Diego Gómez (footballer, born 1990)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Diego

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Diego José Gómez Heredia

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|02|12|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Salamanca, Spain

| height = 1.83 m

| currentclub =

| position = Goalkeeper

| youthyears1 = 1998–2002

| youthclubs1 = Real Madrid

| youthyears2 = 2002–2009

| youthclubs2 = Barcelona

| years1 = 2009

| clubs1 = Olesa Montserrat

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2009–2010

| clubs2 = Palamós

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2010–2011

| clubs3 = Gramenet B

| caps3 = 34

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2011–2012

| clubs4 = Terrassa

| caps4 = 29

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2012

| clubs5 = Southern District

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

| manageryears1 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs1 = Queensboro FC II

| manageryears2 = 2023

| managerclubs2 = Albion San Diego

| manageryears3 = 2024

| managerclubs3 = Irvine Zeta

| manageryears4 = 2024

| managerclubs4 = Phoenix Rising (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2024

| managerclubs5 = Phoenix Rising (interim)

}}

Diego José Gómez Heredia (born 12 February 1990), simply known as Diego Gómez,{{cite web|url=https://www.ara.cat/esports/diego-gomez-porter-terrassa-tercera-divisio-copa-regions-uefa-convocatoria_0_676132561.html|title=El porter Diego Gómez, darrera novetat de Catalunya Amateur de cara a la Copa de Regions UEFA|date=5 April 2012|website=Ara.cat}} is a Spanish retired footballer and coach.

Club career

Born in Salamanca, Castile and León, Diego joined FC Barcelona's La Masia in 2002, aged 11, after a stint at rivals Real Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/castellano/futbol/temporada_06-07/futbol_base/FCB_Juvenil_B.html|title=FC Barcelona Juvenil B|publisher=Barcelona's official website|language=es|accessdate=4 January 2015}} He was released in 2009, and made his senior debuts with CF Olesa de Montserrat in Tercera División.

On 10 December 2009 Diego joined Palamós CF, also in the fourth level.{{cite web|url=http://www.elpuntavui.cat/noticia/article/8-esports/52-futbol-catala/113466-arriba-lexporter-del-barca-juvenil-diego-gomez-olesa.html|title=Arriba l'exporter del Barça juvenil Diego Gómez (Olesa)|trans-title=Arrives the former Barça juvenil goalkeeper Diego Gómez (Olesa)|publisher=El Punt Avui|language=ca|date=10 December 2009|accessdate=4 January 2015}} In July 2010 he moved to UDA Gramenet, but spent the vast majority of his spell exclusively the reserves, only appearing on the bench with the main squad on 2 January 2011, in a 1–1 away draw against CD Dénia.

In the summer of 2011, Diego signed for fourth-tier club Terrassa FC,{{cite web|url=http://www.uecastelldefels.es/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2311:coneguem-els-rivals-i&Itemid=700139&tmpl=component&print=1&lang=es|title=Conozcamos a los rivales (I)|trans-title=Knowing our rivals (I)|publisher=Castelldefels' official website|language=es|date=23 August 2011|accessdate=4 January 2015}} being a regular starter for the side.{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD03/PUB/2011/10/18/EMD20111018031MDP.pdf|title=El porter egarenc ho té molt clar|trans-title=Terrassa's goalkeeper has it clear|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo|language=ca|date=18 October 2011|accessdate=4 January 2015}} In August 2013 he moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Hong Kong Premier League side Southern District RSA.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/13/business/hong-kong-spain-soccer/|title=Spanish footballers find work in Hong Kong|publisher=CNN|date=13 September 2012|accessdate=4 January 2015}}

Diego made his professional debut on 1 September 2012, starting in a 1–3 away loss against Hong Kong Rangers FC.{{cite web|url=http://www.hkfa.com/en/match/detail/11208/|title=BC Ranger 3:1 Southern|publisher=Hong Kong Football Association|date=1 September 2012|accessdate=4 January 2015}} He only appeared in one further match before being released in October.

Diego retired in December 2012, aged only 22, mainly due to injuries.

Coaching career

After retiring, Diego was a coach in an A.C. Milan youth setup in Hong Kong. In the 2014 summer he was appointed delegate of UE Sant Andreu's Juvenil squad.

In 2015 Diego moved to China to lead Teng Football Academy in Shenzhen.

In 2017 Diego joined the project of Spanish superstar David Villa on his DV7 Soccer Academy in South Korea directing the academy and coaching the U18 K League team.

Diego went to coach Queensboro FC II in the USL Academy and UPSL in 2021 and 2022, where he won the USL Academy Northeast and went to the national finals both season. In UPSL 2022 Queensboro FC won the UPSL East region championship and made it to the National Semifinals.

In 2023 Diego Gómez started his professional coaching career at Albion San Diego in NISA winning the Coach of the season award. Gomez was named head coach of NISA expansion team Irvine Zeta FC on January 22, 2024, but before he coached a game, he was hired as an assistant coach for Phoenix Rising FC on February 6, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.phxrisingfc.com/news/phoenix-rising-fc-names-diego-gomez-assistant-coach/ |title=Phoenix Rising FC Names Diego Gómez Assistant Coach |publisher=Phoenix Rising Communications |first=Jason |last=Minnick |date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=February 6, 2024}}

In late June 2024, Diego was named interim head coach for Phoenix, following the dismissal of Danny Stone.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=T. |title=Phoenix Rising Parts Ways With Head Coach Danny Stone |url=https://www.phxrisingfc.com/news/phoenix-rising-parts-ways-with-head-coach-danny-stone/ |website=PHXRisingFC.com |publisher=Phoenix Rising |access-date=30 June 2024}} In October 2024, Diego was named USL Championship coach of the week. Diego and Phoenix parted ways on 7 November 2024 after leading the team to a 6-3-8 record and a first-round exit in the USL Championship playoffs.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=T. |title=Phoenix Rising Parts Ways with Interim Head Coach Diego Gomez |url=https://www.phxrisingfc.com/news/phoenix-rising-parts-ways-with-interim-head-coach-diego-gomez/ |website=PHXRisingFC.com |publisher=Phoenix Rising |access-date=7 November 2024}}