| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Beto Zavala | ||
| Date of birth | June 11, 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Toluca, Mexico | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder / Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988-1991 | Cal State Los Angeles | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1992- | Toluca | ||
| 1996-1997 | Tampa Bay Terror (indoor) | ||
| 1997 | Indiana Twisters (indoor) | ||
| 1998-2002 | Rochester Rhinos | 88 | (4) |
| 1998-1999 | Detroit Rockers (indoor) | 27 | (7) |
| 1999-2001 | Buffalo Blizzard (indoor) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Carlos Zavala is a retired Mexican-American soccer midfielder who played professionally in Mexico and the United States.
Zavala’s father, Carlos “Chino” Zavala, played professionally for Deportivo Toluca F.C. When his father retired from professional soccer, he moved the family to Southern California. In 1988, Zavala graduated from Saddleback High School where he played on the school’s football and soccer teams. He also played club soccer with Colo-Colo of Orange County.[1] Zavala attended Cal State Los Angeles, playing on the men’s soccer team. He graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.
In 1992, Zavala signed with Deportivo Toluca F.C. On January 13, 1996, Zavala signed with the Tampa Bay Terror of the National Professional Soccer League.[2] He continued to play for the Terror through the 1996-1997 season, leading the team in scoring despite playing as a defender/defensive midfielder. In April 1997, the Seattle SeaDogs selected Zavala in the Continental Indoor Soccer League draft.[3] On June 2, 1997, the SeaDogs traded Zavala to the Houston Hotshots for a 1998 second round draft pick and cash.[4] However, Zavala ended up playing for the Indiana Twisters that season. In 1998, he joined the Rochester Rhinos of the USISL A-League and played each summer for the Rhinos through the 2002 A-League season.[5] Zavala and his team mates won the 1998, 2000 and 2001 A-League titles and the 1999 U.S. Open Cup.[6] In the fall of 1998, Zavala signed with the Detroit Rockers of the NPSL. On March 20, 1999, the Rockers traded Zavala to the Buffalo Blizzard for future considerations. The Blizzard folded in 2001. In August 2001, the Harrisburg Heat selected Zavala in the dispersal draft.[7]