BY ADAM SERRANO
United States or Mexico?
For one American born player, the decision is not as simple as just choosing a national team.
Chivas de Guadalajara's American-born defender Miguel Angel Ponce has an interesting choice ahead of him. Born in America and raised in Mexico, the left back has risen through the ranks at one of Mexico's largest clubs. If the Sacramento native were to play for the United States, he would immediately lose his position with Chivas, a team that only accepts Mexican citizens.
Read the story linked above for the full details of his story.
What do you think Ponce should do? Should Bob Bradley call up the young left back?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Anything short of bringing this guy in is going to inflame anti-Bob/Gulati critics.
He was born in the US, which provides some moral high ground at least. This sounds like a tempting prospect and a major heartbreak rolled into one, I just hope US Soccer at least goes about their business in the right way, or my patience with this cycle will already be damaged. We need technical players, and we Really need a left back.
If Bob says something like “Bornstein has been doing a fine job for years” then I’m not responsible for my typing.
Cap his a$$
Btw, in no way does Adam “mischaracterized the issue”. That statement would apply to you!
At best you could accuse Adam of not being “clear enough” when reffering to Chivas “Mexican national only rule”. He said Ponce would lose his spot at Chivas Guadalajara, a club that only fields Mexican Citizens.
This is true, they only field Mexican Citizens as stipulated by the Mexican Constitution, at least that’s what they said after being exposed of the Padilla deal. Except when the player plays or represents another national team from Mexico!
I got that chief, I simply think he would be a huge addition to the US team
It was never amended, they’ve fielded players of foreign birth before with the same Mexican parents roots. Is just happens that they finally got caught in the mass media and with current internet and communication outlets they were exposed by a soccer media entity with coverage in various countries like US & Mexico. Jesus Padilla was PROVEN to be born in San Jose and that’s when Chivas tried to be all politically correct with it’s fans about how, as Jorge Vergara the team owner said, they just follow the Mexican constitution as far as citizenship guidelines.
If they technically changed the language is only to further justify their recruitment of US born players who obviously have strong Mexican roots.
I have no problem with Chivas, when other teams field as many as 8 or 7 foreign nationals!
Neruda, it’s not about “scraps.” There are plenty of players that we want that Mexico wouldn’t take. Brian McBride (if he had dual citizenship for instance) probably never would have been called up by Mexico. Doesn’t fit their style of play and what they look for in a forward. Would that mean we’d take a pass?
We look at guys that are available to us. We take ones (ie: call them in) if they have the potential to help us. I don’t care if it’s a Tomas Dooley who was called up by Germany (and would have played for them except a rib injury) or anyone else. The sole criteria is: is this a player who could help us down the road and is also willing to play for us? If so, make a call up when it’s appropriate.
In spite of football’s increasingly global character, Chivas remains an outlier. Chivas’ Mexican-only policy may have been appropriate in Mexican football’s early years. Today it is hard to argue a case for preserving that policy.
Someone’s decision to play for a particular national team should have no bearing on his club career. Nationalism and football should meet in international, not club football.
The fact Ponce faces such a decision in the first place underlines the backwardness of the Chivas policy. That being said, I doubt that Ponce is as conflicted as these news stories suggest. If he truly is doing well for Chivas, he will likely get the call from El Tri.
Damn could all our United States/Mexican dual citizenship prospects just not end up at Chivas?
Hmmm…….
Naah. Too easy. I’ll let it go….
Chivas de Guadalajara has academies all over the southwest and especially in California. He have better resources than the USSF. Also, The USSF is looking for the next Donovan or McBride. MExican-Americans, until recently, have been ignored by the Yanks.
Bottom line, he’s either Omar Salgado or Jesus Padilla.
I can’t see Vergara lettinghtis guy go like he did Padilla. Ponce would have to request to play for Chivas USA. If that were case, then the USSF could get a grasp on him.
Question is, Mexican Goats or Los Angeles Goats?
BTW, Mexicans hate me and so do Galaxy fans.
Thank you God for making me a Chivas USA/USMNT fan!
