Throughout the years, I have witnessed nearly every type of substitution strategy there is in the book of football (aka soccer). One doesn’t have to be a referee to experience these ceremonial, sometimes odd, events. I am sure others, who have been around the game in other capacities (ex. fans, pundits), have observed similar strategic behaviors and perhaps, have normalized them as part of today’s game.
Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness.
Unfortunately, these behaviors are here to stay. FIFA, far from discouraging them, does little to properly equip referees with the adequate tools to combat such time-consuming subbing strategies. Some are team and tactical oriented while others are more individual and non-tactical in nature. In the end, they are all time-consuming and serve specific purposes. FIFA has gone as far as mandating additional time be taken to to deal with specific subbing scenarios involving certain player positions (ex. Goalkeepers) or certain injuries (ex. head).
Below, I attempt to explain and classify the possible tactical, psychological, and time-management considerations rather than actual medical reasons used during player substitutions. In some cases, I even provide (and illustrate) some recent examples.
Time Management/Game Management
This strategy normally occurs by the team which is leading late in the game; players oftentimes go down to slow the game tempo and allow their team to reset. It is characterized by a player drop right after the fourth official raises the substitution board (a convenient “pause” before the next phase) and it is intended to have any (or all) the following effects:
Disrupting the opponent’s momentum.
Providing tired teammates a brief breather before a defensive stand.
Allowing the coach to finalize substitution instructions or delaying play strategically.
Psychological or Face-Saving Mechanism
Being subbed off can be a blow to a player’s pride, especially if they have played poorly or disagree with the decision. This strategy is characterized by the player looking disappointed or glancing at the bench, then suddenly sitting down to clutch a leg or calf. It is intended to have the following effects:
Going down “injured” provides a socially acceptable excuse — “I’m coming off because I’m hurt, not because I played badly.”
It helps them preserve face with teammates, fans, and coaches.
Cristiano Ronaldo is known to use this strategy. Moments before the substitution board goes up, he briefly gestures discomfort, touching his leg. Sometimes, there is no real injury, but going down softens the optics of being replaced for tactical reasons. It allows him to preserve ego and control the narrative: “I came off for fitness reasons, not performance.”
This strategy is normally applied when time is not of the essence and the outcome is favorable to the team subbing; however, players like Ronaldo, Vinicius, etc. apply it whenever they deem it necessary.
Masking Fatigue
Fatigue (especially in high-intensity matches) can be extreme, but players often hesitate to admit exhaustion. This strategy is characterized by a late game cramping or calf-grabbing gesture, but the player walks off fine moments later. It is more popular in games played in extreme weather (ex. hot/cold, humid, rainy, etc.), that extend to over regulation or a series of games played over a short duration (ex. tournaments). It is intended to have the following effects:
Falling to the ground signals to the bench: “I’m completely done” without directly saying so.
It gives the physio a reason to check the players (hydrate them) and the coach a window to substitute without appearing to replace a “fit” player (gives an out to the coach).
Players know their bodies best and sometimes they can plow through fatigue albeit risking a more severe injury (ex. overload) that could sideline them for a longer period of time. Therefore, players take the precautionary route, subbing themselves out and hoping to be available for the team soon. Coaches also welcome this honest strategy with open arms as fatigue is not always conspicuous. That said, if the outcome of the game does not go as intended for the team, the coach can always claim that the “unexpected” subs impacted initial technical/tactical game plans.
Tactical Reset Opportunity
A brief pause before a substitution allows a team to regroup. This strategy is characterized by the physio jogging on to the field but no treatment occurs. Since the sport is designed to have very few pauses for coaching, this brief pause provides the coach time to shout instructions from the sideline to specific players. It is intended to have the following effects:
The manager can use the break to relay tactical instructions to several players.
The incoming substitute gets more time to warm up or receive final guidance.
Pep Guardiola is the master of this strategy. In Guardiola Manchester City’s system controlled pauses are gold. Players often blatantly sit down just before a tactical substitution late in matches. It’s rarely coincidental — Guardiola uses these moments to reorganize his press or formation. The physio goes on, but the real value is the 30-second team huddle at the touchline.
If the opponent has momentum (sustained attacks or pressing high) a pause can interrupt their flow. This strategy often occurs after the opposing team has just missed a big chance or started dominating possession. It is intended to have the following effects:
The emotional and physical rhythm of the attacking team is broken.
The defending side can reset shape and composure.
This strategy is very common in competitive matches where one goal is all that is needed to achieve a milestone (ex. win, tie, advancing to next phase) and it’s exacerbated if the team needing to score is continuously applying offensive pressure. The team on the defensive stance often resorts to this strategy to defuse momentum while catching a breather. In the 2023 U20 Men’s World Cup matches, US Coach Mikey Varas instructed Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina to go down late in the second half of most games. This pause would allow Coach Varas and staff to talk to the group. A player substitution was not always conducted.
Cynical / Theatrical Gamesmanship
In some competitions or teams, it’s a deliberate part of “dark arts” (subtle manipulation of the game). This strategy is characterized by a player dramatically sitting or lying down right before their number goes up for a substitution, then sprints off the pitch seconds later. It is intended to have the following effects:
Delays play.
