Giancarlo González
{{Short description|Costa Rican footballer (born 1988)}}
{{family name hatnote|González|Castro|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Giancarlo González
| image = Cos-Serb (5) (cropped).jpg
| caption = González with Costa Rica at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
| full_name = Giancarlo González Castro{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Costa Rica |publisher=FIFA |page=6 |date=15 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611000407/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=11 June 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|2|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Desamparados, San José, Costa Rica
| height = 1.86 m{{cite web|title=Giancarlo Gonzalez|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/player/giancarlo-gonzalez/|website=Bologna FC 1909|access-date=13 August 2017}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Sporting San José
| clubnumber = 26
| youthyears1 = 2004–2006
| youthclubs1 = Alajuelense
| years1 = 2009–2012
| clubs1 = Alajuelense
| caps1 = 91
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2012–2013
| clubs2 = Vålerenga
| caps2 = 37
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2014
| clubs3 = Columbus Crew
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2014–2017
| clubs4 = Palermo
| caps4 = 84
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2017–2019
| clubs5 = Bologna
| caps5 = 34
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019–2021
| clubs6 = LA Galaxy
| caps6 = 30
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = Alajuelense (loan)
| caps7 = 17
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = → Alajuelense
| caps8 = 12
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2024–
| clubs9 = Sporting San José
| caps9 = 9
| goals9 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam1 = Costa Rica U20
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2010–
| nationalteam2 = Costa Rica
| nationalcaps2 = 90
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| club-update = 09:34, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 20 November 2023
}}
Giancarlo "Pipo" González Castro (born 8 February 1988) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga FPD club Sporting San José, which he captains, and the Costa Rica national team.
Club career
=Early career=
González spent his youth career with Alajuelense, apart from a stint with Saprissa when he was between 12 and 14 years of age.{{cite news|last1=Fuentes Alpízar|first1=Ferlin|title=Giancarlo González repartirá millones a Alajuelense y Saprissa|trans-title=Giancarlo González divides millions between Alajuelense and Saprissa|url=http://www.aldia.cr/futbol-costa-rica/alajuelense/Liga-Pipo-Saprissa-Giancarlo_Gonzalez_0_422957722.html|access-date=13 December 2015|work=Al Día|date=7 September 2014|language=es}} He began his professional career with Alajuelense in 2007 and was a key player in helping his club win three league titles.
González joined Norwegian club Vålerenga after his contract expired on 31 July 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/martin-andresen-forsterker-med-costaricansk-landslagsspiller-3725531.html |language=no |title=Martin Andresen forsterker med costaricansk landslagsspiller |publisher=TV2 Sporten |date=6 March 2012 |access-date=1 August 2012}} During his time at Vålerenga, González appeared in 37 league matches and scored two goals.
=Columbus Crew=
On 21 February 2014, González signed with Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew.{{cite news |title=Crew signs Costa Rican International Giancarlo Gonzalez |url=http://www.thecrew.com/news/2014/02/crew-signs-costa-rican-international-giancarlo-gonzalez |publisher=Columbus Crew |date=21 February 2014 |access-date=21 February 2014 |archive-date=24 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224024720/http://www.thecrew.com/news/2014/02/crew-signs-costa-rican-international-giancarlo-gonzalez |url-status=dead }} On 15 April 2014, the MLS Disciplinary Committee fined González an undisclosed amount for "embellishment" of an incident in the 92nd minute of the game against the San Jose Earthquakes on 13 April.{{cite news|title=MLS fines Giancarlo Gonzalez for flop|url=http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-soccer/story/1787132/mls-fines-columbus-crew-defender-giancarlo-gonzalez-following-flop|access-date=13 December 2015|work=ESPNFC|date=15 April 2014}}{{Cite web|url=http://gfycat.com/BothBrightHalicore|title=Pepe over Reacting Vs Morocco (Reddit) GIF by fusir|access-date=17 December 2014|archive-date=8 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008154339/https://gfycat.com/bothbrighthalicore|url-status=dead}} González was also nominated for the satirical "Fallon d'Floor" award for this effort.{{cite web|last1=Hautmann|first1=Thomas|title=Checking out the contestants for the first annual Fallon D'Floor|url=http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/105442580422/checking-out-the-contestants-for-the-first-annual|website=Fox Soccer Blogs|access-date=13 January 2016|date=17 December 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Brankovic|first1=Maja|title=Wer erhält die Schwalbentrophäe "Fallon d'Floor"?|url=http://www.11freunde.de/interview/wer-erhaelt-die-schwalbentrophaee-fallon-dfloor|access-date=13 January 2016|work=11 Freunde|date=18 December 2014|language=de|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612164209/https://www.11freunde.de/interview/wer-erhaelt-die-schwalbentrophaee-fallon-dfloor|url-status=dead}}
