.jpg) Jiménez in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hector Osvaldo Jiménez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-11-03)November 3, 1988 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Huntington Park, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2006 | Arsenal FC (California) | ||
| 2005 | IMG Soccer Academy | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | California Golden Bears | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2013 | LA Galaxy | 43 | (4) |
| 2014–2020 | Columbus Crew SC | 133 | (2) |
| 2021–2024 | Austin FC | 56 | (1) |
| Total | 232 | (7) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2025– | Chicago Fire (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 02:49, October 22, 2024 (UTC) | |||
Hector Osvaldo Jiménez (born November 3, 1988) is an American retired professionalsoccer player who played as adefender. He is currently an assistant coach withMajor League Soccer clubChicago Fire.
Hector played two years atBell Gardens High School from 2004 to 2006 where he established himself as one of the team's leaders and caught the eye of various soccer programs across the country.
Jiménez is a product of theUniversity of California Berkeley where he played between 2006 and 2010. He was three-time First Team All-Pac-10 (2008–2010), NSCAA Second Team Far West Region, no. 2 on Cal's all-time assist list, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 team, NSCAA First Team Far West All-Region and was three-time Second Team Pac-10 All-Academic.[2] During his college years, Jiménez also played with theBay Area Ambassadors of theNational Premier Soccer League.
On January 14, 2011, Jiménez was drafted in the second round (34th overall) in the2011 MLS SuperDraft byLos Angeles Galaxy.[3] He played three seasons with the Galaxy, recording four goals and six assists in 43 appearances while helping the Galaxy win titles in2011 and2012.
On January 14, 2014, Jiménez was traded to the Columbus Crew for a Second Round2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (42nd overall) and allocation money.[4] He made his club debut on March 8, 2014, in a 3–0 victory overD.C. United.[5] His first goal for the Crew came on April 19, 2014, also against D.C. United. Jiménez's 90th-minute goal earned the Crew a 1–1 draw and would be nominated for MLS AT&T Goal of the Week honors.[6] He went on to appear in both legs of the Crew's playoff series against theNew England Revolution.
Jiménez made 23 appearances in 2015, including his 75th professional appearance on May 16 against theSan Jose Earthquakes. He notched four assists on the season while playing at four different positions. However, he did not appear in the playoffs as Crew SC made a run toMLS Cup 2015, where they would fall 2–1 to thePortland Timbers.
Jiménez racked up 25 appearances in 2016, playing five different positions. He made his 100th career appearance on July 3, in a 3–2 defeat toSporting KC.[7] During the 2017 season, Jiménez made 23 appearances for Columbus. However, in 2018, the signing ofMilton Valenzuela, a youngDesignated Player, saw Jiménez's time on the field significantly decrease, with him only making 12 total appearances.[8] However, during the 2019 season Valenzuela suffered a long-term injury which again saw Jiménez seize the starting left back position and he made a total of 23 appearances.[8]
In his last season with Columbus, Jiménez made a total of 10 appearances. One of these appearances was during the2020 MLS Cup where Columbus beatSeattle Sounders FC 3–0.[9] On December 14, 2020, Columbus declined their contract option on Jiménez following their 2020 season ending his time with the club.[10]
On December 21, 2020, Jiménez joinedAustin FC as a free agent ahead of their inaugural season in 2021.[11] He made his first start for Austin on May 15 against former clubLA Galaxy, but was removed on a stretcher in the first half.[12] His next appearance came on June 24, replacing injured right-backNick Lima.[13] Jiménez scored the final goal of Austin's 4–1 win overPortland Timbers on July 1, the club's first win atQ2 Stadium.[14]
On January 8, 2025, it was announced that Jiménez had joined the coaching staff forMajor League Soccer clubChicago Fire as an assistant coach.[15]
| Club | Season | League | League cup[a] | U.S. Open Cup | CCL | Other[b] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| LA Galaxy | 2011 | MLS | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | |||
| 2013 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | |||
| Total | 43 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 56 | 4 | |||
| Columbus Crew SC | 2014 | MLS | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | 23 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||||
| 2016 | 25 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||||
| 2017 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||||
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2019 | 23 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 | |||||
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 133 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 151 | 2 | ||||
| Austin FC | 2021 | MLS | 25 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||||
| 2022 | 14 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||||
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 56 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 231 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 266 | 7 | ||
Both of Jiménez's parents areMexican immigrants, who met in the United States.[18]
LA Galaxy
Columbus Crew SC