Allows tactical conversations.
Sends a message that the player gave “everything” and is being replaced only because of that “effort.”
An excellent example of this strategy is Atlético de Madrid’s Coach – Diego Simeone. When Atlético are defending a late lead, players often “cramp up” in sync. A player goes down dramatically just before being replaced burning seconds and slowing opponents’ tempo significantly. Pundits call Simenone’s strategy “masterful gamesmanship” acknowledging it as part of a systemic tactical culture which include time-wasting, tactical fouls, simulating injuries, sideline theatrics, and using psychological tactics to frustrate opponents. This approach has earned Atlético the reputation of being masters of “shithousery” and made them one of the most difficult teams to play against in Europe. Diego Simeone transferred his shithousery as a player and perfected the art as a coach.
Preemptive Injury Precaution
Sometimes a player feeling slight tightness or discomfort (ex. hamstring twinge) may go down to prevent worsening it. This scenario is common late in matches or congested fixture schedules. It is intended to have the following effect:
Even if it’s not a true injury, it’s a protective signal — “I felt something; better to come off now.”
It is similar to fatigue but with potential longer lasting effects. Explosive players like Kylian Mbappé who are prone to injuries have used this strategy often. At PSG, Mbappé would gesture discomfort and would sit down before being subbed off. In reality, he was not injured but felt tightness in his hamstring — later confirmed by the manager as precautionary. It’s common for players who partake in multiple matches a week to “go down” preemptively to avoid aggravating micro-injuries. Knowing your body is instrumental for a longer and healthier career in any sport.
In summary, when a player collapses before a substitution without being truly injured, it’s usually about controlling tempo, face-saving, or tactical delay — not deception in the malicious sense, but part of the gamecraft that elite players and managers use to influence moments and margins. In practice, these strategies are used widely not just by elite players but all the way down to the amateur level.
Hope you found this post useful. If you have any suggestions or topics you want discussed, please reach out to info@thegomezway.com. #TGW
It has been a while since I last posted, and I will keep this one brief. After having watched the 2nd group game of Chile’s U20 Men’s World Cup tonight, I was still craving an additional football fix when I suddenly stumbled upon a mid-week USL Championship match between Birmingham Legion vs North Carolina FC.
While I only caught the last 20 or so minutes of it, it was extremely gratifying to see four former FC Dallas academy products going against each other in the same game. I don’t recall ever witnessing such phenomenon after our boys left the FC Dallas organization. On the North Carolina FC side, Thomas Roberts and Jaden Servania (both 2001 born and pictured below) played with Johan in the FC Dallas academy and the US National Team setup for several years. The memories (and the places they visited around the world) are countless.
On the Birmingham Legion side, Ronaldo Damus (2000 born) and Erik Centeno (2002 born) both played with Jonathan during his North Texas SC time and his last FC Dallas academy season respectively. Jonathan also had the brief pleasure of playing with Thomas during the summer of 2019 as they conquered the first USL championship. While Johan also played with Ronaldo that same summer on the North Texas SC team, his time was cut short due to his departure to pursue European opportunities with Porto.
What’s even more unique about these four former FC Dallas academy players is that none of them are either native Texans or lived in Texas prior to joining the FC Dallas system. They all moved to the Dallas Fort Worth area to pursue football, and none reside in the area now. Ronaldo Damus is a native of Haiti, Thomas Roberts is from Little Rock Arkansas, Jaden Servania is from Birmingham, Alabama, and Erik Centeno is from California. Football not only takes you to new and unique places, but always has a way to re-unite people.
Not relevant at all but the game ended in a dramatic 1-1 tie with a last-minute assist by none other than right fullback Erik Centeno who was going against Jaden Servania. Fun fact: North Carolina FC’s roster also includes North Texas SC and FC Dallas alumni: Mikey Maldonado and Jacori Hayes.
Edit: Johan made me aware that a fifth FC Dallas Academy product: Kameron Lacey (2001 born) and Florida native is also part of the Birmingham Legion roster but probably out injured now. Likely the reason why he wasn’t part of tonight’s roster.
Our boys are proud of their former teammates who continue to pursue football professionalism, but most importantly continue enjoying “the beautiful game”. Every player’s path is different, and their ephemeral journey is one to enjoy every day…to more football anecdotes…#theGomezway
As the parent of two young Mexican-American football players competing professionally in Europe. We have walked the winding, often unpredictable road of raising aspiring athletes. We have watched two boys -and a girl- chase a shared dream across cities, states, and continents. And, if there’s one truth we have learned along the way, it is that talent is just the beginning.
Natural ability on and off the ball matters a lot, but talent alone is never enough to reach the professional level. If you are a parent supporting a young football player with big dreams (who isn’t?), there are critical traits often unseen on the stat sheet that are just as important, if not more so, than raw skill.
Let me walk you through some key traits that make the difference between good, and better, and how you as a parent, can help nurture them. These traits apply to many sports. In fact, they apply to many walks of life.
Growth Mindset: Belief that ability can improve
Kids who believe that abilities can be developed (rather than fixed) are more likely to seek challenges and persist through difficulties. Those who are disciplined to enhance existing abilities and develop new ones have a greater chance of success. A few years ago, during COVID, I wrote this article about a growth mindset and GRIT. It is still very valid…
How parents can help: Avoid labeling your child as a “natural” or saying they were “born talented”. Instead, say thinks like, “You worked hard on that move” or “Your improvement in passing really shows your dedication.”.
Resilience: The art of bouncing back
Lack of playing time, injury, cuts from teams, and bad performances are all part of the journey. What separates those who make it from those who do not is the ability to bounce back: resilience.
How parents can help: Do not shield your child from failures; help them process it. Encourage honest reflection and foster a home environment where setbacks are viewed as learning experiences, not the end of the road.
Grit: The power of passion + perseverance
Coined by psychologist Angela Duckworth, “grit” is a blend of sustained passion and long-term effort. Gritty players keep pushing when the initial motivation fades (ex. during cold practices, bench time, and long travel days).
How parents can help: Praise effort, not just results. Celebrate the process and remind your child that every hour on the pitch (even the tough ones) is an investment in their in their dream.
Perseverance: Sticking with it, even when it’s hard
This goes hand-in-hand with grit. Whether it’s staying motivated through long seasons, navigating coaching changes, or being away from home, perseverance is key.
How parents can help: Offer emotional consistency. Your child needs to know that your love and support don’t depend on performance. Let your home be their anchor.
Passion: The internal drive that fuels the fire
You can’t fake passion. Kids who truly love the game will play when no one’s watching (integrity), train when no one asks, and watch matches with intent to learn.
Close up of a female soccer team celebrating a scored goal
How parents can help: Don’t force the dream. Let your child lead the way. Your role is to support their passion, not to manufacture it.
Sacrifice: Giving up to go up
Becoming a professional footballer requires difficult choices. Social events, free time, and even traditional schooling paths might need to be adjusted to support elite training and competition.
How parents can help: Model sacrifice in your own life and frame it positively. Teach your child to value long-term goals over short-term pleasures. Make sure the sacrifices align with their dreams and not just yours.
Adaptability: Thriving in constant change
A pro football journey is short and often means new teams, new coaches, new countries, and new languages. Adaptability is what keeps players steady in the face of uncertainty.
How parents can help: Encourage independence from an early age. Let your child handle adversity and discomfort. International tournaments, cultural exchanges, or short stints away from home can be powerful preparation.
Coachability: Willingness to learn and change
Even the most gifted players will not succeed without taking feedback and applying it. Humility and openness to learning are crucial.
How parents can help: Model a growth-oriented attitude toward learning in your own life. Encourage respectful relationships with coaches. Help your child reflect after games or sessions, rather than rushing in with critiques.
The Journey is Yours
As a parent, your role isn’t to scout the perfect club, hire the best trainer, or push your child harder. Your job is to guide, support , believe and to help your child develop the traits that will serve them not only in football but in life.
Big Journeys Begin With Small Steps sign
Professional football is a narrow path, but it is NOT reserved for the most naturally gifted. It is open to those who are relentless, resilient, disciplined, and ready for the long haul. Help your child become one of them.
Please reach out if you have topics you would like us to expand on. #theGomezway
And just like that, the first quarter of this century has banished and we start the next one..as anticipated in the 2023 in hindsight for the Gomez’s publication, this year needed to have a decreased emphasis on traveling and a pronounced focus on health and that’s what we did. In the process, we managed to partake in a few running races.
On the other hand, our “eyes” did not anticipate witnessing much beyond sports but as luck would have it, not only did we witness our 2nd full Solar Eclipse (first in 1990 in Mexico City) but also witnessed our first Space X launch (with its booster catch included) live. These events will live in our hearts forever.
Spacex launch prep V: 10.13.24
This year also marked the beginning of an action packed football (soccer) events leading up to the 2026 Men’s and 2027 Women’s World Cups respectively. The first half of the year was benevolent with our family while the second half tested our resilience. This is how our year went down…
January
Personal
The year started strong for Joana in football. Her club team captured the first championship Showcase they participated in Florida.
Joana – College ShowCase
On January 12th, we traveled to Orlando for Joana’s first out of town showcase tournament. Four days later, and after five 80-minutes games played, her team returned home with the championship hardware.
National
On January 9th, the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies (who had in turn defeated my longhorns) by a score of 34-13 in the NCAA National Championship game played at the Cowboys AT&T stadium in Arlington, Texas (our backyard).
Global
Tennis
On January 27th, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka won the 2024 women’s Australian Open defeating Chinese sensation Zheng Qinwen in straight sets. In 2023, she had also won the prestigious tournament. If you haven’t read her story, I encourage you to do so.
On January 28th, after being down to Daniil Medvedev the first two sets 3-6, 3-6. Italian 22 year-old Jannik Sinner took the next three sets in an epic comeback to win his first Men’s Grand Slam: the Australian Open. In the semifinals, he had previously defeated Novak Djokovik. Jannik Sinner would go on to win the US Open in September. Unfortunately for Medvedev, he has lost a total of 6 Grand Slam finals portrayed below.