The mls article only mentioned he’s had discussions with mexican youth team but how much love will he get from the senior national team in the future? if he wants to play for a senior national team in tournaments/WC and mexico shows no interest than I can see BB giving him a call. at the same time we don’t want mexico’s scraps! or maybe we do…
i say this as a person that lives on the border and has a mexican national wife . . .
many mexican people hate mexican american’s because of how they act when they are in mexico. while in mexico many of the mexican americans play the role of “i am an american”, but the minute they pass the border back to the USA, they are “mexican”.
and that doesn’t even touch the issue of how many of the mexican americans come across the border and consider themselves one knotch above the same people they claim to be (while in the USA).
bottom line, it is more complicated than how you are portraying it.
Another Mexican-American LB with options for both. Since he raised in Mexico (even though Jesus Padilla was raised in Mexico too and speaks immaculate English) and plays for CD Guadalajara, I imagine he’s leaning towards Mexico.
But they do seem to be deeper at LB than we are with Carlos Salcido and Efrain Juarez (who I think is a LB), he would have to see how thin we are at that position.
I think with kids at dual nationality, its not a question of loyalty, or what they feel more of, but probably just opportunity.
there’s not much to discuss really, and Ives’ Q&As have always been about just about anything under the sun. If you submitted the question and it wasn’t picked, perhaps Ives just has nothing to say on it?
Holy crap, why are so many USA fans such complete spazzes?
Ummm…he has a very well-paying full-time job with Chivas. Whats the USSF able to offer him?’
He might find it easier to get playing time with the USMNT…which would increase his profile for European teams…..
AS has been pointed out, it’s not that simple. He is going to play for the USA as long as he’s set at Chivas.
I was hoping Ives would provide more information on this on his Q&A, but instead choose to discuss about his favorite hip-hop artist…
(SBI-Always love the first-time commenter who just wants to talk trash. In case you hadn’t noticed, we did a SEPARATE POST on the subject. Oh right, you did notice since you commented here.)
Also, FOX News is a joke….
WHAT IF HE HAS ALL-CAPS BLOCKER ON?
He’s a left back, a good one at that, and young
he will make US better…sign him up Bob
Chivas’ policy isn’t just about citizenship. You’re not confused by Chivas — you’re confused by the misinformation provided in the SBI post. It’s for Mexicans, yes. Other citizenship is OK. so long as they don’t forfeit their Mexican national team eligibility.
(SBI-Fischy, you might want to read a bit more carefully before you go talking trash about “misinformation”. You’re really pushing it.)
I agree with you. Chivas is his job. The national team, despite being a great honor, is more like a hobby. While same people can leverage their hobby into a career, not everyone can.
At this point, he’s choosing between two national teams that are more or less equals in quality. But does he have a similar choice when it comes to clubs? Not yet, but if he keeps up his play, he soon will. That’s when he should decide between US and Mexico.
He wasn’t born and raised in the same country. He grew up in Tijuana, where his family is…which is probably what he meant by saying his family is Mexican.
The problem here is that the writer here at Ives has totally mischaracterized the issue. He doesn’t lose his Mexican citizenship, if he plays for the USA. However, CD Guadalajara has a policy — basically a Mexicans only policy. This was amended to allow those born abroad to Mexican parents. However, if they play for another national team, Chivas would no longer employ them.
As the MLSsoccer.com piece makes clear, Ponce knows he would lose his club team slot if eh ever plays for the USA. That’s got to be a big concern. I imagine he’d only make the move if he had a move to MLS (or, maybe to another FMF club) lined up. Moreover, it seems he’s inclined to play for Mexico, if an offer comes there. We might want the USA to take a serious look at him, but they have to know that they need to help him find another club team before he’ll play for the red-white-and-blue.
Yes…the best team…fared the same as the rest….yawn.
I don’t know….we made the round of 16….we are ranked 18th….kind of seems reasonable. You can disagree with some of the rankings but to say its a joke seems a bit severe. I do agree with you regarding expanding the mindset towards what type of player we need. Certainly very quick feetand the ability to react and make a good non-panicky decision would heavily outweigh speed in my book. Athleticism implies a certain sense of grace (and therefore touch), it goes beyond mere leaping ability. I say Eddie Johnson is fast, but I wouldn’t necessarily describe him as athletic….he is clumsy. Blanco is beyond slow but he touch is magnificent and he has very quick feet. Is it possible to be athletic and slow….. I think it is.
I’m still a little confused by Chivas. They already had (have?) another American player, and which national team you play for is not necessarily tied to citizenship.
If he is a Mexican citizen now, he will still be one even if he plays for the U.S. So I don’t get the big deal, he should be able to just sit and wait and make the decision when he is called up by a national team.
