Obed Vargas
Obed Gomez Vargas (born August 5, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Obed Gomez Vargas[1] | ||
| Date of birth | August 5, 2005[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cook Inlet SC | |||
| 2019–2021 | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | Tacoma Defiance | 28 | (0) |
| 2021– | Seattle Sounders FC | 47 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | United States U20 | 9 | (0) |
| 2023– | United States U23 | 2 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 18, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 16, 2023 | |||
Club career edit
Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Vargas began his career with Cook Inlet Soccer Club before moving to Washington and joining the youth academy for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.[2][3] He played in the academy for two seasons before signing a professional contract with Sounders FC reserve side Tacoma Defiance on May 7, 2021.[4] A couple days later, on May 9, Vargas made his senior debut for Tacoma Defiance in the USL Championship against LA Galaxy II. He started and played 66 minutes as the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[5]
He made his MLS debut for Seattle on July 22, 2021, as one of several Tacoma Defiance players called up to the Sounders for a match against Austin FC to replace injured players. At 15 years and 351 days old, Vargas was the third-youngest player in MLS history.[2] He signed a formal Homegrown Player contract with the Sounders in December and became a starter for the team in the first matches of the 2022 season, playing in two CONCACAF Champions League fixtures. Head coach Brian Schmetzer described Vargas' play style as similar to that of Cristian Roldan's rookie season, adding he was "going to be a tremendous player for our club".[6] He was an early substitute in the second leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final, which the Sounders won 3–0.[7]
Vargas made 13 appearances through late June, when a stress facture in his back prevented him from continuing with the team. He was also unable to join the under-20 national team in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[8] Vargas returned for the 2023 season but played in few matches.[9] He scored his first career MLS goal on April 30, 2024, against the Philadelphia Union, in a match that was originally started a month earlier but postponed due to heavy rain.[10]
International career edit
In March 2020, Vargas was selected to participate in the United States national under-15 team camp.[11] He was called up by the United States national under-20 team in January 2022.[6]
On October 8, 2023, Vargas was called up to the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan.[12]
Personal life edit
Vargas is of Mexican descent and holds dual American and Mexican citizenship. His father played for the youth academy of Monarcas Morelia; his younger brother and two sisters also play soccer.[6][13]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of match played May 18, 2024[14]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tacoma Defiance | 2021 | USL | 28 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2021 | MLS | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | MLS | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | MLS | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2024 | MLS | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 47 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 75 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 88 | 1 | ||
- ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
- ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
- ^ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
Honors edit
Seattle Sounders FC
References edit
- ^ a b c "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Bragg, Beth (July 24, 2021). "15-year-old Anchorage boy starts for Seattle Sounders to make Major League Soccer history". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ "Sulte signs contract with Major League Soccer team in Portland". Alaska Sports Hall. November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ Foss, Tim (May 7, 2021). "Defiance add two Academy products". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "LA Galaxy II 1–1 Tacoma Defiance". Soccerway.
- ^ a b c Evans, Jayda (March 10, 2022). "16-year-old Obed Vargas playing like a veteran already with Sounders". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ Creditor, Avi (May 4, 2022). "Seattle Ends MLS's CCL Futility, Routs Pumas to Win Concacaf's Title". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Liljenwall, Ari (June 24, 2022). "Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas sidelined "multiple weeks" with back injury". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Oshan, Jeremiah (February 15, 2024). "Obed Vargas willing to bide time after disappointing end to 2023". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (April 30, 2024). "Raul Ruidiaz's brace leads Sounders over Union in completion of suspended game". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Carrick, Buzz (March 2, 2020). "Seven Dallas area players named to US U15 team". 3rd Degree. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "Twenty-three Players Called to U.s. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Training Camp as Preparations for Paris 2024 Kick Off in Phoenix". ussoccer.com. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ Mercado, Isabelle (n.d.). "Obed Vargas, a Promising Hispanic Soccer Player". Sol de Medianoche. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ Obed Vargas at Soccerway
- ^ "Game Details". concacaf.com. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
External links edit
- Profile at Tacoma Defiance