Grand Slam finals lost by Daniil Medvedev
Football
On January 5th, shortly after the one year anniversary of Pele’s death (December 29th, 2022), the world of football suffered another great loss as Brazilian legend Mário Lobo Zagallo died at age 93. The “Lobo” is the winningest footballer having won the FIFA World Cup four times. He won it in 1958 and 1962 as a player, he won it again in 1970 as a manager and in 1994 as assistant manager. He was the first of three footballers to have won the Men’s FIFA World Cup as player and manager. The other two are Frenchman Didier Deschamps and German Franz Beckenbauer.
On January 8th, the world of football legends suffered yet another great loss as German superstar Franz Bekenbauer died at age 78. The “kaiser” (the emperor) as he was known not only won the 1974 FIFA World Cup as captain of his national team but he also won it as a manager in 1990 in Italy. He started his career playing as a midfielder but his best years occurred while playing as a central defender.
February
Personal
After a long and arduous document gathering process, I traveled to Spain to ensure all paperwork was properly handled and submitted.
National
The Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest wildfire on record in the state of Texas (and second in the US up to that point) burned 1.1 million acres (approximately 426,600 hectares). It started on February 26 in Hutchinson County and rapidly spread across multiple counties. Governor Gregg Abbott declared it a national emergency.
Global
Superbowl
On February 11th, while in Germany visiting Johan, the Kansas City Chiefs rallied to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime by a score of 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII (58th). Texas native (and neighbor) Patrick Mahomes was named, for the second straight year, the MVP of the game. The Chiefs became back to back Super Bowl Champions and started what some predict could become a dynasty.
The halftime show, featuring Rihanna, reached a high of 118.7 million viewers. As usual, the commercials stole “the show”.
March
March was a month full of basketball record breaking events.
Personal
U23 – US Olympic Soccer
Johan was called for the third consecutive time to the U23 US National team in preparation for the Summer Olympics in Paris 2023. Jonathan was also called; however, once again, CD Mirandés’ Sporting Director did not release him.
Note: CD Mirandés was in the middle of a close race to retain the class. When asked about the lack of a release, Sporting Director Alfredo Merino stated that he could grant Jonathan the release in exchange for a signed pre-contract with Mirandés for the 2024-2025 season (which RS would have had to approve anyway). We of course, opted to sacrifice the U23 call-up (and possibly the Olympics) on account of not getting in trouble with Real Sociedad. Truth be told, the experience with CD Mirandés has been the best so far in Europe. We would go back there any day.
After a solid season in her second year of varsity, Joana made the All-State 1st team as a sophomore.
National
The month was marked by record breaking events. Side note: Ironically, we normally end up talking about the March Madness conclusion in April.
Basketball
On March 7th, after winning back to back national women’s basketball association (NWBA) championships in 2022 and 2023, the Las Vegas Aces, announced that the entire 2024 season had been sold out. This is unprecedented in league history.
Caitlin Clark
On March 1, Caitlin Clark breaks the all-time NCAA Division I college basketball career scoring record that had been held by Pete Maravich with 3,685 points She proceeded to shatter the record in her senior year amassing a total of 3951 points and 548 three-pointers leading all D1 (men’s and women’s) programs. She decided to forego a fifth year of eligibility (due to COVID in 2019) to declare for the WNBA draft.
Global
On March 2nd, Lebron James becomes the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points against the Denver Nuggets.
April
Personal
On April, 20th, Johan scored an important goal against Vfl Osnabruk to help his club be in the hunt to preserve the class in the 2.Bundesliga. Being his first season in the German second division, his playing time (and production) was always impactful starting most games in multiple positions. Most importantly, he did not sustain any major injuries which is always the priority as a professional player.
National
March Madness
On April 8th, the 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament came to an end. UConn defended its 2023 title by defeating the Purdue Boilmakers by a score of 75 to 60 (2023 score was 76 to 59) to claim the 2024 NCAA national title.
This was the 6th championship for the Huskies men’s basketball program. As a side note, my running horns made it to the Round of 32 before collapsing against the other orange guys: The University of Tennessee.
Global
Solar Eclipse
On April 8th, I got to witness the second fully solar eclipse in my life. Back on July 11th, 1990 in Mexico City, I had witnessed the first one but this one was more special as I witnessed it with family.
May
Personal
Eintracht Braunschweig:
On May 12th, in a must-win game, Eintracht Braunschweig retained the Bundesliga.2 class by beating SV Wehen Wiesbaden by a score of 1-0. After a first long arduous season playing in the 2nd division in Germany, Johan secured playing with the club another year which in June was extended given his good form.
ECNL:
Joana’s team finished the 2023 – 2024 in first place once again. She continued her soccer maturity and high school soccer helped a lot. Her minutes and contributions were solid. We are very proud of the footballer she’s becoming.
On May 19th, the final day of the season, Manchester City beat West Ham United 3–1 at home to become the first club in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles. They won the title with 91 points – two points ahead of their title rivals Arsenal, who defeated Everton 2–1 at home. Arsenal finished runners-up with 89 points, becoming the third-best second-placed team in the history of the Premier League.
