Gael Sandoval
{{short description|Mexican footballer (born 1995)}}
{{family name hatnote|Sandoval|Contreras|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gael Sandoval
| image = Gael04.jpg
| caption = Sandoval in 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| height = {{convert|1.68|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2009–2010
| youthclubs1 = Guadalajara
| youthyears2 = 2010–2011
| youthclubs2 = Club Oro
| youthyears3 = 2010–2012
| youthclubs3 = Tecos
| youthyears4 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs4 = Santos Laguna
| years1 = 2012
| clubs1 = Tecos
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2013–2017
| clubs2 = Santos Laguna
| caps2 = 49
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2015–2016
| clubs3 = → Juárez (loan)
| caps3 = 35
| goals3 = 0
| years5 = 2019
| clubs5 = → Juárez (loan)
| caps5 = 1
| goals5 = 0
| years4 = 2018–2022
| clubs4 = Guadalajara
| caps4 = 42
| goals4 = 2
| years6 = 2020
| clubs6 = → Santos Laguna (loan)
| caps6 = 14
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = → Mazatlán (loan)
| caps7 = 17
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2022
| clubs8 = → Wellington Phoenix (loan)
| caps8 = 20
| goals8 = 6
| years9 = 2023
| clubs9 = Tepatitlán
| caps9 = 0
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2023
| clubs10 = Vancouver FC
| caps10 = 12
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2023–2024
| clubs11 = UdeG
| caps11 = 28
| goals11 = 4
| club-update = 10 May 2024
}}
Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras (born 5 November 1995) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays for Leones Negros in the Liga de Expansión MX.
Club career
=Youth career=
Sandoval played for many academies in the state of his native Jalisco, starting with Club Oro in 2010 and then settled with Estudiantes Tecos, until they were dissolved in 2012. Santos Laguna signed him to play for their under 17s shortly after. He went on trial with Roma in 2013, but was not signed.{{cite web |url=https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/1244379.sandoval-recibe-oportunidad-en-el-primer-equipo-santista.html |title=Sandoval recibe oportunidad en el primer equipo santista |publisher=Julio Carrillo |website=ElSigloDeTorreon.com |date=18 July 2016 |access-date=2017-10-30}}
=Santos Laguna=
In 2012, Sandoval moved to Santos Laguna. He made his Liga MX debut on July 17, 2016, against Tigres UANL coming in as substitute.{{cite web |url= http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/2017/03/09/gael-sandoval-la-perla-de-santos/amp|title= Gael Sandoval, la perla de Santos Laguna|publisher= Medio Tiempo |website= MedioTiempo.com|language= Spanish |date=2017-03-09 |access-date= 2017-11-19}}
==Loan at Juárez==
In the summer of 2015, Sandoval joined Juárez on a one-year loan in the Ascenso MX, to gain professional playing experience.{{Cite web |last=Hernández Castrejón |first=Carlos |date=2015-06-12 |title=Rafa Figueroa se va a Leones Negros |url=https://www.milenio.com/deportes/rafa-figueroa-se-va-a-leones-negros |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=milenio.com}}{{cite web |url=http://ligamx.net/cancha/jugador/83857/walter-gael-sandoval-contreras |title=Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras |publisher=LIGA BBVA Bancomer MX |website=LigaMX.net |access-date=2017-10-30}} In his first season, he won the Liga Ascenso Apertura 2015.{{Cite web |last=Lopez & Rodriguez |first=Luis Carlos & Juan Antonio |date=2015-12-05 |title=First-year Bravos win championship for Juárez |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/12/05/first-year-bravos-win-championship-jurez/76861546/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=El Paso Times |language=en-US}}
=Guadalajara=
It was confirmed on November 18, 2017, that Sandoval will play for Guadalajara.{{cite web |url=http://www.univision.com/deportes/futbol/liga-mx/chivas-se-refuerza-con-gael-sandoval-carlos-fierro-saldria-a-cruz-azul-video |title=Chivas se refuerza con Gael Sandoval...|publisher=Univision Deportes|website=Univision.com|language= Spanish |date=2017-11-18 |access-date= 2017-11-19}}
== Loans ==
On 9 January 2020, Sandoval returned to Juárez, joining the club on a six-months loan.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |title=Oficial: Gael Sandoval es nuevo jugador del FC Juárez |url=https://chivaspasion.bolavip.com/noticias/Oficial-Gael-Sandoval-es-nuevo-jugador-del-FC-Juarez-20200109-0001.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Rebaño Pasión |language=es-ES}}
On 10 July 2020, Sandoval returned to Santos Laguna on loan, for the Apertura 2020.{{Cite web |last=Torreón |first=El Siglo de |date=2020-07-10 |title=Gael Sandoval tendrá una nueva oportunidad con Santos Laguna |url=https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/2020/gael-sandoval-tendra-una-nueva-oportunidad-con-santos-laguna.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx |language=es}}
In December 2020, Sandoval was loaned out to Mazatlán FC, wearing the squad number 1, a number typically used by goalkeepers.
