 Figueroa playing forFC Dallas in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1983-05-02)2 May 1983 (age 42)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jutiapa, Honduras | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left-back,centre-back | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1999 | Victoria | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1999–2003 | Victoria | 24 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2008 | Olimpia | 100 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | →Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | →Wigan Athletic (loan) | 29 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2013 | Wigan Athletic | 148 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Hull City | 35 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014 | →Wigan Athletic (loan) | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Colorado Rapids | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | FC Dallas | 70 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Houston Dynamo | 58 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 482 | (19) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2003 | Honduras U20 | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Honduras U23 | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Honduras Olympic (O.P.) | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2022 | Honduras | 181 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez (born 2 May 1983) is a Honduran former professionalfootballer who played as aleft-back orcentre-back. He is best known for his time atWigan Athletic, where he made 179Premier League appearances and won the2013 FA Cup. Figueroa made181 international appearances between 2003 and 2022, including appearances at sevenCONCACAF Gold Cups, twoFIFA World Cups and the2012 Summer Olympics.
Born inJutiapa, Atlántida,[1] Figueroa started his career withVictoria, before moving toOlimpia in 2003. He later becameclub captain. In 2007, Figueroa received offers fromMajor League Soccer clubs, one of which was revealed to beNew England Revolution, but Olimpia's administrator, Osman Madrid, turned down all the offers. Figueroa had drawn previous interest from foreign clubs aside from those in MLS, includingClub Toluca of Mexico making offers during 2007. However, during an interview, Madrid indicated the terms sought by other teams had been neither agreeable nor economically favourable to Olimpia or Figueroa.[citation needed]
On 20 December 2007, Honduran newspaperEl Heraldo reported that, as a result of interest expressed by thePremier League clubWigan Athletic, Figueroa would travel to England. In January 2008, Figueroa joined Wigan onloan for the rest of the2007–08 season.[3] In July 2008, after a complicated process involving work permit and visa issues, Figueroa rejoined Wigan on loan for a further six months, after which Wigan had the option to make the deal permanent following a successful loan spell.[4]
On 23 December 2008, Wigan announced Figueroa had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to join permanently.[5] He scored his first goal for Wigan on 11 January 2009. He scored a close range header to secure a late winner againstTottenham Hotspur.[6] On 12 December 2009, Figueroa scored a goal againstStoke City from his own half to put Wigan in the lead. Figueroa noticed Stoke goalkeeperThomas Sørensen off his line at a free kick and struck the ball quickly to send the ball soaring over Sørensen and into the net.[7] Although the match ended 2–2, Figueroa made the headlines the following day, withAlan Hansen calling it a candidate for Goal of the Season.[8] Indeed, Figueroa's goal was chosen asMatch of the Day'sGoal of the Season for 2009–10. By the end of the 2009–10 campaign, he had made 81 appearances and scored twice in all competitions for Wigan.
The 2010–11 campaign proved difficult for Wigan and Figueroa. On 26 February 2011, he made his 100th Premier League appearance, playing the full 90 minutes at left-back in a 4–0 defeat againstManchester United at theDW Stadium. He scored a goal against fellow relegation struggling sideBirmingham City on 19 March 2011 that led to a 2–1 win for Wigan.[9] On the last day of the season, Wigan needed to win and have results go their way in order to secure Premier League safety. Figueroa provided the breakthrough for the away side in the 78th minute, setting upHugo Rodallega to win the game 1–0 atStoke City and confirm Wigan's safety in the Premier League.[10]
During Wigan's firstLeague Cup game of the 2012–13 season, Figueroa scored from 35 yards out, as Wigan defeatedNottingham Forest 4–1 at theCity Ground.[11] Wigan achieved success in theFA Cup winning the competition after beating Manchester City 1–0 in the final. Figueroa had played in every round of the FA Cup but was injured for the FA Cup final; however he did receive an FA Cup Winner's medal[12] However, they did not have as much success in the Premier League and were relegated at the end of theseason.
