 González lining up forPorto in 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis Óscar González[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1981-01-19)19 January 1981 (age 44)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Porto (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1998 | Huracán | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2002 | Huracán | 111 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | River Plate | 82 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2009 | Porto | 111 | (31) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Marseille | 87 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Porto | 57 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Al-Rayyan | 26 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | River Plate | 17 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2021 | Athletico Paranaense | 103 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 594 | (96) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Argentina U23 | 12 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2011 | Argentina | 45 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Athletico Paranaense (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Ceará | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Internacional (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Athletico Paranaense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Porto (assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Luis Óscar"Lucho" González (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈlutʃoɣonˈsales];[3] born 19 January 1981) is an Argentine former professionalfootballer, currently assistantmanager ofPrimeira Liga clubPorto. A versatilemidfielder who was able to play in different positions but mainly inthe centre, he was well known for his fierce shot, passing and work rate, being affectionately known asEl Comandante (thecommander) due to his leadership skills.[4][5]
After starting withHuracán andRiver Plate, he signed forPorto in 2005, where he played 241 games and scored 61 goals across two spells, winning ten major titles. He also played in France withMarseille,Al-Rayyan in Qatar andAthletico Paranaense in Brazil; his 29 honours were surpassed only byLionel Messi among his countrymen.[6]
AnArgentina international on 45 occasions, González represented his country in the2006 World Cup and twoCopa América tournaments.
González was born inBuenos Aires to a mother from Chile and a father from Uruguay.[7] He began his career atHuracán at the age of 14, making hisPrimera División debut on 29 April 1999 in a 1–2 home loss againstRacing Club.[8]
Three years later, González transferred to another side in his hometown,River Plate, where he won consecutiveClausura tournaments in 2003 and 2004, contributing 23 goals in 120 games across all competitions.[9][10]
González's performances at River earned him a deal with Portugal'sPorto in 2005, signing a five-year contract.[11] In hisfirst season he scored ten goals in 30 matches, including braces againstAcadémica de Coimbra (5–1),[12]Penafiel (3–1)[13] andVitória de Guimarães (3–1), helping the northerners to the first of their four consecutivePrimeira Liga titles.[14]
González eventually becameteam captain at Porto.[15] In November 2006, he agreed to an improved five-year deal and, in August of the following year, the club paid€6.65 million to Global Soccer Agencies (later renamed Rio Football Services) to achieve full ownership of the player, activating the clause by rejecting an offer fromEverton.[16][17]
On 22 March 2009, González netted againstEstrela da Amadora in the first leg ofthe semi-finals of theTaça de Portugal (2–0 home win, 3–2 on aggregate).[18] During theleague campaign, he scored nine times in only 23 appearances to help the team to the fourth title in a row; the season ended with adouble.[19]
In June 2009, González was sold toMarseille in France for a fee of €18 million, with the possibility of an increase to €24 million depending on the player's performance;[20] the four-year transfer was the most expensive in the club's history.[21] He scored his first official goal for his new side on 19 September, opening a 4–2 home victory overMontpellier,[22] and also found the net on 26 November in the 1–1 draw withAC Milan in thegroup stage of theUEFA Champions League, at theSan Siro.[23] He scored againstReal Madrid in an ensuing fixture on 8 December, but later missed apenalty kick in the 1–3 home loss, with the subsequentrelegation to theUEFA Europa League.[24]
After the winter break, González also helped Marseille toreach thefinal of theCoupe de la Ligue, scoring againstLille in the quarter-finals (2–1) in late January.[25] On 28 February, he scored in a 3–0 away defeat ofParis Saint-Germain which leftL'OM in fourth place.[26] He finished hisfirst season with 32 matches and five goals, winning a league/league cup double.[27][28]