June
The beginning of the second half of the year started out in a brutal way for the family.
Personal
Mirandés:
On June 2nd, Jogo played his last game of the season where CD Mirandés secured the class. In a home game of “winner retains the class”, Mirandés defeated SD Amorebieta by the score of 1-0 and guaranteed another year in the 2nd division in Spain.
Joana
Joana tore her ACL in her second game of the ECNL playoffs. After surgery (almost a month later), she was told the expected recovery time was about 6 – 9 months. Our summer plans changed radically but more so her soccer year and just like that, the road to recovery started…no pain, no gain.
National
NBA
On June 17th, in the fifth game of the NBA finals, the Boston Celtics defeated our hometown team the Dallas Mavericks. It was a carbon copy of the 2023 finals where the Denver Nuggets also won the NBA finals over the Miami Heat in five games. As most would expect, Serbian center Nikola Jokic was named MVP of the finals.
MLB
On June 18th, the world of baseball lost one of the greatest athletes to have ever played the game. Willie Mays, passed away in his home in California due to a heart failure.
Global
On June 9th, Carlitos Alcaraz won his first major of the year: French Open. Despite winning two major Grand Slams in 2024 (including Wimbledon), the year finished in a frustrating manner after losing the Olympics final to Novak Djokovic, and being knocked out early of the US Open.
July
Personal
Paris Olympics
Johan was selected to the 22-men roster for the US Olympic soccer team. I traveled to Marseille, France to meet up with him (for his birthday mostly) for the first two group stage games. (Un)fortunately, that’s what his club allowed him to participate in. It was a magnificent experience playing against the host nation for the opening game and witnessing the atmosphere live.
National
On July 14th, Argentina won the Copa America for a 16th time. This time, the defending champions defeated Colombia in overtime by a score of 1-0. The final game was played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami under a complete lack of logistical organization.
Global
President Trump
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump, back then the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election, survived an assassination attempt while speaking at an open-air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania
Euros
On July 14th, the football world was paralyzed to watch the Euro final between Spain and England in Germany. In a highly close match, Spain eventually prevailed by a score of 2-1. In the 86th minute of the game, then Jogo’s Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Oyarzabal scored the match winner giving Spain its 2nd Euro Cup.
August
Personal
There were offers that came in from some Liga Mx clubs for Jogo whose value artificially inflated his market value. Those immediately impacted Real Sociedad Sporting Director’s (Roberto Olabe) greed and future for Jogo. After a successful pre-season with the first team which included a tour in Japan; it was evident that first team Coach along with Roberto were seeking financial remuneration prior to Jogo’s last contract year. As a result, Jogo expressed his desire to continue in the Spanish market; however, Roberto blocked the offers that did come in from La Liga 2 clubs mostly and a couple from La Liga, thus forcing Jogo to look elsewhere. When Jogo refused to return to Mexico, Roberto made his (and other players such as Roberto Navarro under a similar situation) lives miserable.
Roberto Olabe (Sporting Director), Imanol Alguacil (Head Coach) and Jokim Aperribay (President). Three characters…
We are very grateful with Real Sociedad as the club provided Jogo his first European opportunity. In the end, we know that people come and go and clubs endure the passage of time. Some people however, can certainly impact a club’s reputation. Greed is a horrible thing…
Right before the market closed in September, Olabe finally allowed (thanks to a hefty transfer fee paid by PAOK FC), a transfer to an unimaginable league for us, but at last, escaped Roberto’s constant abuse of players who didn’t align with his financial initiatives. Currently, we are still struggling to find our footing in a foreign market that we were forced into.
On August 25th, the Columbus Crew defeated Los Angeles FC (3-1) to win the 4th edition of the Leagues Cup. For the second consecutive year using this format, an MLS club prevailed over Liga MX clubs.
Global
Olympics:
On August 11th, the Paris 2024 Olympics came to an end. It was an unforgettable month of sports with many memories made. Here is the final medal tally.
Among the most notable moments were these: The inagural ceremony at the Rhine river on a rainy Friday night, Nadal vs Djokovik match, Simon Biles, Photo finish, etc.
September
Personal
On my 20th anniversary officiating football, Joana and I repeated what the boys and I did several years earlier: we officiated a (albeit rec) game together. As I had anticipated last year in the end-of-year publication. Joana decided to partake in the game from a different perspective.
National
On Saturday, September 7th, 2nd ranked Aryna Sabalenka won her second Grand Slam of the year (third overall) by beating American-Korean 6th ranked Jessica Pegula in straight sets (7-5, 7-5)
On Sunday, September 8th, Jannik Sinner defeated American sensation Taylor Fritz further delaying having an American win the Meadows Grand Slam for yet another year. The US Open became Sinner’s second Slam of the year (and career).
Surprisingly, Jannik defeated Fritz in three straight sets making the match one of the shortest ones in recent history: 6-3, 6-4, and 7-5.
