup. He later made his MLS debut against Real Salt Lake on April 30, 2022. In February 2023, the Galaxy announced Zavaleta had signed a new two-year deal to remain with the club.[18]

International career

Zavaleta was part of the U.S. Soccer Residency program in 2008–09 and made 23 appearances for the United States U-17 national team during that stretch, including three appearances in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Zavaleta mostly played as a defender with the under-17s.

He is eligible to play for both the United States national team and El Salvador.[6]

In April 2021, it was reported that Zavaleta had gained clearance from FIFA to represent El Salvador.[19][20] The next month on May 26, Zavaleta was called up to El Salvador ahead of their 2022 FIFA world Cup qualification matches.[21] He debuted for El Salvador in a 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification win over United States Virgin Islands on June 5, 2021.[22] He scored his first goal in a 3–0 2022 World Cup qualifier win over Antigua and Barbuda on June 8, 2021.[23] In his third match on June 16, he was given the captain's armband to wear, after the team's captain was substituted out.[24]

Personal life

Zavaleta is the son of Carlos and Kristi Zavaleta. He has one sister, Alexa and one brother, Casey. His father played professionally in the United States and was also a member of the El Salvador national team. He is also the nephew of former MLS and U.S. national team defender, and his current coach at LA Galaxy and former coach at Toronto FC, Greg Vanney.[6][8]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played October 21, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs[a] National cup[b] Continental[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Seattle Sounders FC 2013[25] MLS 5 0 0 0 0 0 — 5 0
2014[25] MLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 5 0 0 0 0 0 — 5 0
San Antonio Scorpions (loan) 2013[25] NASL 4 1 — — — 4 1
Chivas USA (loan) 2014[25] MLS 17 0 — 1 0 — 18 0
Toronto FC 2015[25] MLS 18 1 1 0 2 0 — 21 1
2016[25] MLS 15 0 6 0 4 0 — 25 0
2017[25] MLS 29 1 4 0 3 0 — 36 1
2018[25] MLS 21 0 — 3 0 7 0 31 0
2019[25] MLS 16 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 18 0
2020[25] MLS 5[d] 0 0 0 0 0 — 5 0
2021[25] MLS 14 0 — 0 0 2 0 16 0
Total 118 2 11 0 14 0 9 0 152 2
Toronto FC II (loan) 2016[25] USL 2 0 — — — 2 0
2019[25] USL League One 1 0 — — — 1 0
Total 3 0 — — — 3 0
LA Galaxy 2022[25] MLS 4 0 0 0 2 0 — 6 0
2023[25] MLS 11 2 — 1 0 — 12 2
Total 15 2 0 0 3 0 — 18 2
Career total 162 5 11 0 18 0 9 0 198 5
  1. ^ Includes MLS Cup Playoff matches.
  2. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championship matches.
  3. ^ Includes CONCACAF Champions League and Campeones Cup matches.
  4. ^ Includes one appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament group stage.

International

As of match played September 10, 2023[26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
El Salvador 2021 13 1
2022 6 1
2023 8 1
Total 27 3

International goals

Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.[26]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. June 8, 2021 Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador  Antigua and Barbuda 1–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. March 24, 2022 Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica  Jamaica 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. September 10, 2023 Estadio Jorge "El Mágico" González, San Salvador, El Salvador  Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 2–3 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A

Honors

Toronto FC

Indiana University

Individual

References

  1. ^ Alvarado, Hugo [@SelectaTalent] (April 8, 2021). "Eriq Zavaleta recibe Pasaporte Salvadoreño" [Eriq Zavaleta receives Salvadoran Passport] (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b "Eriq Zavaleta". LA Galaxy. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Hoosier Men's Soccer Inks Eight In 2011 Recruiting Class". IU Hoosiers. Indiana University. February 7, 2011. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  4. ^ "Indiana Wins Eighth National Title with 1-0 Win Over Georgetown". IU Athletics. Indiana University. December 9, 2012. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  5. ^ Borg, Simon (January 5, 2013). "Agent: Indiana star Zavaleta signs Generation adidas deal". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "MLS signs Indiana star Eriq Zavaleta, five NCAA senior standouts". Soccer Wire. January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "Sounders FC Makes Forward Eriq Zavaleta Top Pick". Seattle Sounders FC. Sounders FC Public Relations. January 17, 2013. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Gaschk, Matt (January 17, 2013). "Interview: SuperDraft pick Eriq Zavaleta". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved March 24, 2013.[dead link]
  9. ^ Gaschk, Matt (March 25, 2013). "Zavaleta proud to make MLS debut with the Sounders". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved March 30, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Sounders loan forward Eriq Zavaleta to Chivas USA for the 2014 season". seattletimes.com. The Seattle Times Company. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling out 3-4 weeks after knee surgery". angelsonparade.com. Vox Media. July 15, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Reds Acquire Eriq Zavaleta". torontofc.ca. Toronto FC. January 26, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  13. ^ "Seattle Sounders 2, Toronto FC 1". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  14. ^ "Toronto FC Loan Hagglund and Zavaleta to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. April 15, 2016.
  15. ^ "Toronto FC re-sign defenders Justin Morrow, Eriq Zavaleta". mlssoccer.com. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "Toronto FC Announce Year-End Roster Decisions". Toronto FC. December 1, 2021.
  17. ^ "LA Galaxy sign El Salvador International Defender Eriq Zavaleta". LA Galaxy. March 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "LA Galaxy Re-Sign El Salvador International Defender Eriq Zavaleta". February 7, 2023.
  19. ^ Malek, Julian (April 29, 2021). "Eriq Zavaleta es autorizado por FIFA para jugar con la Selección de El Salvador" [Eriq Zavaleta is authorized by FIFA to play for the El Salvador National Team]. Futbol Centro America (in Spanish).
  20. ^ Molinaro, John (May 19, 2021). "TFC's Zavaleta set to play for El Salvador: 'It's a dream come true'". TFC Republic.
  21. ^ Davidson, Neil (May 26, 2021). "Toronto FC defender Eriq Zavaleta gets El Salvador national team call-up". Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  22. ^ "US Virgin Islands 0–7 El Salvador". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  23. ^ "El Salvador 3–0 Antigua and Barbuda". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  24. ^ "Toronto FC's Zavaleta wastes little time settling in with El Salvador". sportsnet.ca. Rogers Media. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "E. Zavaleta Summary". Soccerway. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  26. ^ a b "Eriq Zavaleta". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  27. ^ "Recap: Toronto FC vs Seattle Sounders". mlssoccer.com. December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.

External links

LA Galaxy – current squad
El Salvador squads
Awards
Categories