González scored his first goal of the2010–11 campaign on 29 August 2010, in a 1–1 draw atBordeaux.[29] On 3 November, he grabbed a brace in the 7–0 away rout ofŽilina in theChampions League group phase.[30]
González started in the2011 Coupe de la Ligue final, won 1–0 against Montpellier.[31] He was linked with a transfer to England'sArsenal in early May 2011 because of his solid performances,[32] to which he responded that "I don't know why there are so many things said about this at the moment. It annoys me a bit. At no time has it left my mouth that I wanted to leave or that I didn't feel good here. I have a contract with OM until 2013 and the people at the club seem happy with me."[33] On 8 May, Marseille faced title challengersLyon at theStade de Gerland, and he scored in an eventual 3–2 defeat,[34] with his team eventually finishing second to Lille. After the season ended, chairmanJean-Claude Dassier confirmed that he was seeking an exit from the club.[35]
Despite the constant speculation, González remained at theStade Vélodrome for2011–12. On the first fixture, he opened the score in the 38th minute of a 2–2 home draw againstSochaux.[36] On 13 September, he netted the game's only goal atOlympiacos in theChampions League group stage, where he also earnedPlayer of the match accolades.[37]
On 30 January 2012, after 124 competitive appearances for Marseille, González returned to Porto, signing until June 2014.[38] He scored in his first match in his second spell, a2–0 win againstVitória de Setúbal in theTaça da Liga on 5 February.[39] He opened a 2–0 home victory overOlhanense on 31 March, his first league goal since returning.[40]
In2012–13, Porto won a third consecutive league title after an unbeaten season with González as captain; he opened a decisive 2–0 win atPaços de Ferreira on the final day.[41] In theChampions League, he netted in away and home group wins overDinamo Zagreb with the former coming on the day of his father's death; the goals gave him the record figure of 16 in that phase of the competition, while he never scored any later on.[42] He added two more thefollowing season, as the Dragons came third at that stage and fell into the Europa League.[43]
On 27 January 2014, González signed with Qatari clubAl-Rayyan, initially until June.[44] Eighteen months later, he returned to his country's league and River Plate for the first time in a decade, signing until 2017.[45] He played as asubstitute in theirCopa Libertadoresfinals win overTigres[46] and the victory againstGamba Osaka in the2015 Suruga Bank Championship in his first year back.[47]
At the age of 35 on 16 September 2016, González joined Brazil'sAthletico Paranaense.[48] He played 160 times and scored ten goals for the side,[49] winning five trophies including theCopa Sudamericana in2018.[6]
González announced his retirement on 27 May 2021, at the age of 40.[50]
Under the guidance ofMarcelo Bielsa, González earned his firstcap for theArgentina national team on 31 January 2003 againstHonduras.[51] He went on to represent the nation in the2004 Copa América, scoring two goals during the tournament as the country lost the final onpenalties toBrazil.[52]
González also played withthe side thatwon the gold medal at the2004 Summer Olympics.[53] In 2006, he was selected for the2006 FIFA World Cup in which Argentina, managed byJosé Pekerman, lost to hostsGermany in the quarter-finals on penalties.[54]
Subsequently, González was part of theAlfio Basile–led squad at2007 Copa América, where theAlbiceleste was again defeated by Brazil in the decisive match, now 3–0.[55]
González returned to his final club Athletico in January 2022, as assistant to managerAlberto Valentim. In April, he was named as the latter's interim replacement, but chose to leave within 24 hours.[56]
On 24 August 2022, González signed his first coaching contract for fellowCampeonato Brasileiro Série A teamCeará, until the end ofthe season.[57] He drew 1–1 atFlamengo on his debut on 4 September,[58] and was dismissed on 28 October after only one win in ten matches.[59]
González joinedInternacional in July 2023 as assistant to managerEduardo Coudet,[60] taking part in their run to theCopa Libertadores semi-finals and climbing up theBrazilian League standings. In December, the entire staff was renewed until December 2024.[61]
González departed following Coudet's dismissal in July 2024, and returned to Athletico Paranaense on 24 September, now as head coach.[62] He was himself sacked on 10 December, aftersuffering relegation in the year of the club's 100th birthday.[63][64]
In July 2025, González returned to Porto, as part of newly-appointedFrancesco Farioli's staff.[65]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Huracán | 1998–99 | Primera División | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | Primera B Nacional | 35 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 5 | |||||
| 2000–01 | Primera División | 34 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 3 | |||||
