Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras (born 5 November 1995) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays for Leones Negros in the Liga de Expansión MX.
 Sandoval in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 November 1995[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | UdeG | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Guadalajara | ||
| 2010–2011 | Club Oro | ||
| 2010–2012 | Tecos | ||
| 2012–2014 | Santos Laguna | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012 | Tecos | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2017 | Santos Laguna | 49 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | → Juárez (loan) | 35 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Guadalajara | 42 | (2) |
| 2019 | → Juárez (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Santos Laguna (loan) | 14 | (3) |
| 2021 | → Mazatlán (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Wellington Phoenix (loan) | 20 | (6) |
| 2023 | Tepatitlán | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | Vancouver FC | 12 | (1) |
| 2023– | UdeG | 28 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 May 2024 | |||
Club career edit
Youth career edit
Sandoval played for many academies in the state of his native Jalisco, starting with Club Oro in 2010 and then settled with Estudiantes Tecos, until they were dissolved in 2012. Santos Laguna signed him to play for their under 17s shortly after. He went on trial with Roma in 2013, but was not signed.[2]
Santos Laguna edit
In 2012, Sandoval moved to Santos Laguna. He made his Liga MX debut on July 17, 2016, against Tigres UANL coming in as substitute.[3]
Loan at Juárez edit
In the summer of 2015, Sandoval joined Juárez on an one-year loan in the Ascenso MX, to gain professional playing experience.[4][5] In his first season, he won the Liga Ascenso Apertura 2015.[6]
Guadalajara edit
It was confirmed on November 18, 2017, that Sandoval will play for Guadalajara.[7]
Loans edit
On 9 January 2020, Sandoval returned to Juárez, joining the club on a six-months loan.[8]
On 10 July 2020, Sandoval returned to Santos Laguna on loan, for the Apertura 2020.[9]
In December 2020, Sandoval was loaned out to Mazatlán FC, wearing the squad number 1, a number typically used by goalkeepers.
In December 2021, Sandoval joined New Zealand A-League club Wellington Phoenix on loan until the end of the season.[10]
Tepatitlán edit
On 15 January 2023, after being without a club for six months, Sandoval joined Liga Expansión club Tepatitlán on a free transfer.[11] Shortly after, on 6 February 2023, and without playing a game, he agreed a mutual termination with the club, with the intent of joining a MLS club.[12]
Vancouver FC edit
Instead of a MLS club, on 1 March 2023, Sandoval joined Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC as their marquee signing.[13] On 13 July 2023, after a disappointing stint at the club, he and the team agreed on a mutual contract termination.[14]
Leones Negros edit
On 27 July 2023, returned to Mexico to join his hometown club Leones Negros in Liga de Expansión MX.[15]
Career statistics edit
- As of 10 May 2024[16]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Other[b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tecos | 2012–13 | Ascenso MX | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Santos Laguna | 2013–14 | Liga MX | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17 | 35 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | 43 | 2 | |||
| 2017–18 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| Total | 49 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 2 | ||
| Juárez (loan) | 2015–16 | Ascenso MX | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |
| Guadalajara | 2017–18 | Liga MX | 13 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| Total | 42 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 5 | ||
| Juárez (loan) | 2019–20 | Liga MX | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| Santos Laguna (loan) | 2020–21 | Liga MX | 14 | 3 | — | — | 14 | 3 | ||
| Mazatlán (loan) | 2020–21 | Liga MX | 14 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Wellington Phoenix (loan) | 2021–22 | A-League | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 6 | |
| Vancouver FC | 2023 | Canadian Premier League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | |
| Leones Negros | 2023–24 | Liga de Expansión MX | 28 | 4 | — | — | 28 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 219 | 18 | 31 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 256 | 21 | ||
- ^ Appearances in Copa MX, Australia Cup and Canadian Championship
- ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores, CONCACAF Champions Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
Honours edit
Santos Laguna
Guadalajara
Individual
References edit
- ^ a b c "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018: List of Players: CD Guadalajara" (PDF). FIFA. 6 December 2018. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2018.
- ^ "Sandoval recibe oportunidad en el primer equipo santista". ElSigloDeTorreon.com. Julio Carrillo. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- ^ "Gael Sandoval, la perla de Santos Laguna". MedioTiempo.com (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ Hernández Castrejón, Carlos (2015-06-12). "Rafa Figueroa se va a Leones Negros". milenio.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Walter Gael Sandoval Contreras". LigaMX.net. LIGA BBVA Bancomer MX. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- ^ Lopez & Rodriguez, Luis Carlos & Juan Antonio (2015-12-05). "First-year Bravos win championship for Juárez". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Chivas se refuerza con Gael Sandoval..." Univision.com (in Spanish). Univision Deportes. 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ "Oficial: Gael Sandoval es nuevo jugador del FC Juárez". Rebaño Pasión (in European Spanish). 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ Torreón, El Siglo de (2020-07-10). "Gael Sandoval tendrá una nueva oportunidad con Santos Laguna". www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Mexican Playmaker Joins Phoenix on Loan". Wellington Phoenix. 21 December 2021.
- ^ Mediotiempo, Editorial (2023-01-15). "Gael Sandoval se convirtió en refuerzo del Tepatitlan FC". Mediotiempo (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ Redacción (2023-02-08). "Gael Sandoval deja al Tepatitlán a menos de un mes de ser presentado con "bombo y platillo"". telediario.mx. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ Clarke, Charlie (2023-03-01). "Vancouver FC sign 'game-changer' Gael Sandoval from Liga MX as 1st international star". onesoccer.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ Jacques, John (2023-07-13). "Statement Signing Sizzles Out: Sandoval Leaves Vancouver". Northern Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ Reynoso, Alma (2023-07-27). "Walter Gael Sandoval llega para reforzar a Leones Negros". Quadratin Jalisco (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ Gael Sandoval at Soccerway
- ^ "¡CAMPEONES DE CONCACAF!". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
External links edit
- Gael Sandoval at Liga MX (archive) (in Spanish)
  | This biographical article relating to Mexican association football is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |