Top Stories

Former U.S. U-20 defender Ocegueda loaned to Chivas

Soccer - International Soccer - FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 - Group stage - Group A - USA v Spain

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

After spending the first two years of his professional career at Tigres UANL, Juan Pablo Ocegueda has earned big move to Chivas Guadalajara.

Chivas announced the acquisition on Friday evening, bringing the former U.S. Under-20 defender into the club on loan with an option to buy. Ocegueda will join the Chivas U-20 team for the time being, and is eligible to play his first match on Saturday against Chiapas U-20.

As with any player on the books of Chivas, Ocegueda, a Mexican-American, must accept a pledge to not represent the U.S. in international competitions, something that Ocegueda seems to acknowledge via his Twitter account. However, U.S. fans shouldn’t worry too much, as the 20-year-old isn’t likely to be called up to the USMNT or even a potential U.S. Olympic squad for at least another two years, by which time Ocegueda could have moved on to another club.

With the U.S. Under-20 squad at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup last month in Turkey, Ocegueda started all three U.S. matches, scoring no goals but earning one yellow card. He was also a regular starter in the side that finished runner-up in the 2013 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in March.

The Riverside, California native moved to Tigres UANL in 2011.

What do you think of this news? Do you see Ocegueda breaking into the Chivas first team? Do you see Ocegueda featuring in a USA shirt again?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Hells bells, calm down people. I dispise Chivas just as much as the next person, but he did not flat out say that he would NEVER EVER play for the U.S. again. He’s being loaned to Chivas to improve his club career. End of story. Hopefully he improves enough that he’ll be able to pull a Omar Salgado (with better success) and get a transfer to a better team, during which time he can play for us.

    Reply
  2. He played horribly at the WC anyway. He was lazy and repeatedly burned. I could care less about his future. I don’t need Castillo 2.0

    Reply
  3. This article is a perfect example of why Ives, and his staff, are the best at what they do. All the other sites where I’ve read this same story have headlines basically saying “US losing left back to Mexico FOREVER.” The writers at SBI offer much needed perspective – they don’t jump to conclusions and write alarmist articles.

    Thank you Ives and staff for continuing your all around excellent coverage of all things soccer

    Reply
  4. he is far far far away from first team international soccer with either the USMNT or El Tri so not too worried about this.. the olympic qualifiers in 2 years might come up but he can cross that bridge when it/if it comes…. or he can always just request a loan to CUSA

    Reply
  5. He wasn’t very good. Speaking of the U-20’s, for the people that said there wasnt any better college defenders out there Jalen Robinson is impressing in his trial at Friedburg

    Reply
    • I’d like to see them enforce such a clause should he choose to break it.

      “Now that you’re an international star, we’re going to cut you so that you can go on a free transfer wherever you like.”

      Yeah, right.

      On another note, you’ve got to love a content moderation system that allows bullsiht but not p@ss.

      Reply
      • They would likely sell him to another Mexican Club. Not sure why he needed to go to Chivas, there are plenty of other Mexican Clubs.

      • Depends how bitter they would be. Chivas seems crazy enough that they’d keep him there and not play him, just to sabotage his career. Maybe I’m just bitter about Chivas USA still existing.

  6. Like the article states, he isn’t getting called to the full team. Good move for him, get some experience (playing time). Later you can debate whether he is good enough for Olympics or full team.

    Reply
  7. I’d assume he’s got a good shot at pt or else they wouldn’t have accepted the loan so it should be good. I just hope he doesn’t stay there long term.

    Reply
  8. Good for his club career, maybe not so good for his USMNT career.

    He played LB for the U20s and I thought he was pretty good, but not as good as Yedlin.

    Reply

Leave a Comment