Devala Gorrick

Devala Gorrick
Personal information
Full nameDevala Gorrick
Date of birthJuly 8, 1987
Place of birthMoundsville, West Virginia, United States
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Number1
Youth career
2002Bayer Leverkusen
2003Austria Wien
2006–2007Tyler Apaches
2007–2008Barry Buccaneers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2006Ajax Orlando Prospects14(0)
2008Central Florida Kraze16(0)
2009Bayamon FC10(0)
2010Pattaya United12(0)
2011–2012Air Force United79(0)
2013IK Frej18(0)
2014Ottawa Fury FC16(0)
2015–Colorado Springs Switchbacks1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 16, 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Devala Gorrick (born July 8, 1987) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Early career

Gorrick began serious club football at 15 with the former Ajax Orlando Prospects, which was formed as an affiliate to the Dutch pro team Ajax Amsterdam.[1]

When Gorrick was 15 he was sent to the Bundesliga's Bayer Leverkusen Academy for training and trials. He spent three months there gaining professional exposure and experience. He played matches with the youth academy, as well as gained direct training from top flight players such as Hans-Jörg Butt, Lúcio, Klaus Toppmöller and more.

At age 16 Gorrick was sent to Vienna, Austria to house and train with the academy of Austria Wien football club. He spent 2 months with the academy and played matches with the U-16 and U-17 teams. He gained coaching and mentoring from the renowned coach Christoph Daum.

College

After playing goalkeeper for Santa Fe High School[2] he began his college career with Tyler Junior College in Texas. He was then transferred his junior year to Barry University in Miami where he was the starting goalkeeper his Junior and Senior year posting a 1.73 GAA and was honored as Defensive player of the week on four occasions and also added to the Athletic Deans list. He received his degree in 2009 in Advertising.

Club career

Bayamon FC

Gorrick started his professional career at Bayamon FC in Puerto Rico. He started 10 games, posted 5 shutouts with a .70 GAA. Gorrick played an important role in helping lead Bayamon to be Puerto Rico Soccer League Champions in 2009, winning on aggregate 3–2 over Atletico de San Juan FC.[1]

Thailand

In 2010 he signed a one-year contract with Thailand football club Pattaya United FC for their 2010 season. During this season, Gorrick, played in the top division of Thai football, the Thai Premier League. Gorrick was the starting goalkeeper for Air Force United F.C. for the 2011 season. Gorrick starred for the club in the Thai Division 1 League for the 2011 season and the Thai Premier League for the 2012 season. In 2012, Gorrick was called up to the Thai Premier League All Star team.[3]

IK Frej Sweden

Following a trial at IK Frej in the Swedish Division North, Gorrick was offered a two-year contract, on the recommendation of Goalkeeper Coach and former Sweden Goalkeeper Magnus Hedman. Gorrick immediately established himself as the club's first choice keeper. In his second competitive start for the club, Gorrick starred against Swedish Champions League giants Malmo FF pulling off numerous great saves, including a penalty save from Simon Thern.[4] Following the match, Gorrick was described as "excellent" by Malmo FF captain Jiloan Hamad.[5]

During the first half of 2013 Gorrick played 15 regular season games, along with 3 Svenska Cupen matches. For the last 2 months of regular season he was left out of the squad due to minor ankle injury.

Ottawa Fury FC

Following a successful season in Sweden, Gorrick signed with Ottawa Fury FC in Canada for the 2014 season. He started 15 league matches and played 2 Canadian Championship cup matches. [6]

International career

Gorrick has yet to be capped for the United States international team, however he was invited to train with the team in 2009 to help them prepare for the 2010 World Cup.[7]

Personal life

Film career

Besides his active soccer career Gorrick is owner of the Alachua based Angry Lion Studios and works as documentary filmmaker and film producer.[8] His first film, Waves of Destruction, was nominated for the Vaisnava Film / Video Festival Awards. The film followed the food relief group Food For Life into the tragedy stricken countries of Sri Lanka & South India after the disastrous tsunami in 2004. [9]

Acting

Gorrick pursues his passion as an actor and a commercial model. He has been casted for principle background work in some hollywood films that will be released in 2015. [10]

References

External links