Global
On September 19th, Japanese two-way (pitcher and designated player) baseball player Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to record a 50-50 (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases) in one season. Ohtani would continue his impact in the month of October helping the Los Angeles Dodgers reach and play through the post-season.
October
Personal
Space X
On October 13th around 7:25 AM, we witnessed history in the making in South Padre Island. The successful launch of the fifth SpaceX Starship was a feat in itself; however, the most amazing experience was witnessing the successful return of its booster back to its launch base where it had taken off five minutes prior. Relive it here where every detail is explained.
Meanwhile, the ship continued its way around earth and re-entered the atmosphere to land in the Indian Ocean.
Greek Super League
Jogo made his official Greece Super League (and European first division) debut on October, 6th in an away game against Levadiakos. Paok FC defeated the home team by a score of 2-0. In October, Jogo also debuted in the Greece Cup (round of 16) on October 30th. This is the 2nd country where he professionally partakes of the Cup competition -Copa del Rey). In this game, Paok FC prevailed over Egaleo by a score of 3-0 with a solid showing.
National
On October 23rd, Lebron James (39) and his son Bronny (20) made history by becoming the first father and son to play in an NBA game together. The duo shared the court for about 150 seconds. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 120-113.
Global
Tennis:
On October 11th, 38th year old Rafael Nadal announced that the Davis Cup in the month of November would be his last tournament before retirement.
Commonly known as the king of clay due to his dominance on that surface, Nadal climbed up to the #1 ATP world ranking for the first time by defeating friend and rival Roger Federer in the epic 2008 Wimbledon final. This match is commonly regarded as the greatest tennis match ever played.
On October 30th, the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame an 0-5 deficit in game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium to win the game 7-6. In doing so, they swept the series to win their 8th World Series and first one since 2020.
This took place a couple of days before recently deceased Mexican former LA pitcher’s Fernando Valenzuela’s birthday on November 1st. What a gift had it been if the Dodgers had won on his birthday.
November
Personal
Johan had his first assist (somewhat fortuitous) of the 24-24 season. Going into the 2nd FIFA break of the 2024-2025 season, at the time, Eintracht Braunschweig was located just outside of the relegation zone and playing well.
National
On November 14th, the USMNT defeated Jamaica (1-) in the first leg of the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Nations League. In the second leg a few days later, the USMNT won 4-2. In the semifinal game, the USMNT will face Panama.
Meanwhile, the Mexican national team narrowly defeated Honduras by an aggregate score of 4-2. In the first leg, Mexico lost 2-0 and many thought the team would not make it to the semifinals to be played in March 2025.
Global
On Tuesday November 5th (Super Tuesday), the US people (and the electoral college) elected Donald Trump as the 47th president of the US. Now President elect Donald Trump (with his running mate JD Vance) defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by a large margin: 312 – 226 (270 are needed to win). Trump’s victory defied two assassination attempts, two presidential impeachments, his criminal conviction and many other criminal charges. He is expected to take office January 20th.
December
Individual
The family traveled to Germany and Greece to visit the boys for Thanksgiving. Many memories were made.
National
MLS
On December 7th, LA Galaxy (with ex-FC Dallas players Edwin Cerrillo and John Nelson) defeated the New York Red Bulls by a score of 2-1.
NCAA D1 Women’s
On December 9th, in Cary North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels defeated first time finalist Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the D1 College Cup Championship. The Tar Heels have won 23 of the 43 editions of the College Cup.
NCAA D1 Men’s
On December 16th, in Cary, North Carolina, the University of Vermont Catamounts defeated Marshall University Thundering (winners in 2022) with a golden goal by a score of 2-1 to claim their first ever NCAA Division 1 Men’s soccer college cup. The game was high in emotions but low on technical level.
Global
POTUS:
On December 29th, Jimmy Carter (39th president of the United States), passed away peacefully at his home in California. In his attempt for re-election going against Ronald Reagan (VP George W. Bush) in 1980, Carter’s 49 electoral votes were the second-fewest for an incumbent president seeking reelection, with only William Howard Taft in the 1912 presidential election defeated more decisively. Jimmy Carter is the only president to have reached 100 years of age. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
F1
On December 8th, Dutch driver Max Verstappen finishes 6th in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to claim his 4th consecutive World F1 title.
FIFA
On December 11th, FIFA announces that Morocco, Portugal and Spain will jointly host the Men’s 2030 World Cup, with anniversary matches to be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia is confirmed as the host for the Men’s 2034 World Cup.
2025:
As stated a year ago, our intent was to expand our blog coverage to include more content about Joana. We did just that for the first six months prior to her ACL injury. As she recovers, we’ll pick that up this year.
Now that we have some months of recovery time, we have continued to try to pick up where she left off. She’s beginning to take the sport to a different level this upcoming year.
In December, Jogo purchased his first new car in the states just to have when he’s in town. Although rarely, car conflicts do arise when everyone is in town especially now that Joana became an official driver. I will take good care of it for you buddy 😉
Please reach out for any topics you would like addressed #theGomezway.
BTW, if you made it this far, you probably find our content useful or relevant. As a non-profit website managed by one person, we can use your donation to continue the work of growing the sport in this country. Please consider donating to support the infrastructure costs to upkeep this website.