In December 2021, Sandoval joined New Zealand A-League club Wellington Phoenix on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/mexican-playmaker-joins-phoenix-on-loan|title=Mexican Playmaker Joins Phoenix on Loan|website=Wellington Phoenix|date=21 December 2021}}
= Tepatitlán =
On 15 January 2023, after being without a club for six months, Sandoval joined Liga Expansión club Tepatitlán on a free transfer.{{Cite web |last=Mediotiempo |first=Editorial |date=2023-01-15 |title=Gael Sandoval se convirtió en refuerzo del Tepatitlan FC |url=https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/liga-de-expansion-mx/gael-sandoval-se-convirtio-en-refuerzo-del-tepatitlan-fc |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Mediotiempo |language=es-MX}} Shortly after, on 6 February 2023, and without playing a game, he agreed a mutual termination with the club, with the intent of joining a MLS club.{{Cite web |last=Redacción |date=2023-02-08 |title=Gael Sandoval deja al Tepatitlán a menos de un mes de ser presentado con "bombo y platillo" |url=https://www.telediario.mx/deportes/futbol/gael-sandoval-deja-tepatitlan-siquiera-debutado |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=telediario.mx}}
= Vancouver FC =
Instead of a MLS club, on 1 March 2023, Sandoval joined Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC as their marquee signing.{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Charlie |date=2023-03-01 |title=Vancouver FC sign 'game-changer' Gael Sandoval from Liga MX as 1st international star |url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/vancouver-fc-sign-game-changer-gael-sandoval-from-liga-mx-as-1st-international-star |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=onesoccer.ca}} On 13 July 2023, after a disappointing stint at the club, he and the team agreed on a mutual contract termination.{{Cite web |last=Jacques |first=John |date=2023-07-13 |title=Statement Signing Sizzles Out: Sandoval Leaves Vancouver |url=https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-gael-sandoval-departure/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Northern Tribune |language=en-US}}
= Leones Negros =
On 27 July 2023, returned to Mexico to join his hometown club Leones Negros in Liga de Expansión MX.{{Cite web |last=Reynoso |first=Alma |date=2023-07-27 |title=Walter Gael Sandoval llega para reforzar a Leones Negros |url=https://jalisco.quadratin.com.mx/deportes/walter-gael-sandoval-llega-para-reforzar-a-leones-negros/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Quadratin Jalisco |language=es}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|10 May 2024}}{{Soccerway|walter-gael-sandoval-contreras/249670}}
| class="wikitable", style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Cup{{Efn|Appearances in Copa MX, Australia Cup and Canadian Championship}} ! colspan="2" |Other{{Efn|Appearances in Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions Cup and FIFA Club World Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Total |
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |
|---|
| Tecos
|1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |1 |0 |
| rowspan="5" |Santos Laguna
| rowspan="4" |Liga MX |0 |0 |4 |0 | colspan="2" |— |4 |0 |
| 2014–15
|0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |1 |0 |1 |0 |
| 2016–17
|35 |2 |8 |0 | colspan="2" |— |43 |2 |
| 2017–18
|14 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |— |16 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!49 !2 !14 !0 !1 !0 !64 !2 |
| Juárez (loan)
|Ascenso MX |35 |0 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— |38 |0 |
| rowspan="4" |Guadalajara
| rowspan="3" |Liga MX |13 |0 | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 |16 |0 |
| 2018–19
|22 |2 |5 |2 |2 |1 |29 |5 |
| 2019–20
|7 |0 |4 |0 | colspan="2" |— |11 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!42 !2 !9 !2 !5 !1 !56 !5 |
| Juárez (loan)
|Liga MX |1 |0 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— |4 |0 |
| Santos Laguna (loan)
|Liga MX |14 |3 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |14 |3 |
| rowspan="3" |Mazatlán (loan)
| rowspan="2" |Liga MX |14 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |14 |0 |
| 2021–22
|3 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!17 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !17 !0 |
| Wellington Phoenix (loan)
|20 |6 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— |21 |6 |
| Vancouver FC
|2023 |12 |1 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— |13 |1 |
| Leones Negros
|28 |4 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |28 |4 |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!219 !18 !31 !2 !6 !1 !256 !21 |
{{Notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Liga MX player|83857/walter-gael-sandoval-contreras}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandoval, Gael}}
Category:Mexican men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Guadalajara, Jalisco
Category:Tecos F.C. footballers
Category:Santos Laguna footballers
Category:C.D. Guadalajara footballers
Category:FC Juárez footballers
Category:Mazatlán F.C. footballers
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Mexican expatriate men's footballers
Category:Mexican expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
Category:Mexican expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in New Zealand