Carlos Vela

ACQUIRED

Signed with the Club in Aug.  2017 as the first Designated Player in Club History.

CAREER MILESTONES

• _MLS Supporters’ Shield Winner: 2019 
• Landon Donovan MLS MVP: 2019 
• *MLS Golden Boot: 2019  MLS Records: Most Goals By One Player In A Season (2019, 34); Most Goals / Assists By One Player In A Season (2019, 34 / 15); Most Goals By A Duo In A Season (2019, Carlos Vela / Diego Rossi, 50); Fastest Player To Score 20 Goals (2019, 21 Games); Most Goals Scored By Mexican Player (MLS Career)(2019, 48) 
• *MLS Best XI: _2018, 2019  MLS All-Star: 2018, 2019
• MLS Player of the Month: 2019, Mar., Apr., Sept./Oct. 
• _MLS Player of the Week: 2018 Week 33; 2019 Weeks two, five, 18, 25, 30, 31 
• *MLS Team of the Week: _2018Weeks two, five, seven, eight, 27, 33; 2019 Weeks two, three, five, six, seven, eight, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 30, 31 ; 2020, Week 1 Gold Cup Winner: 2009, 2015
• CONCACAF Cup Winner: 2015
• Real Sociedad Player of the Year: 2011-12, 2013-14
• La Liga Player of the Month: Dec. 2013, Nov. 2014
• FIFA U-17 World Cup Winner: 2005
• FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005

PROFESSIONAL

2020 (Los Angeles Football Club):

• Appeared in seven matches, starting four for a total of 332 minutes.
• Scored four goals and added an assist.
• Suffered Grade 2 MCL injury in his left knee in the 56th minute of LAFC's 2-0 loss to the Galaxy on August 22. Returned on October 25 in 2-0 loss to the Galaxy.
• Earned MLS Team of the Week honors for week 1.
• Played 90’ at forward during 1-1 draw vs. POR on 11/8; tallied fourth goal of season.

2019 (Los Angeles Football Club): 

• Made 31 regular season starts, capturing all-time MLS records in goals scored (34), most goals and assists by one player in a season (34 / 15), in 2,726’ minutes played.
• Started both MLS Cup Playoff matches, tallying two goals and one assist in the 5-3 Western Conference Semifinal win vs. the LA Galaxy on October 24.
• Set a number of MLS single season records including: most goals by one player in a season (2019, 34); most goals / assists by one player in a season (2019, 34 / 15); most goals by a duo in a season (2019, Carlos Vela / Diego Rossi, 50); fastest player to score 20 goals (2019, 21 games); most goals scored by Mexican player (MLS career)(2019, 48). 
• Had two hat tricks, first in the 5-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on March 30; second against the Colorado Rapids in the last game of the regular season, a 3-1 win on October 6 where he broke the goal-scoring record.
• Had seven multi-goal games.
• Started three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, adding two goals and an assist.
• Earned the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award.
• Earned the MLS Golden Boot award.
• MLS All-Star Game Fan XI and named MLS All-Star Captain for second straight year. 
• Earned MLS Player of the Month honors in March, April and September/October. 
• Earned MLS Player of the Week honors inweeks two, five, 18, 25, 30, 31. 
• Earned MLS Team of the Week honors in weeks two, three, five, six, seven, eight, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 30, 31. 

2018 (Los Angeles Football Club)

• Started 26 of 28 regular season appearances, scoring 14 goals and adding 13 assists (2,378 total minutes played).
• Tallied first MLS goal in 5-1 win at Real Salt Lake on March 10.
• Named to MLS Team of the Week (Weeks 2, 5, 7, 8, 27, 33); Player of the Week (Week 33).
• Named to 2018 MLS All-Star Team and voted as 2018 All-Star Team Captain.
• Appeared in two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, earning a goal and five shots.
• Started the Club’s first ever playoff game, a 2 -3 loss to Real Salt Lake on November 1, adding an assist and five shots.

2016 - 17 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga): *

2015 - 16 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga): *

• Started 32 games, scoring 5 goals and 4 assists across all competitions.

2014 - 15 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga): *

2013 - 14 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga): *

• Appeared in 50 matches (45 starts) including six Champions League matches, scoring 19 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.
• Scored two goals to ensure Real Sociedad’s advancement to the Champions League Group Stage against Olympique Lyonnais, La Real’s first group stage appearance in 10 years. 
• Scored two goals vs. Celta Vigo at home on Nov. 23, 2013.

2012 - 13 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga): *

2011 - 12 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga):

Loaned from Arsenal to Real Sociedad of Spain’s La Liga, joining the club in August, 2011. * Started 29 matches, scoring 12 goals and 7 assists across all competitions for Real Sociedad.

2010 - 11 (Arsenal, English Premier League / West Bromwich Albion, English Premier League):

• Appeared in 11 matches for Arsenalbefore joining West Bromwich Albion FC in February, 2011 on loan until the end of the 2010-2011 season.
• Scored his first goal in his third match for West Brom with a 92nd minute equalizer against the Wolverhampton Wanderers.

2009 - 10 (Arsenal, English Premier League):

• Ankle injury kept him sidelined until September.
• Started eight matches, scoring two goals and five assists across all competitions.

2008 - 09 (Arsenal, English Premier League): 

• Made his competitive debut for Arsenal on August 30, 2008 against Newcastle.
• In his first career start with the Club (September, 23 2008), Vela scored a hat-trick in 6-0 win against Sheffield United in the League Cup (the second goal was voted as one of Arsenal’s 50 greatest goals).
• Finished the season with six goals, four assists, and 29 appearances across all competitions.

2007 - 08 (Osasuna, La Liga): 

• Loaned by Salamanaca to La Liga club Osasuna.
• Appeared in 33 matches (21 starts), registering three goals and four assists.

2006 - 07 (Salamanca, Spanish Segunda División): 

• Loaned to Spanish Segunda División club Salamanca from Arsenal.
• Scored eight goals in 31 appearances. 

2005 - 06 (Chivas Guadalajara, Liga MX / Celta Vigo, La Liga):

• Began his professional career with Chivas Guadalajara after being signed from the club’s youth system.
• Signed a five-year deal with Arsenal of the Premier League and was then loaned to Celta de Vigo of Spain’s La Liga.

INTERNATIONAL

• Started 6 of 6 appearances with the Mexican National team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• Scored one goal in the 2-1 victory in the group stage match versus South Korea. (total of 315 minutes played
• Played eight matches for the Mexico U-17 National Team, scoring five goals to en route to winning the tournament as well as the Golden Boot at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2005.
• Overall, has appeared in 72 matches, scoring 19 goals and adding nine assists across all competitions for the Mexican National Team.

PERSONAL

• Dedicated his U-17 World Cup Golden Boot Award to his father, as the winning game was on his father’s birthday.
• Favorite sport other than soccer is basketball.
• Has an older brother, Alejandro Vela, who plays for Venados FC Yucatán of the Mexican second division.
• Favorite food is Pizza.
• He and wife Saioa, welcomed son Romeo in 2016.
• Follow Carlos on Twitter @11carlosV and Instagram @carlosv11_