=Palermo=
After his performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, González received interest from a number of European clubs, and on 26 August 2014 Palermo of Italy's Serie A confirmed they had signed him on a three-year deal.{{cite news |language=it |access-date=26 August 2014 |publisher=US Città di Palermo |date=26 August 2014 |url=http://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=30395 |title=GONZALEZ E' DEL PALERMO CONTRATTO TRIENNALE PER IL CENTRALE |archive-date=27 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827070136/http://palermocalcio.it/it/1415/news/scheda.php?id=30395 |url-status=dead }} The transfer fee was reported to be $5 million, with 5% of the fee being distributed among González's youth clubs Alajuelense and Saprissa as per the FIFA solidarity contribution rules. He made his debut on 19 October 2014 in a home game against Cesena, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring the winning goal in the first minute of injury time.{{cite news|last1=Carci|first1=Francesco|title=Palermo-Cesena 2-1, Gonzalez regala in extremis il primo successo ai rosanero|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/2014/10/19/news/palermo-cesena_2-1_gonzalez_regala_in_extremis_il_primo_successo_ai_rosanero-98507458/|access-date=13 January 2016|work=la Repubblica|date=19 October 2014|language=it}}
Palermo's 2016–17 season ended in relegation from Serie A, with González making 21 appearances.{{cite web|title=Official: Bologna sign Gonzalez|url=http://www.football-italia.net/104568/official-bologna-sign-gonzalez|website=Football Italia|access-date=22 June 2017|date=22 June 2017}}
=Bologna=
On 22 June 2017, Bologna announced the signing of González.{{cite web|title=González joins Bologna in permanent deal|url=https://www.bolognafc.it/en/gonzalez-joins-bologna-in-permanent-deal/|website=BolognaFC|access-date=22 June 2017|date=22 June 2017}}
= LA Galaxy =
International career
González played at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada.
Nicknamed Pipo,[http://www.nacion.com/deportes/brasil-2014/Giancarlo-Gonzalez-Seleccion-Costa-Rica_0_1418658181.html Giancarlo 'Pipo' González es vital en el centro de la defensa de la Selección de Costa Rica] - Nación {{in lang|es}} he made his senior international debut for Costa Rica in a friendly against Slovakia on 5 June 2010. In January 2013, he scored the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Honduras in the 2013 Copa Centroamericana final.{{FIFA player|268821}}
=2014 World Cup=
In June 2014, González was named in Costa Rica's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/costa-rica/10810092/Costa-Rica-World-Cup-2014-squad.html|title=Costa Rica World Cup 2014 squad|date=2 June 2014|access-date=20 June 2014|work=The Telegraph}} In the team's first two group matches, he and his central defensive colleagues Michael Umaña and Óscar Duarte allowed only one goal as Los Ticos beat Uruguay (3–1) and Italy (1–0) to qualify for the knockout stage.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285064|title=Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica|date=14 June 2014|access-date=22 June 2014|work=BBC}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285190|title=Italy 0-1 Costa Rica|date=20 June 2014|access-date=22 June 2014|work=BBC}} Costa Rica completed the group stage unbeaten, recording a second consecutive shutout in a 0–0 draw with England in Belo Horizonte.{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Daniel|title=England end disappointing World Cup with barren draw against Costa Rica|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/24/costa-rica-england-world-cup-group-d-match-report|access-date=25 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=24 June 2014}} González's play at the back was listed by several as key to the team's progression from the group stage. His countless interceptions and tackles led to him being named to the ESPN Best XI of the group stage.{{cite news|last1=Molyneux-Carter|first1=Jon|title=Best XI of the group stage|url=http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/1913505/best-world-cup-players-at-brazil-2014|access-date=13 December 2015|work=ESPNFC|date=27 June 2014}} During the round of 16, González was the third of five Costa Rican players to successfully convert his kick in a 5–3 penalty shootout defeat of Greece.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27961189|title=Costa Rica 1-1 Greece|access-date=30 June 2014|date=29 June 2014|work=BBC}} He was included in the BBC's team of the tournament.{{cite news|title=World Cup 2014: BBC Sport pundits' team of the tournament|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28256147|access-date=13 December 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=13 July 2014}}
