Omar Bravo
| File:Omarbravo.jpg | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Omar Bravo Tordecillas | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6.5 in (1.69 m) | ||
| Position(s) |
Striker Right Wing Midfielder Left Wing Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chivas de Guadalajara | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March, 2007 | |||
Omar Bravo Tordecillas (born March 4, 1980 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa) is a Mexican football player, specializing as both a Winger and Striker, currently playing for Chivas de Guadalajara in the Primera División de México.
Biography
Known for his speed, ball control, and fast counter attacks. Bravo was trained in the Chivas youth system, and made his debut with the senior team on February 17, 2001 against Tigres. After playing mostly as a substitute his first three seasons, Bravo became a regular with the team during the 2002 Apertura, starting 15 games and scoring six goals. Since then he has been a consistent starter for the team. In his youth, Omar Bravo was an amateur boxer before becoming a football player.
After the World Cup, Omar returned with his Club team Chivas de Guadalajara. He had a succesful remainder of the season coming in at Second Place in the race for Top Goal Scorer for the Mexican League to Bruno Marioni, with 9 goals scored in the regular season. However he came in as the top Native Mexican Scorer for the same season. Omar was a vital asset for Chivas in the Liguilla (Playoffs) scoring three more goals ending the season with 11 and had various assists. His spectacular performances during the Liguilla helped Chivas de Guadalajara win the Championship for the Apertura 2006.
Omar has been having a good start for the Clausura 2007, he leads the Top Scorers in the league with 11 goals in 16 matches. Omar also scored in his first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup against W Connection as well as in the first leg of the semifinals against DC United. Omar Bravo had another amazing performance on February 24, 2007 against Rayos del Necaxa. This game was special for Omar and Chivas fans, for it marked Omar's first Hat Trick with the Club. Necaxa had opened the Score Box with a goal in only the second minute of the match. Bravo began to turn the tide however in the 52nd minute when he scored a header off a corner kick. His second goal, the most spectacular of the three, came after a swift counter attack lead by team mate and best friend Beto Medina in the 54th minute. Omar received Medina's pass with his back to the goal, in front of the penalty marker, with a defender marking him from behind. He reacted quickly with a half turn and a swift kick with his weaker foot (left foot) to the top right corner of the net. Bravo scored his third goal on another counter attack, again led by Medina after a through pass from Adolfo Bautista in the 81st minute. Chivas won the game 4-2. On April 8, 2007 Omar helped Chivas tie against fellow Mexican Primera División team CF Pachuca in his first CONCACAF Champions' Cup Final scoring 2 goals in the first leg. Although this match ended in a 2-2 tie, the game proved to be a special one, for it earned Omar Bravo his 84th and 85th goal with Chivas de Guadalajara, where he is currently the Club's 3rd best scorer in its history. As of April 21, 2007 Omar is only 3 goals away from reaching Eduardo de la Torre's record 90 goals for Chivas with 87 goals both in domestic and international club tournaments.
International Career
Bravo has played for several Mexican youth national teams which with him in it won the Jr. World Cup, and has also been capped by the senior Mexican National Team. He was also a starting Forward for the team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he scored two goals. His opportunity to debut on the senior National team came when veteran forward Jesús Arellano was unable to play in a friendly match due to injury, since then he became one of the top contenders for Mexico's offensive lineup on the squad.
On June 11, 2006, playing in his first World Cup match. Bravo scored two goals to lead Mexico to a 3-1 opening victory over Iran and was named the Man of the Match[1]. Two matches later, he failed to score on a penalty kick against Portugal, which consequently gave Mexico a 2-1 loss. Mexico managed to reach the second round but lost in extra time to Argentina.
Omar has once again been called to the Mexican National Football Team, this time by new coach Hugo Sanchez. He scored his tenth goal for El Tri on March 28, 2007, in an international friendly against Ecuador. This goal came on the 84th minute of the match after a great play by Adolfo Bautista. Bautista received a lob pass from Beto Medina in the box, fought his way through a tugging Defender near the right post and made a quick pass through Ecuadorian goalie Roris Aragón's legs, Omar was ready at the left side of the goal where he put the ball into the net. Omar returned the favor on the 87th minute after a long cross by Mexican defender Rafael Marquez, Omar dummied the ball to his left and drove the ball down the right side of the pitch, he followed with a curling cross that was headed into Ecuador's net by Adolfo Bautista, Mexico won the match with the score of 4-2.
European Team Offers
After the 2006 World Cup several clubs in Spain including Racing de Santander, Real Betis and RCD Mallorca showed interest alongside Oswaldo Sánchez of the national team. It was reported that Omar Bravo received an offer from a team in Germany. He was linked in going to Borussia Dortmund alongside his teammates Adolfo Bautista and Alberto Medina.
External links
- Omar Bravo Article (In Spanish)
- Football Database.com provides Omar Bravo's profile and stats
- Chivas de Guadalajara Team website (In Spanish)
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