Mark Dennis González Hoffman (born July 10, 1984 in Durban, South Africa), is commonly known as Mark González. He is a Chilean footballer whose preferred position is as a left winger. Renowned for his pace and acceleration, he is nicknamed "Speedy".
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Dennis González Hoffman | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m) | ||
| Position | Left Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Liverpool | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:26, 29 May 2006 (UTC) | |||
Career
González had agreed a move to Liverpool F.C. on loan for the 2005-06 season (with a view to a permanent £4.5 million move) from Albacete Balompie. However, he was denied a work permit by the Department of Education and Employment in August 2005. The Liverpool management showed great faith in González, pursuing his services despite work permit troubles and a cruciate knee ligament injury. After a quicker than expected return to fitness Liverpool were persuaded to make the move permanent in October 2005, but the player was immediately loaned back to Albacete to continue his recouperation after an appeal against the earlier work permit decision was rejected (a new work permit application can only put forward one year after the original application). Arrangements were then made for the player to spend a loan spell at Real Sociedad until summer 2006.
At Sociedad González put in some impressive performances, most notably against Real Madrid, against whom he scored Sociedad's equaliser as the game finished 1-1. Sociedad have shown interest in taking him permanently, along with several other La Liga clubs, but González is quoted to have said "I am very thankful to Real Sociedad and their coach Jose Mari Bakero, but while they'd like me to stay I'm going to England to join Liverpool" [1]
González is now eligible for a Spanish passport, and a work permit application has now been granted . On 30th June 2006, Mark Gonzalez retired from international football, at the tender age of 21. This was due to a rift with the national team coach who had sent him home from the Chilean international tour.
On 5th July 2006, Gonzalez was granted a work permit, and was allowed to start his Liverpool career. His manager, Rafael Benitez, said "This is very good news for us and I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mark Gonzalez to Liverpool as he is a player the supporters will like to see," Mark Gonzalez made his first appearance coming on as a sub at half time in a pre-season friendly against Crewe Alexandra.
On his debut on 9th August 2006 against Isreali side Maccabi Haifa Mark scored a late goal in Liverpool's Champion's League 3rd Round Qualifier coming on as a late substitute.
Statistics
| Club | Season | Premiership | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Liverpool FC | 2006-07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Club | Season | Primera Div | Spanish Cup | --------- | Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Real Sociedad Loan | 2005-06 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 |
| Albacete Loan | 2005-06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Club | Season | Premiership | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Liverpool FC | 2005-06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Club | Season | Primera Div | Spanish Cup | --------- | Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Albacete | 2004-05 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 |
| Club | Season | Primera Div | Chilean Cup | --------- | Copa Liber | Others | Total | ||||||
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Universidad Católica | 2004 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 2003 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 9 | |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 79 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 20 | |