Eric Avila

Eric Avila

Personal information
Full name	Eric Humberto Avila
Date of birth	(1987-11-24) 24 November 1987
Place of birth	San Diego, California, United States
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Chivas USA
Number	15
Youth career
2003–2005	IMG Soccer Academy
2005–2006	Chivas USA
2005–2007	UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006	San Fernando Valley Quakes	3	(0)
2007	Ventura County Fusion	10	(1)
2008–2011	FC Dallas	63	(3)
2011–2012	Toronto FC	33	(2)
2013–	Chivas USA	28	(3)
National team‡
2003–2005	United States U17	20	(0)
2006–2007	United States U20	10	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 27, 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 3, 2009

Eric Humberto Avila (born 24 November 1987, in San Diego, California) is an American soccer player of Mexican descent who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer

Career

Youth and college

Avila played club soccer in San Diego, initially for the San Diego Crusaders and later for the La Jolla Nomads, the same club as US National Team players Frankie Hejduk and Steve Cherundolo. With the Nomads, he helped the team to a U.S. Club Soccer National Championship, Disney Showcase tournament championship, and Coast Premier League regular season title.

He attended La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California before entering the US U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida. Avila was also a member of Chivas USA's U-19 club before he enrolled at UC Santa Barbara.^[1] Avila was recruited to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara by head coach Tim Vom Steeg.

As a freshman in 2005, he started 21 games while scoring three goals and assisting on five more.^[2] For his efforts, Avila was named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman First Team as well as being the Big West Conference Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore, Avila started 25 games, scoring eight goals to go along with five assists^[3] while helping the Gauchos to the 2006 Division I Men's College Cup in St. Louis, Missouri where they won the Division I National Championship over Southern California rivals UCLA Bruins. Avila scored the game-winning goal to give the Gauchos their first-ever national title. He was named to the All-College Cup Team in addition to a spot on the NSCAA/adidas Second Team. In 2007, Avila appeared in 20 games, starting 18 of them. He scored four more goals and added eight.^[4]

During his college years, Avila also played in the USL Premier Development League for the San Fernando Valley Quakes and Ventura County Fusion.

Professional

FC Dallas

Avila decided to forgo his senior season as professional clubs started to show interest. Avila decided to sign a Generation Adidas contract and he was subsequently drafted in the 2nd Round (19th Overall) by FC Dallas in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.

Avila made his MLS debut for FC Dallas as an 85th minute substitute against the Houston Dynamo in a 1–1 tie on 26 June 2008.^[5] He earned his first MLS career assist on a header by Abe Thompson during stoppage time helping FC Dallas to a 1–1 tie against the Kansas City Wizards on July 4, 2008.^[6] and scored his first senior goal on June 20, 2009, in a game against Columbus Crew.^[7]

During the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs, he scored the winning goal in the 88th minute to give Dallas a win over Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals, helping the Red Stripes win the series, 3–2, on aggregate as Dallas made its first-ever MLS Cup appearance.

In December 2008, Avila traveled to England with fellow FC Dallas teammates Bruno Guarda, Josh Lambo, and Anthony Wallace along with other Generation Adidas players for friendlies against the reserve squads of Chelsea, Reading, and Aston Villa. He graduated from the MLS Generation Adidas program at the end of the 2010 season.^[8] In July 2011 it was announced that Avila had been transferred on a loan to F.C. Atlas for 6 months, but the loan deal fell through.^[9]

Toronto FC

On August 2, 2011, FC Dallas traded Avila to Toronto FC for Maicon Santos.^[10] Four days later Avila made his debut for the team against DC United in a 3–3 away draw.^[11] Avila scored his first goal for Toronto on August 27 in a 1–1 home draw against San Jose Earthquakes.^[12] Avila scored his first goal of the 2012 season against Real Salt Lake April 28 in a 3–2 away defeat.^[13]

Chivas USA

When Avila's contract expired at the end of the 2012 season he elected to participate in the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft. On December 14, 2012, Avila was selected by Colorado Rapids in stage two of the draft.^[14] About a month later, Avila was traded to Chivas USA for Nick LaBrocca.^[15]

International

Avila entered the US U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida in Fall of 2003.^[16] He made his first appearance with US U-17's at the age of 15 against England. He went on to earn 9 international caps with the U-17's, appearing in 15 total matches. The total was the highest of the 1987 boys class. His last appearance came in Spring of 2005.^[16]

He helped lead the U.S. to the finals of the Ballymena International Tournament held in Northern Ireland, which he regards as one of his most memorable moments in sports. He also participated in the Mondial Minimes Montaigu Vendee Tournament held in France. In addition to tournaments, he played in a number of matches against Major League Soccer teams, including Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, and Columbus Crew, while scoring the game-tying goal in a friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Career statistics

As of 27 June 2012.

Honors

UC Santa Barbara

• NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 2006

FC Dallas

• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (1): 2010

Toronto FC

• Canadian Championship (1): 2012

See also

• List of current MLS players

References

External links

• MLS player profile