Newly promoted Premier League side Hull City announced the signing of Figueroa on a free transfer on 17 June 2013.[13] He made his debut on the first day of the 2013–14 season in a 2–0 loss away atChelsea.[14] Figueroa reached an FA Cup Final for the second successive season after playing in every game prior to the final.[15][16][17][18][19] Whereas he missed the 2013 FA Cup Final through injury, he was an unused substitute for the 2014 FA Cup Final after manager Steve Bruce changed the system to 5-3-2 with the manager's son Alex Bruce starting ahead of Figueroa.[20] Hull lost the final 3–2 to Arsenal after extra-time. On 21 October 2014 Figueroa returned to Wigan Athletic on a month-loan[21] and went on to play in the 0–0 draw againstMillwall the same day.[22] After five consecutive games for the club since joining on loan, Wigan extended his loan deal until 30 December 2014.[23] He was recalled to Hull on 22 December 2014, along withTom Ince fromNottingham Forest.[24] On 28 May 2015, Figueroa was one of six players released by Hull managerSteve Bruce.[25]
Following his release by Hull City, Figueroa joinedMLS teamColorado Rapids on 7 August 2015.[26] He made his Rapids and MLS debut on 14 August in a 1–0 defeat to theSan Jose Earthquakes.[27] Figueroa scored his first goal for Colorado on 29 August in a 2–1 win overSporting Kansas City. Figueroa would play in 10 games for Colorado. He was unable to save the Rapids season as they failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished the year in last place in theWestern Conference.[28]
On 26 January 2016, Figueroa was traded toFC Dallas in exchange for General Allocation Money.[29] He made his debut for FC Dallas on 6 March in a 2–0 win over thePhiladelphia Union.[30] Figueroa scored his first goal for Dallas on 4 August againstReal Estelí in theCONCACAF Champions League, rocketing a shot into the top right corner in the 84th minute to give Dallas a 2–1 victory.[31] He would start in the quarter-finals, semi-final and final to help Dallas win the2016 U.S. Open Cup.[30] Figueroa also made 28 MLS appearances to help lead Dallas to win theSupporters' Shield. In the playoffs, he would start both legs of Dallas's conference semi-final tie withSeattle Sounders FC, but they would fall 4–2 on aggregate.
On 22 April, Figueroa scored his first MLS goal for Dallas in a 1–0 win over Sporting Kansas City. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week following a strong performance in a 1–1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on 17 June. He scored his second league goal with Dallas on 23 August, blasting a ball into the top of the net in a 3–3 draw with theHouston Dynamo in aTexas Derby match. On 27 August, Figueroa would score against his former team to lead Dallas to a 2–0 win over Colorado.[32] Dallas would finish in 7th place in the Western Conference and miss out on the playoffs in 2017 after a late season collapse saw them win 2 of their final 14 games, just one year after doing a US Open Cup and Supporters Shield double.[33]
2018 saw a reduced role for Figueroa, with the additions of the youngerAnton Nedyalkov andMarquinhos Pedroso competing for the left back spot. He would only make 20 appearances as he split time as a left back and center back. Figueroa's loan goal of the season came on 18 August in a 2–0 win overMinnesota United FC. He would help Dallas return to the playoffs in 2018.[34] On 26 November, Figueroa had his contract option declined.[35]
On 30 January 2019, Figueroa signed with FC Dallas's biggest rivals, theHouston Dynamo.[36] Figueroa made his Dynamo debut on 19 February 2019 in a 1–0 win overCD Guastatoya in theCONCACAF Champions League.[37] He made 4 appearances in the CCL as the Dynamo reached the quarterfinals.[38] He made his first league appearance for the Dynamo on 2 March in a 1–1 draw withReal Salt Lake.[39] Figueroa ended his first season in Houston with 25 appearances and 3 assists in league play as Houston finished 10th in the Western Conference, missing out on the playoffs.[40][41] On 20 December, Figueroa signed a new contract to stay in Houston.[42]
Figueroa and the Dynamo opened the 2020 season on 29 February with a 1–1 draw against the LA Galaxy, with Figueroa playing the full match. He scored his first goal for the Dynamo on 19 September to help Houston to a 2–2 draw withMinnesota United FC. On 26 September Figueroa scored in the 89th minute to give the Dynamo a 1–1 draw withNashville SC. In a shortened season due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Figueroa appeared in 20 of Houston's 23 matches and scored 2 goals. The Dynamo had a poor season as a team, finishing last in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs again.[40][43]