As any footballer playing in a foreign country would attest, the acquisition of new documentation in the new country is the first step to the start of “the new life”. See, shortly after Jogo’s arrival in Spain in the early part of 2022, there was an utmost need to acquire all sorts of new forms of identifications (work permit, padrón, NIE, etc.). Similarly and although not required, the need to get from point A to point B quickly became a pressing issue.
Relying on transportation from others the first few months was a suggested strategy by the club to meet new teammates, staff, etc. and it worked. However, the time quickly came to exercise his Texan driving skills in a new country. It was then that the acquisition of a a Spanish driver’s license became a must have. As surprising as this may sound, this is not a process that the player agent (and to a lesser extent the club) will assist with. Thus, Jogo embarked on this “optional” process alone.
The legal driving age in Spain is 18 years of age so at least that never represented a problem for Jogo as he arrived in Spain a few months after his 18th birthday. In the US, he had been driving for at least 3 years. It’s worth noting that anyone over 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license from their country can legally drive in Spain for up to six months (a year with an International Driving Permit -translation of the US license). I wrote about the IDP I used in France and how I got it recently. However, after that before that grace period (6 months to 12 months) expires, the player must start the process of acquiring a Spanish driver’s license.
Duration
As one can imagine, there are several factors that directly impact the process duration. For a Spanish speaker, expect anywhere between three to six months window for a player to have the physical driver’s license. This period can easily double for a non-Spanish speaker as explained below. Other non-trivial factors potentially prolonguing the process duration include city of residence (larger cities tend to fewer available appointment dates to take tests), number of times a particular test (theoretical/practical) is retaken, holidays, learning aptitude, autoescuela chosen, desire to pass, etc. . Worst case if everything goes south the period can be between 1 – 2 years.
Process
Just like in the United States, a theoretical/written exam has to be passed before proceeding with a practical/driving one. There are several requirements to take the practical one (ex. vehicle, insurance, etc.). There are two ways to embark on the process: 1. Por libre (on your own) or 2. Sign up for a driving school (aka “autoescuela”). Most Spaniards sign up for a driving school as they can help the applicant navigate the built-in bureaucracy and allow you to focus on studying and passing the exams.
Select a driving school / “autoescuela”
If you go this route, do your research. The selection of an autoescuela is extremely important as it can easily add/reduce months to the process if the correct choices (language, type of cars, etc.) are selected at the beginning of the process. The autoescuela takes care of managing your case before the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) and registering the applicant for the pertinent exams and tests.
Language
If you are not a fluent reader and speaker of the Spanish language, it’s imperative that you find an autoescuela that offers instruction in English; it can make all the difference. Jogo is fluent in “Mexican” Spanish so he used a Spanish autoescuela which is also less expensive but wasn’t a walk in the park either.
Automatic / Manual transmission
If you are not comfortable with a manual transmission, find an autoescuela that has cars with automatic transmission. Otherwise, each practice run will be more about learning to drive a manual transmission and less about learning how to drive in Spain. The cost for an autoescuela that has automatic transmission cars is more expensive.
Note: If you take (and pass) the exam with an automatic transmission vehicle, legally, you can only drive an automatic car in Spain
Theoretical/Written Exam
The written exam is a 30 question test. Each exam (the theoretical or the practical) can only be taken twice for the same price. If either exam test can only be failed once without an additional fee. If a test if failed more than once, the same fee has to be paid again.
Declaration stating that there are no suspensions or legal cases preventing the applicant from driving
Declaration stating that applicant does not alreay hold a similar license
Practical/Driving Exam
The test is probably harder for experienced drivers because you are used to driving in a certain way. “Teaching an old dog new tricks”. For Jogo, it was easy. He passed the first time.
Examiners will be looking for how transmission gears are shifted, how many times the mirrors were checked, whether one hesitates in a particular situation, or if unnecessary risks were assumed.
Cost
Acquiring a driver’s license in Spain can be steep Here is a high view breakdown. Prices depend on location with larger cities being normally more expensive but offering more choices. Keep in mind that it’s an estimate but it should provide a fair idea of overall costs.
Autoescuela registration – €30 – €200
Physical/Mental exam – €50 (sometimes covered in the registration if the high end of the spectrum is paid)
Theory/Written Test – €92 (times however many times you need to re-take it)
Autoescuela classes – €20 – €30 each or a bundle of 20 for about €500
Practice/Driving test – €125 (times however many times you need to re-take it)
The process is lengthy and can be overwhelming especially for a footballer whose training/games schedules limit their ability to conclude certain activities. Our suggestion is to treat each step as a small process. Celebrate the smallest victories which will eventually lead you to the successful conclusion of the entire process. Recognize that there are a lot of factors that can potentially impact the duration and prepare accordingly. In the end, if the acquisition is a true necessity, the footballer will overcome each obstacle and ultimately obtain the driver’s license. Depending on urgency to get it, one can take as long as possible. Some folks never get one and rely on public transportation instead. This seems to work better if living in bigger cities where car ownership (gas, parking, insurance) cost is also high.
