Squad No: 13
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 24
Birth Date: Jul 13, 1985
Birth Place: Guadalajara, Mexico
Height: 6' 0" (1.83m)
Weight: 159 lbs (72 kg)
Club: America (Mexico)
International Caps: 37
Club History
Club America (MEX): 2003-
from Wikipedia (full wiki)
At the age of 20 Guillermo Ochoa was called up by Mexico's former manager Ricardo Lavolpe for the 2006 FIFA World Cup as the third choice , newly appointed manager Hugo Sánchez called Ochoa into the national side as a deputy to Mexico's then-number one, Oswaldo Sánchez. In addition to the World Cup, Ochoa has participated in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2007 Copa América. He was voted the 11th best goalie in the world in 2008. He made his 2010 World Cup qualification debut on 28 March 2009 against Costa Rica. Ochoa kept a clean sheet as Mexico won the match 2-0 with goals from Omar Bravo and Pável Pardo. Another clean sheet soon followed against Guadalupe. Mexico manager Javier Aguirre selected Ochoa in his 2010 World Cup squad as first choice.
from ESPN SoccerNet
Keeping goal for Mexico is Guillermo Ochoa. A promising young player, although he has yet to play outside his home country, he has gained experience as first choice at Club America, one of Mexico's most popular clubs. Now 24, Ochoa became a regular in the national team in 2009, succeeding two legends in Oscar Perez and Oswaldo Sanchez. As the qualifying tournament progressed, he gained in confidence, and now the only thereat to his place comes from other young goalkeepers such as Cruz Azul's Jose de Jesus Corona.
Ochoa showed his quality early in his career, picked by America coach Leo Beenhakker at the age of 18. Trusted to take the place of the injured Adolfo Rios, he played in the 2004 Libertadores Cup 2004, keeping his place after Rios's retirement in April 2004. He was also first choice for the U-20 and Youth national teams. Following the arrival of Argentine coach Oscar Ruggeri, Ochoa lost his place at America, Ruggeri preferring to sign a more experienced keeper. However Ruggeri's stint proved short-lived, and when Mario Carrillo replaced him, Ochoa regained his first team place.
He was instrumental in America's record-breaking run of 28 games undefeated. Carrillo has since been appointed assistant to national team coach Javier Aguirre. This has helped him cement his place in the starting eleven. Ochoa made his debut for Mexico in 2005, and was part of the squad for the 2006 World Cup, although appeared only as a substitute for Oswaldo Sanchez. Since then, he has been the subject of bids from several European clubs, but America has been unwilling to let him leave. However, the World Cup might attract an offer too good to refuse.
Strengths: Doesn't make many errors, has a long reach and is good on crosses.
Weaknesses: A charismatic figure, his popularity has distracted him in the past, although he appears to have matured of late.
Career high: Gold Cup winner in 2009 with Mexico, Concacaf Champions League winner in 2006 with America, league winner with America in 2005.
Career low: Midway through 2004, Ochoa lost his starting place at Club America ,when Argentine coach Oscar Ruggeri bought in Sebastian Saja and Ricardo Martinez.
Style: Commands his box calmly, but has sharp reflexes that enable him to reach balls seemingly destined for the back of the net.
Quotes: "This is a reward for how he does his job. This is what one can value, his way of giving everything on the field will take him all the way" America's coach Jesus Ramirez on the possibility of Ochoa joining Atletico Madrid or other European club.
Trivia: Ochoa is the only Mexican player to have been included on the shortlist for European Footballer of the Year. EA Sports chose him to feature on the cover of their FIFA 2008 and 2009 video games, next to players such as Ronaldinho.
Soccernet says: Knowing Ochoa is behind them will give a lot of confidence to the Mexican defence, and although he will be one of the youngest goalkeepers in South Africa, his attitude is good as that of any veteran. His has yet to be put to the test in penalty shootouts - Mexico's biggest weakness in the last few World Cups.
from FIFA.com
From an early age, Guillermo Ochoa knew he had what it takes to go far in football. He was just 18 when Leo Beenhakker spotted him playing in a youth match for Mexican club side America. Taken aback by the teenager's ability, the veteran Dutch coach decided to give him an opportunity in the first team, and Ochoa seized it with both hands. By his 20th birthday, he was a fixture in goal for one of Mexico's two biggest clubs.
With America, 'Memo' has won two league titles and participated in numerous international competitions. His charisma and leadership skills quickly made him a hero to his club's supporters and also helped him become the face of a number of brands, thus earning him unprecedented popularity for a goalkeeper in Mexico.
With the Tricolor, however, he has had it less easy. Mexico have never had problems finding goalkeepers and when Ochoa came onto the scene, he found himself in the considerable shadow of Oswaldo Sanchez, one of the safest pairs of hands in Mexican football history. Sanchez had the absolute trust of then national coach Ricardo La Volpe, who used him in qualifying for Germany 2006 and in the tournament itself.
Ochoa travelled to Germany as third-choice goalkeeper and profited from the learning experience before his prospects improved with La Volpe's departure and the arrival of Hugo Sanchez as coach. When Sanchez alternated between the two goalkeepers at the CONMEBOL Copa America in 2007, the younger man performed impressively, while the veteran made some important mistakes.
A change of guard seemed imminent, but instead Hugo Sanchez left his post and his successor, Sven Goran Eriksson, reinstalled Oswaldo Sanchez as the team's outright No1. Ochoa duly returned to the substitutes' bench, and history seemed to be repeating itself when Eriksson finally handed him his chance only for the coach to lose his job.
Yet the arrival of Javier Aguirre as the Swede's successor has proved a positive for the 25-year-old keeper. After weighting up his options, the new coach put his faith in Ochoa and he responded with some fine displays in last July's CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph and the latter stages of South Africa 2010 qualifying.
With a starting place finally his, Ochoa now has the chance to shine on football's biggest stage and he does not lack the quality to do so. Despite his relative youth, here is a goalkeeper with seven years' experience at the top level. He has agility, athleticism and a secure pair of hands. He has also worked hard to overcome the difficulties he once had dealing with high balls and appears to have ironed out that weakness in his game. Ochoa also has authority and charisma.
All of the above ensures he has a telling role to play for his country in South Africa – and explains the covetous glances he is already attracting from several European clubs.
Guillermo Ochoa Mexican Soccer Poster Futbol
Mexico National Team World Cup 2010 Scarf
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