| 2001–02 | Primera División | 35 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 4 | |||||
| Total | 111 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 111 | 12 | ||||||
| River Plate | 2002–03 | Primera División | 32 | 7 | — | — | 10[c] | 1 | — | 42 | 8 | |||
| 2003–04 | Primera División | 24 | 2 | — | — | 17[d] | 3 | — | 41 | 5 | ||||
| 2004–05 | Primera División | 26 | 8 | — | — | 11[e] | 1 | — | 37 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 82 | 17 | — | — | 38 | 5 | — | 120 | 22 | |||||
| Porto | 2005–06 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | — | 6[f] | 1 | — | 40 | 12 | ||
| 2006–07 | Primeira Liga | 30 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | 8[f] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 12 | ||
| 2007–08 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7[f] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 8 | |
| 2008–09 | Primeira Liga | 23 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9[f] | 2 | 1[g] | 0 | 37 | 12 | |
| Total | 111 | 31 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 44 | ||
| Marseille | 2009–10 | Ligue 1 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8[h] | 2 | — | 44 | 8 | |
| 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 36 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8[f] | 2 | 1[i] | 0 | 50 | 10 | |
| 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[f] | 1 | 1[i] | 0 | 30 | 3 | |
| Total | 87 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 124 | 21 | ||
| Porto | 2011–12 | Primeira Liga | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2[j] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| 2012–13 | Primeira Liga | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8[f] | 2 | 1[g] | 0 | 44 | 10 | |
| 2013–14 | Primeira Liga | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[f] | 2 | 1[g] | 1 | 26 | 4 | |
| Total | 57 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 86 | 17 | ||
| Al-Rayyan | 2013–14 | Qatar Stars League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[k] | 1 | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | Qatari Second Division | 15 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | 7[l] | 0 | — | 26 | 6 | |||
| Total | 26 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | — | 41 | 9 | ||||
| River Plate | 2015 | Primera División | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 8[m] | 0 | 3[n] | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| 2016 | Primera División | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[e] | 1 | – | 11 | 1 | |||
| Total | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 2 | |||
| Athletico Paranaense | 2016 | Série A | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | Série A | 26 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 12[e] | 3 | 5[o] | 0 | 46 | 6 | ||
| 2018 | Série A | 27 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 12[p] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | Série A | 17 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 4[e] | 0 | 3[q] | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2020 | Série A | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 2 | 4[o] | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||
| 2021 | Série A | — | — | — | 2[p] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 94 | 4 | 18 | 1 | — | 36 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 160 | 10 | |||
| Career total | 584 | 95 | 41 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 164 | 30 | 20 | 1 | 827 | 136 | ||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 January 2003 | Olímpico Metropolitano,San Pedro Sula,Honduras |  Honduras | 1–2 | 1–3 | Friendly | [69] |
| 2 | 8 February 2003 | Orange Bowl,Miami,United States |  United States | 0–1 | 0–1 | Friendly | [70] |
| 3 | 7 July 2004 | Elías Aguirre,Chiclayo,Peru |  Ecuador | 6–1 | 6–1 | 2004 Copa América | [71] |
| 4 | 20 July 2004 | Estadio Nacional,Lima, Peru |  Colombia | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2004 Copa América | [72] |
| 5 | 9 October 2004 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Uruguay | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2006 World Cup qualification | [73] |
| 6 | 1 April 2009 | Hernando Siles,La Paz,Bolivia |  Bolivia | 1–6 | 1–6 | 2010 World Cup qualification | [74] |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Ceará |  | 24 August 2022 | 28 October 2022 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 010.00 |
| Athletico Paranaense | | 24 September 2024 | 10 December 2024 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 021.43 |
| Total | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 32 | −11 | 016.67 | |||
Huracán
River Plate
Porto
Marseille
Al-Rayyan
Athletico Paranaense
Argentina Olympic
Argentina
Argentina squads | |||||||||||||||||||
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