Figueroa's contract with Houston expired following the 2020 season.[44] He re-signed with Houston on 10 February 2021.[45] He served as a backup centerback during the 2021 season, making 13 appearances and recording 2 assists.[40] It was another disappointing season for the Dynamo, as Houston finished last in the West for the second consecutive season and missed out on the playoffs again.[46]
Following the 2021 season, Figueroa's contract option was declined by Houston.[47]
Figueroa made his debut forHonduras in 2003 and was a part of the Honduras squad at the2005,2007,2011,2015,2017,2019 and2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups, earning a combined total of 25 caps. He was also named in the 23-man squad for the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. At the time, Figueroa played out of position as a centre–back at the World Cup, due to emergence ofEmilio Izaguirre at the left–back position. He was again named to Honduras' squad for the2014 World Cup. Figueroa also represented Honduras at U-20 and U-23 level from 1999 to 2003 and 2001 to 2003 respectively, scoring once in three games for the U-20s. He joined the U-23 squad as an overage player for the2012 Summer Olympics. He has won over 180 caps, the most for Honduras, scoring six goals since his debut, and served as captain from 2014 until 2022. In June 2021, Figueroa led Honduras into thefinals of the inauguralCONCACAF Nations League tournament. He would play in Honduras' 1–0 loss to theUnited States, and in the third place play-off, where Honduras prevailed overrivalsCosta Rica 5–4 on penalties, after a 2–2 draw.[48]
Figueroa is married to Sandra Norales, ahandball player who represented Honduras in that sport.[49] Together they have two sons and one daughter.[50] One of their sons,Keyrol, plays as a forward forLiverpool Academy.[51]
Figueroa is ofGarifuna heritage.[52] He is close friends with Honduran and former Dynamo teammateBoniek García.[53] In 2020 Figueroa received hisU.S. green card which qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[54]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[A] | League cup[B] | Other[C] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Victoria | 2000–01 | Liga Nacional | ||||||||||
| 2001–02 | ||||||||||||
| Total | 24 | 2 | 24 | 2 | ||||||||
| Olimpia | 2002–03 | Liga Nacional | ||||||||||
| 2003–04 | ||||||||||||
| 2004–05 | ||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | ||||||||||||
| 2006–07 | ||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | ||
| Total | 100 | 6 | 100 | 6 | ||||||||
| Wigan Athletic | 2007–08[59] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2008–09[60] | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 1 | |||
| 2009–10[61] | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 1 | |||
| 2010–11[62] | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |||
| 2011–12[63] | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13[64] | 33 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 41 | 3 | |||
| Total | 179 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 6 | ||
| Hull City | 2013–14[65] | Premier League | 32 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[66] | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 35 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2014 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Colorado Rapids | 2015 | MLS | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 | ||
| FC Dallas | 2016 | MLS | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 1 |
| 2017 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 30 | 3 | |||
| 2018 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Total | 72 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 88 | 4 | ||
| Houston Dynamo | 2019 | MLS | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 20 | 2 | — | — | — | 20 | 2 | |||||
| 2021 | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 58 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 484 | 19 | 25 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 535 | 22 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honduras | 2003 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 181 | 5 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 July 2005 | Orange Bowl,Miami, United States |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 2 | 10 October 2006 | Herndon Stadium,Atlanta, United States |  Guatemala | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 15 October 2013 | Independence Park,Kingston, Jamaica |  Jamaica | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 14 October 2014 | FAU Stadium,Boca Raton, United States |  United States | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 6 June 2019 | Estadio Antonio Aranda,Ciudad del Este, Paraguay |  Paraguay | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
Olimpia
Wigan Athletic
Hull City
FC Dallas
Honduras