I hope he ends up playing for US we need to find a true LB we need to take all applicants.
OKAY I AGREE HOPEFULLY HE TYPES IN ALL CAPS TOO THAT WILL CONVINCE HIM. HES 21.
Kudos to you Kent!
My question is how does Chivas spy this guy in San Ysidro but the US Youth set up doesn’t? Or maybe he simply chose Chivas? Or the US set up was so deep they he fell out of their plans?
Given he plays for Chivas, the wisest thing he could do is delay his choice. Even if he’s leaning USMNT he’d be smart not to admit it until he had clear alternate club options.
My feeling is we’ll win some and lose some and this will be a loss.
The biggest question: why would he want to miss the opportunity to be part of the best mexican team in the past two decades to join an aging, mismanaged USA squad? This is a no brainer choice.
If you are young (21 and less) and you place your whole professional future on the policies and whims of one team, then you are a fool. As soon as Ponce sees the whole picture the better off he is. Unlike some organizations ( Mormons, the US Armed Forces( who will compact with you, cradle to grave, in return for you unequivocal and lifetime support, Guadalajara offers no such thing. It only offers a possible position (that you must earn)on a team for a period it determines based on criteria you have little control over, save your skill.
Few players spend their whole career tied to a single team. The concept of team loyalty is a one-sided concept only embraced if it benefits the team side, not yours. When you are of no or little use, you are cut, traded, waived, fired, transferred or sold. To think that Guadalajara is any different is a lie. There “Mexican Nationals only” is a simple marketing ploy. It created a fan loyalty for a team in substandard years, and cashes in when the team has a good year or a good player (Chicharito???)
How good did this concept work with Chivas USA? It didn’t. It modified then it was discarded after the second season.
If Ponce wants to hitch his future to Mexico, it’s national team, and Chivas, he is free to do so. But he should not make that far-reaching decision based on the outmoded concept of a one-sided team loyalty.
In other news regarding US players with Mexican roots, check out Yanks Abroad’s top story (www.yanks-abroad.com). US U20 forward Adrian Ruelas is heading to Celtic but the terms of his deal are still unclear.
BRADLEY HAS TO CALL HIM FOR THE NEXT GAME. LET’S FIND OUT IF HE WANTS TO PLAY FOR THE USMNT ONCE AND FOR ALL. HES 21.
exactly. i was born in the US to mexican parents but i feel more american (some people feel by saying that, that you hate being mexican and reject your roots). i speak the language. i went to school and work here.
if you were to ask me if i wanted to live in mexico, id turn you down in an instant.
the truth is, mexicans in mexico hate mexican americans. but this guy was raised in mexico. therefore i think he’s mexico’s player to lose.
It’s hard to understand if you were born and raised in the same country.
I was born in the Philippines but raised in the US. I would say I’m more “American” but I fully respect my heritage and proud of who I am and where I came from. It’s a matter of being more attached to where you’re raised.
Right. That was my question.
Whatever, stop with the dual nationality players all the time, we keep talking about someone else because our players aren’t as good as some other nations. Bottom-line we need to develop our own players for future success. In America, we need to break away from the ignorance that is tall, fast, athletic players are needed that is nothing but B.S. and the main reason we can’t get to the next level, with the monkeys running the USSF were still 20 yrs away from being top class right now were just average at best. Also, the FIFA rankings are nothing but a joke.
enough of this with guys with one foot in the usmnt and foot in mexico.
pick a side and stay.
this is stemming from adrian ruelas saying that he feels mexican and wants to play for the mexican national team.
The MLS article is clearer. “Guadalajara maintain a long-standing rule that their players can only be Mexican National Teamers.” Mexican National Teamers, not “Mexican citizens” as stated on SBI.
“I was born in America, but in my case my family is Mexican so I’m more Mexican than American”
I don’t really understand this mentality.
True forgot about Salgado
If he is U.S.-born, he already has U.S. citizenship (and I presume Mexican citizenship), so his choice of national squad doesn’t change that.
Spot on comment. Chivas needs to get over their nationalist stance which will just hurt the club in the long run. Omar Salgado all over again?
Better question: Time for Chivas to stop being so nationalist?
and he’s a left back? oh boy, this is about to open a whole case of worms…
I hate to say this but he should stay with his club team and reject any overtures from the US unless he finds a good situation for himself elsewhere. He needs to look out for himself above everything else and it sounds like he is on the verge of a good situtation at the present time