Shannon Gomez

Shannon Gomez
Personal information
Full name Shannon Gomez
Date of birth (1996-10-05) 5 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 San Antonio FC
Number 22
Youth career
Waterloo Institute
Cap Off Youths
St Mary's United
2011–2014 San Juan Jabloeth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 W Connection 2 (0)
2016 → New York City FC (loan) 0 (0)
2017 New York City FC 0 (0)
2017 → Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan) 10 (0)
2018–2021 Sacramento Republic 77 (0)
2022– San Antonio FC 83 (2)
International career‡
2012–2013 Trinidad and Tobago U17 6 (0)
2012–2015 Trinidad and Tobago U20 6 (0)
2015 Trinidad and Tobago U21 1 (0)
2015 Trinidad and Tobago U22 3 (0)
2015– Trinidad and Tobago 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 June 2024

Shannon Gomez (born 5 October 1996) is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for San Antonio FC in the USL Championship and the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

Career

Youth

Gomez attended Carapichaima RC Primary and St Augustine Secondary School as a child. Representing St Augustine as captain, he lifted the Intercol title in 2013 after beating Fatima College.[1]

He later lined-up for Waterloo Institute, before earning a move to Cap Off Youths. Gomez also played for St Mary's United, before joining San Juan Jabloeth.[1]

Professional

He joined TT Pro League club W Connection in August 2014, finishing second in his inaugural season and qualifying for the 2016 CFU Club Championship preliminary round. Gomez played every minute of the Savonetta Boys four-game run in the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League, notably recording a 2–1 victory over Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa.[2]

In March 2016, Gomez joined MLS side New York City FC as a Discovery Signing on loan from W Connection. He joined the club for their final pre-season camp of 2016 and later signed a contract with the club.[3] Gomez holds a green card holder, meaning he does not require an international roster spot.[4] New York City FC have the option to sign the right-back ahead of the 2017 MLS campaign.[5]

He was named on the bench in a 0–0 draw with Chicago Fire on 11 April, but did not make his first team debut.[6] Gomez will return to Trinidad & Tobago club W Connection on 31 December 2016.[7]

On 28 November 2016 NYCFC announced they had exercised their option to make Gomez a permanent squad member.[8] Gomez was released by NYCFC on 27 November 2017.[9]

On 7 February 2018, Gomez joined the Sacramento Republic of the United Soccer League.[10] On November 17, 2020, Sacramento exercised the option on Gomez's contract, retaining him for the 2021 season.[11] Gomez was released by Sacramento following the 2021 season.[12]

On 13 January 2022, Gomez signed with USL Championship side San Antonio FC.[13]

International career

Gomez's first international involvement came with the Trinidad & Tobago Under-17s in July 2015, 2012,[clarification needed] making his debut in a 23–0 win over British Virgin Islands Under-17s. He made a further five appearances for the youth side, with his last cap coming in April 2013.[7]

He made his debut for the Trinidad & Tobago Under-20s on January 10, 2015, in a 2–2 draw with Jamaica Under-20s. He soon gained a further four caps as captain during the month. Gomez played a single minute for the Under-21s in a 3–0 win over St Vincent & The Grenadines in August 2013, and made his debut for the Trinidad & Tobago Under-22s on July 13, 2015, appearing in a 4–0 defeat to Uruguay Under-22s. He also played in defeats to Paraguay Under-22s and Mexico Under-22s.[7]

He made his international debut for Trinidad & Tobago on March 28, 2015, in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Panama. He played for 77 minutes before being replaced by Jomal Williams. Gomez made his second international appearance in a friendly on June 6, 2015, featuring for seven minutes in a 1–0 loss to Curaçao.[7]

In June 2023 Gomez was named to the Trinidad squad ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Powder, Allan (2 July 2015). "One on one with Shannon: The Gomez Connection". Wired868. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Shannon Gomez". New York City FC. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  3. ^ "New York City FC Acquire Shannon Gomez". New York City FC. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. ^ "NYCFC Nation :: NYCFC acquire Shannon Gomez". thenycfcnation.sportsblog.com. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Vieira signs Shannon Gomez at New York City". www.trinidadexpress.com. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  6. ^ "MLS – New York City vs Chicago Fire – Soccer – Scoresway – Results, fixtures, tables and statistics". www.scoresway.com. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d "Shannon Gomez – Soccer – Scoresway – Results, fixtures, tables and statistics". www.scoresway.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  8. ^ Mark Booth (28 November 2016). "NYCFC Announce Roster Options for 2017". nycfc.com. MLS. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  9. ^ Mark Booth (27 November 2017). "New York City FC Announce Roster Options for 2018". nycfc.com. MLS. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Sacramento Republic FC Sign Versatile Trinidad and Tobago National Team Player Shannon Gomez". sacrepublicfc.com. Sacramento Republic FC. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  11. ^ "McCrary, Diaz Among Returnees for Republic FC". uslchampionship.com. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  12. ^ Communications, Republic FC (12 November 2021). "Republic FC Exercise Contract Options on Four Players, Preparing for 2022 USL Championship Season". Sacramento Republic FC - USL.
  13. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago International Shannon Gomez Joins San Antonio FC". 13 January 2022.
  14. ^ Bass, Kevin. "SAN ANTONIO FC DEFENDER SHANNON GOMEZ CALLED UP TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO NATIONAL TEAM FOR GOLD CUP". San Antonio FC.