=2018 World Cup=
In May 2018 he was named in Costa Rica's 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.{{cite web| url = https://www.goal.com/en/amp/news/costa-rica-names-23-man-world-cup-squad-featuring-keylor/1bw2iz8pkma5614bzushqyyo7g| title = Costa Rica national team World Cup squad: Oscar Ramirez names 23-man roster featuring Keylor Navas, six MLS players {{!}} Goal.com}}
Personal life
González is of Spanish origin.{{cite web|title=ESPAÑOL: No. 10. El Ascenso de Giancarlo González
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 5 November 2020}}
| 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 !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Alajuelense
|rowspan="4"|Costa Rican Primera División | |2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 2009–10
|28 | 3 | 28 | 3 | |||||||
| 2010–11
|34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12
|29 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!91 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 6 | |
| rowspan="3"|Vålerenga
|2012{{cite web|title=NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk|url=http://www.nifs.no/personprofil.php?land=4&u=668632&t=56&person_id=86513|website=Norsk internasjonal Fotballstatistikk|access-date=13 December 2015|language=no}} |rowspan="2"|Tippeligaen |12 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2013
|25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| Columbus Crew
|2014 |17 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Palermo
|rowspan="3"|Serie A |28 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 1 | ||||
| 2015–16
|35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!84 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 4 | |
| rowspan="3"|Bologna
|rowspan="2"|Serie A |22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19
|12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|LA Galaxy
|2019 |rowspan="2"|Major League Soccer |20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2020
|10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!293 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 312 | 15 |
=International=
{{updated|match played 20 November 2023}}{{NFT player|38602|Giancarlo González|access-date=24 June 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="14"|Costa Rica
|2010 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 19 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 90 | 2 |
:Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each González goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Giancarlo González | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 25 May 2012 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica | {{fb|GUA}} | style="text-align:center"|3–2 | style="text-align:center"|3–2 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | 27 January 2013 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica | {{fb|HON}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | 2013 Copa Centroamericana |
Honours
Alajuelense
Costa Rica
Individual
- CONCACAF Best XI: 2015{{cite web|url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/javier-hernandez-and-carli-lloyd-named-2015-concacaf-players-of-the-year|title=Javier Hernandez and Carli Lloyd Named 2015 CONCACAF Players of the Year|website=CONCACAF.com|date=22 January 2016|access-date=4 August 2021|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819135212/http://www.concacaf.com/article/javier-hernandez-and-carli-lloyd-named-2015-concacaf-players-of-the-year|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{MLS player|giancarlo-gonzalez}}
- {{NFT player|38602}}
{{Liga Deportiva Alajuelense squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Costa Rica squads
| bg = #CE1126
| fg = white
| bordercolor = blue
| list1 =
{{Costa Rica squad 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Costa Rica squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Costa Rica squad 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Costa Rica squad 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Costa Rica squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Costa Rica squad 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Costa Rica squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Giancarlo}}
Category:Footballers from San José Province
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Costa Rican men's footballers
Category:21st-century Costa Rican sportsmen
Category:Costa Rica men's international footballers
Category:Costa Rica men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Liga Deportiva Alajuelense footballers
Category:Vålerenga Fotball players
Category:Columbus Crew players
Category:Bologna FC 1909 players
Category:Costa Rican people of Spanish descent
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Costa Rican expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Norway
Category:2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players