Chris Cortez
Personal information
Full name Christopher Michael Cortez[1]
Date of birth (1988-07-24) July 24, 1988
Place of birth Mission Viejo, California, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2007–2010 Chivas USA
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 California Golden Bears
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Chivas USA 9 (0)
2012 Reynosa
2013–2015 Orange County Blues 63 (20)
2016–2018 Phoenix Rising 76 (29)
2019 Chonburi 0 (0)
2019 → Ayutthaya United (loan) 12 (2)
2019–2020 Helsingør 6 (2)
2020–2021 Příbram 3 (0)
2021 Miami FC 4 (1)
2022 Monterey Bay 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2022

Christopher Michael Cortez (born July 24, 1988) is an American professional soccer forward.

Career

Youth and College

Cortez, who is of Mexican descent, attended the Trabuco Hills High School, where he earned South Coast League first-team all-league honors as both a junior and a senior, and led his team to the South Coast League Championship in 2005. He played club soccer for Pateadores, and played one year of college soccer at the University of California, Berkeley, before signing with Chivas USA's youth academy.[2]

He went on to trial with Mexican side Pachuca in late 2010, before returning to the United States in early 2011 to train with Chivas USA's senior team. He participated in several of Chivas's preseason matches, and also played in the MLS Reserve Division, prior to officially turning professional.

Professional

Cortez was formally signed by Chivas USA on May 15, 2011,[3] and was immediately added to the club's game day roster. He made his professional debut the same day, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls.[4]

Cortez was released by Chivas USA on February 26, 2012.[5]

He then played for the Orange County Blues, scoring 20 goals in 63 games.

Arizona United SC

Cortez signed with Arizona United on March 19, 2016.[6] Cortez finished the 2016 season with seven goals and four assists.

Phoenix Rising FC

In November 2016, Arizona United re-branded as Phoenix Rising FC.[7] Cortez finished his second season with the Phoenix USL franchise with five goals and team leading five assists, and earned USL Team of the Week honors in Week 23 of the season.[8]

Cortez had a record setting 2018 season, tallying 19 goals on 81 shots, and appearing in 33 games.[9] His performance set a club record for goals in a season[10] and career goals.[11] On December 4, 2018, Cortez announced that he would not return to the club[12] in favor of a chance to play in the Thailand League 1.

FC Helsingør

On August 8, 2019, Cortez joined Danish 2nd Division club FC Helsingør on a free transfer.[13] He left the club at the end of the season.[14]

Miami FC

Cortez returned to the now-named USL Championship on September 17, 2021 and signed for Miami FC.[15] He left the club following the 2021 season.[16]

Monterey Bay

On February 4, 2022, Cortez was announced as a signing for USL Championship expansion side Monterey Bay FC.[17] Cortez was included in the starting 11 for Monterey Bay's inaugural match, a 4-2 loss to Phoenix Rising FC.[18] His contract option was declined by the club at the end of the season.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Christopher Michael Cortez, Born 07/24/1988 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org.
  2. ↑ "Chivas USA Weekly Update: Red & White Prepare for SuperClásico Against Galaxy".
  3. ↑ Youth Academy product Chris Cortez signs with Chivas USA Archived October 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Cortez's debut for Chivas a long time in the making". Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  5. ↑ "CHIVAS USA: Goats release Cortez - Los Angeles Soccer Blog - ESPN Los Angeles". espn.go.com. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  6. ↑ "Bardsley, Cortez Highlight Arizona's New Signings". United Soccer League (USL). 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Arizona United SC Unveils Phoenix Rising FC Rebrand". 28 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Phoenix Rising Football Club Adds Forward Chris Cortez". 6 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "2018 Player Stats". Archived from the original on 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  10. ↑ "Chris Cortez Sets Scoring Record in Loss to San Antonio FC". 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Zlatan of the USL: Phoenix Rising's Cortez approaching another record". 28 September 2018.
  12. ↑ @c_cortez88 (December 5, 2018). "It is with a heavy heart that I have to say that I will be moving on. Wouldn't have been possible without all the a…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ FC HELSINGØR HENTER AMERIKANSK GOALGETTER, fchelsingor.dk, 8 August 2019
  14. ↑ Cortez forlader FCH: Ikke fået hvad vi håbede, bold.dk, 20 July 2020
  15. ↑ Communications, Miami FC (17 September 2021). "Miami FC Announces Signing of Forward Chris Cortez". Miami FC. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Thanks for everything, @C_Cortez88". Twitter. Miami FC. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Monterey Bay F.C. Signs Mission Viejo Native Christopher Cortez". www.montereybayfc.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-04. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  18. ↑ "PHOENIX RISING VS. MONTEREY BAY 4 - 2". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Monterey Bay Football Club Announces 2023 Roster Moves".
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