If you have any other topics you’d like to hear about, please write at info@thegomezway.com. Until next time #theGomezway
We are very fortunate that football often takes us to new places around the globe. However, traveling to each location presents its own challenges (ex. cultural, geographic, political, financial, etc.) and pre-departure research is a must to make the trip a success. No complains, each trip leave us with lessons learned and anecdotes to share and a higher sense of appreciation for our home.
A few days ago, I returned home from visiting Johan with the US Olympic team in Marseille, France. We learned a few things that we hope you find useful for your next trip abroad (France and Spain specifically)
In the past, we had rented a car in Spain and Germany exclusively using our US driver’s license; however, we had never rented a car in France nor had the need to drive across to a different country (Spain) which called for additional requirements.
I rented a 2024 FIAT for the second time this year. This one was automatic transmission.
Some websites list an International Driving Permit (IDP) -which is a translation of your US driver’s license- as a requirement to rent and drive a car in Spain yet we never needed one but we have heard some stories… Based on our research, we found that we needed the IDP in France. The IDP (pictured below) can be obtained in the United States at selected AARP locations (and online) and best of all, it can be issued the same day. It costs about $20 (plus cost of 2 passport pictures that can be purchased at Walgreens/CVS).
While in France, I needed to drive up north to Donostia, Spain to visit Jogo. Thus, if one plans to travel outside of France, additional insurance coverage is needed. It is probably best to pay for this insurance upon physically acquiring the car at the counter. For Hertz, I was able to secure international insurance for an additional $20 for my entire trip (about 10 days) for the car above.
As it turned out, when I reached the counter at the Hertz office in Marseille, they informed me that the IDP was “nice to have” but not really a requirement. Therefore, if you plan to rent a car in France, do what you deem necessary. In this case, we ended up erring on the side of caution. Either way, check the rules/guidelines before your trip abroad.
Once I rented the car, it’s worth noting the number of toll roads across France. It’s convenient to carry cash to pay these tolls (about 100 euros from Marseille to Donostia). In any case, the trip was a succes in France and Spain and we’ll be returning soon.
I hope this information helps somebody. Until next time #theGomezway
With the proliferation of instant response online mechanisms such as Siri/Alexa, search engines, ChatGPT, etc., everybody is only a voice command/click away from becoming a football (aka soccer) expert; however, there are some aspects of the beautiful game that are not as simple as just “GTS”ing (Google that stuff) information. To aid in understanding one of the most fundamental principles of the game, we decided to put together a mapping of the original football jersey #’s to field positions based on the 4-4-2 formation (depicted below). It is of utmost importance to understand that the variations of the original 4-4-2 formation have forced the original jersey #’s to relocate positions on the field and in most cases even be altered field position names from their original intents back in 1924.
As a bonus of this exercise, we added a little Mexican Spanish translation to it. Here is a quick summary of a translation of football (soccer) positions between United States English and Mexican Spanish. Note: Some terms are “South-American” Spanish derived:
Position # (varies by country)
English name (Abbreviation)
Spanish name
Alternative Spanish names
#1
Goalkeeper (GK) Keeper Goalie
Portero
Arquero Guarda meta Guarda-vallas
#2
Right fullback (RB)
Lateral derecho (LD)
Marcador de Punta derecho
#3
Left fullback (LB)
Lateral izquierdo (LI)
Marcador de Punta izquierdo
#4
Center back (CB)
Zaguero central derecho
Barredora
#5*
Center back (CB)
Zaguero central izquierdo
Libero
#6
Defensive Midfielder (DM)
Contención
Pivote
#7
Right Winger (RW)
Extremo derecho
Volante derecho
#8
Center Midfielder (CM)
Medio centro
Volante mixto
#9
Striker Center Forward (CF)
Centro Delantero (CD)
Ariete Punta
#10
Center Attacking Midfielder (CAM)
Enganche
Medio Creativo Media Punta
#11
Left Winger (LW)
Extremo izquierdo
Volante izquierdo
Positions by jersey number and name
*In Mexico (and all of South America), the typical North American #6 is called a #5.
For an explanation of the main duties (in English) of these positions. See here. At a later point, I may provide a mapping of jersey #s to field positions for other formations such as the 5-3-2 or 4-2-3-1 or other variations.
With so much football going on this summer, we have neglected posting as often. We’ll try to regain our normal pace the second half of the year. Meanwhile, if you have suggestions on topics you would like discussed, let us know. #theGomezway
Gratitude is a trait we have tried to instill in our children from an early age; they were blessed to have attended a Christian school where even when we “failed” at home, they were constantly reminded that among other life values, humility and gratitude are paramount in life.
As part of becoming professional players, they quickly realized that they were granted a special gift that impacts football fans. Often, they make it a point to show their appreciation when a situation warrants it. As parents, we proudly observe their growth off and on the field but also join them in thanking those who constantly support them especially those who are present in the good, the bad, and the ugly…
It is gratifying to see the boys interacting with kiddos…our children, were not too long ago *there*. We now understand that it’s impossible to ‘satisfy’ all fans requests but our boys strive to…it’s a task…
#TheGomezway 