Number 27 Height 1.8 m Role Footballer | Name Roger Espinoza 2005–2006 Yavapai Roughriders Salary 125,000 USD (2012) | |
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Full name Roger Anibal Espinoza Ramirez Date of birth (1986-10-25) 25 October 1986 (age 29) Place of birth Puerto Cortes, Honduras Playing position Current team Honduras national football team (Midfielder) Parents Anibal Espinoza, Mercedes Ramirez Siblings Herson Espinoza, Heidy Espinoza, Jazmin Espinoza, Marion Espinoza, Nicole Espinoza Similar People Maynor Figueroa, Jerry Bengtson, Emilio Izaguirre, Wilson Palacios, Victor Bernardez | ||
Espinoza Coaches at Sporting 22 Practice
Roger Aníbal Espinoza Ramírez ([ˈroʝer espiˈnosa]; born 25 October 1986) is a Honduran footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Capable of playing both as a defensive midfielder and as a wing back, Espinoza has represented Honduras at two World Cups and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Contents
- Espinoza Coaches at Sporting 22 Practice
- Origins roger espinoza
- Youth and College
- Sporting Kansas City
- Wigan Athletic
- Return to Kansas City
- International career
- International goals
- International
- Personal life
- Honours
- References
Origins roger espinoza
Youth and College
Born in Puerto Cortés, Espinoza moved from his native Honduras to Denver, Colorado when he was 12 years old. He attended Denver South High School before transferring to Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado.
He played two years of college soccer at Yavapai College, spending one season with the Arizona Sahuaros of the National Premier Soccer League in 2006. In 2007, he transferred to Ohio State for his junior season. That season, Ohio State advanced to the national championship game of the College Cup. Espinoza scored in the 12th minute, but Ohio State lost to Wake Forest, 2–1. In his one season at Ohio State, Espinoza was named first-team All-Big Ten, second-team all-region, and earned a spot the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team.
Sporting Kansas City
Espinoza opted to forgo his senior year of college and signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer. He was selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards (now known as Sporting Kansas City). In his first season at the club, he appeared in 22 games and tied for third on the team in assists with 3. Playing as both a leftback and defensive midfielder, he appeared in 113 regular season matches over five years with the club and helped Sporting to victory in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Wigan Athletic
Following the 2012 MLS season, Espinoza signed with Wigan Athletic of the English Premier League on a free transfer. He was assigned number 18.
Espinoza made his Wigan Athletic debut on 19 January when he came on as a half-time substitute during a 2–3 loss against Sunderland. He scored his first goal for the club against Swansea City on 7 May. On 11 May 2013, Espinoza won the FA Cup with Wigan, playing the whole game in an 1–0 upset win against Manchester City. However, only three days later, Wigan were relegated from the Premier League following a 4–1 defeat against Arsenal. He scored his second goal for the club against MK Dons in the FA Cup on 4 January 2014. Espinoza scored his second league goal and provided an assist for teammate Shaun Maloney against Fulham on 1 November 2014 at the DW Stadium in a 3–3 draw.
However, Espinoza's minutes dwindled in the 2014–15 season, and he and Wigan agreed to part ways in December 2014.
Return to Kansas City
Espinoza returned to Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2015 season. In his second start since returning to Sporting, Espinoza scored an equalizing goal against FC Dallas on 14 March 2015.
International career
Espinoza was called up to the Honduran national football team by Reinaldo Rueda for the UNCAF Nations Cup 2009 held in Honduras for the first time in his career. He made three appearances during the tournament where he wore number 13. He scored his first goal for the national team in a 1–0 win against El Salvador to give Honduras 3rd place in the competition.
Espinoza was called up by Luis Fernando Suárez to represent his country in the 2012 London Olympics; he scored a goal against Brazil in the quarter-final of the tournament, but was sent off in the 90th minute, receiving standing ovation from the Newcastle crowd for his performance.
Espinoza has represented Honduras at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
International goals
Scores and results list Honduras's goal tally first.International
As of match played 19 June 2013.Personal life
Espinoza became a United States citizen in March 2008.
Honours
Sporting Kansas City
Wigan Athletic