Hector Jiménez (soccer)

Hector Osvaldo Jiménez (born November 3, 1988) is an American soccer player who plays for Austin FC in Major League Soccer.

For the Mexican actor, see Héctor Jiménez.
Hector Jiménez
Jiménez with Columbus Crew SC in 2017
Personal information
Full name Hector Osvaldo Jiménez[1]
Date of birth (1988-11-03) November 3, 1988
Place of birth Huntington Park, California, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Midfielder, Defender
Club information
Current team
 Austin FC
Youth career
2002–2006 Arsenal FC (California)
2005 IMG Soccer Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 California Golden Bears
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 LA Galaxy 43 (4)
2014–2020 Columbus Crew SC 133 (2)
2021– Austin FC 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 10, 2020

College and amateur career

Hector played two years at Bell Gardens High School from 2004 & 2006 where he established himself as one of the team's leaders and caught the eye of various soccer programs across the country.

Jiménez is a product of the University of California Berkeley where he played between 2006-2010. He was three-time First Team All-Pac-10 (2008–2010), NSCAA Second Team Far West Region, no. 2 on Cal’s all-time assist list, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 team, NSCAA First Team Far West All-Region and was three-time Second Team Pac-10 All-Academic.[2] During his college years, Jiménez also played with the Bay Area Ambassadors of the National Premier Soccer League.

Professional career

LA Galaxy

On January 14, 2011, Jiménez was drafted in the second round (34th overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy.[3] He played three seasons with the Galaxy, recording four goals and six assists in 43 appearances while helping the Galaxy win titles in 2011 and 2012.

Columbus Crew SC

On January 14, 2014, Jiménez was traded to the Columbus Crew for a Second Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (42nd overall) and allocation money. [4] He made his club debut on March 8, 2014 in a 3–0 victory over D.C. United.[5] His first goal for the Crew came on April 19, 2014, also against D.C. United. Jiménez's 90th-minute goal earned the Crew a 1–1 draw and would be nominated for MLS AT&T Goal of the Week honors.[6] He went on to appear in both legs of the Crew's playoff series against the New England Revolution.

Jiménez made 23 appearances in 2015, including his 75th professional appearance on May 16 against the San Jose Earthquakes. He notched four assists on the season while playing at four different positions. However, he did not appear in the playoffs as Crew SC made a run to MLS Cup 2015, where they would fall 2–1 to the Portland Timbers.

Jiménez racked up 25 appearances in 2016, playing five different positions. He made his 100th career appearance on July 3, in a 3–2 defeat to Sporting KC.[7] During the 2017 season, Jiménez made 23 appearances for Columbus. However, in 2018, the signing of Milton Valenzuela, a young Designated Player, saw Jiménez's time on the field significantly decrease, with him only making 12 total appearances.[8] However, during the 2019 season Valenzuela suffered a long-term injury which again saw Jiménez seize the starting left back position and he made a total of 23 appearances.[8]

In his last season with Columbus, Jiménez made a total of 10 appearances. One of these appearances was during the 2020 MLS Cup where Columbus beat the Seattle Sounders 3–0.[9] On December 14, 2020, Columbus declined their contract option on Jiménez following their 2020 season ending his time with the club.[10]

Austin FC

On December 21, 2020, Jiménez joined Austin FC as a free agent ahead of their inaugural season in 2021.[11]

Career statistics
As of December 12, 2020[12][13]
Club Season League Playoffs Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
LA Galaxy 2011 MLS 2000101040
2012 151101040211
2013 263101030313
Total 434203080564
Columbus Crew SC 2014 MLS 2412020–281
2015 2300010–240
2016 250–20–270
2017 1904010–240
2018 1101010–130
2019 231–20–251
2020 8 0 2 0 0 0 – 10 0
Total 13329090001512
Career total 176690120802076

Personal life

Both of Jiménez's parents are Mexican expatriates, who met in the United States.[14]

Honors

Club

Los Angeles Galaxy

Columbus Crew SC


References
  1. "Hector Osvaldo Jimenez". California Birth Index. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2011-04-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-01-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-14. Retrieved 2014-01-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Columbus Crew 3–0 D.C. United". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  6. "Columbus Crew 1–1 D.C. United". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  7. "Kamara records brace in wild match at Kansas City". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  8. "USA - H. Jiménez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  9. Goff, Steven. "Columbus Crew roars past Seattle Sounders to win MLS Cup behind Lucas Zelarayan's dominance". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  10. https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2020/12/14/release-core-2020-mls-cup-winning-columbus-crew-sc-roster-return-2021
  11. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/12/21/austin-fc-sign-versatile-midfielder-hector-jimenez
  12. Hector Jiménez at Major League Soccer
  13. Hector Jiménez at Soccerway
  14. "Immigrant, Coach, Dad: Crew SC's Hector Jimenez proves his father's hopes & training methods". MLS. June 21, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
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