Raul Jimenez

Raúl Jiménez
Jiménez playing with Mexico in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth	(1991-05-05) 5 May 1991 (age 23)
Place of birth	Tepeji, Hidalgo, Mexico
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	América
Number	9
Youth career
1996–1997	Cruz Azul[2]
1999–2010	América
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2010–	América	75	(24)
National team‡
2012	Mexico U23	13	(1)
2013–	Mexico	25	(4)
Honours[show] Competitor for Mexico Men's Football Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 May 2014. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2014

Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez (born 5 May 1991) is a Mexican footballer who currently plays as a striker for América in the Liga MX and the Mexico national team.

He began his career with América's youth system before debuting in the first division in October 2011, and winning his first league championship almost two years later. Jiménez was a part of the Mexican squad that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 2012.^[3]

Club career

América

2011–12 season

Raúl Jiménez rose through América's youth system and was considered a promising young striker. Under interim-coach Alfredo Tena, Jimenez made his debut during the 2011 Apertura season on 9 October 2011 against Monarcas Morelia, a match which ended in a 1–1 draw. He scored his first goal on 30 October 2011 in a 2–3 loss against Puebla.^[4] Jiménez managed six appearances and scored one goal in his debut tournament. During the 2012 Clausura, Jiménez managed 12 appearances with one goal scored in 508' minutes played. América reached the semifinals of the play-offs, being eliminated by Monterrey.

2012–13 season

After participating in the 2012 London Olympics, Jiménez won a spot in América's starting eleven, playing as a second-striker along with Christian Benítez in manager Miguel Herrera's 5-3-2 formation tactical scheme. He was also given the then-vacant number 9 shirt. during the 2012 Apertura season America reached the Semi finals loosing to Toluca Jimenez ended the season with 16 appearances and 4 goals scored in 1'330' minutes played. during the 2013 Clausura season America won the championship after beating Jimenez's childhood team Cruz Azul in penalty kicks with Raul kicking the 1st penalty against Jose de Jesus Corona. During the play-offs Jimenez played an important role by scoring in the Quarter-final against Pumas ending the match in a 1-0 win,^[5] He also managed to score in the Semi-final match against with Monterrey the game ending in a 2-1 win for America.^[6] Jimenez was a starter in the 1st and 2nd legs of the Final he was a starter and also played 90' minutes for both games.^[7] Jimenez ended the season with 23 appearances and 10 goals scored in 1'896 minutes.

2013-2014

during the 2013 Apertura league season America went to the final for a second consecutive time this time against Club Leon Jimenez played a vital role by scoring once in the quarter final against Tigres UANL ^[8] ending the match 1-1 securing a spot to the semi finals eventually the Final in which America would loose 1-5. In total Raul Jimenez made 18 appearances with 8 goals scored in 1505' minutes during the 2013 Apertura season. during the 2014 Clausura season Jimenez paired with Luis Gabriel Rey creating a powerful pair in the Mexican league. During the play-offs, Jimenez scored a hat trick changing the score from 1-3 to 4-3, in the Quarter-final match against Santos Laguna^[9] the match ended in a 5-3 win for America, but it wasn't enough to stay in the run for the title since Santos Laguna would win in their home 3-1 ending in a 6-6 combined score ^[10] defeat for America (Since Santos won on away goals scored). Jimenez ended the season with 17 appearances and 8 goals scored in 1,458' minutes. Recent rumors have arose stating Jimenez might move to a European team, after the World Cup.^[11][12][13]

International career

Mexico U23

2012 Toulon Tournment

In 2012 Raúl Jiménez was selected by coach Luis Fernando Tena to participate in the 2012 Toulon Tournament with the under-23 national team. Mexico won the final after defeating Turkey 3–0.^[14] Jiménez managed to score Mexico's third goal in the 4–2 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals on May 30, 2012.^[15]

2012 London Olympics

Raúl Jiménez made the final cut in the squad participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[16] He made his Olympic debut in the group stage match against South Korea on 26 July 2012, which ended in a 0–0 draw, with Jiménez coming in as a substitute and coming close to scoring a late goal, with the ball ricocheting off the goalkeeper's left-hand post.^[17] He subsequently made appearances against Switzerland,^[18] Senegal,^[19] Japan,^[20] and Brazil in the final, coming on as a substitute in those matches. Mexico would go on to defeat Brazil 2–1 and win the gold medal.^[21][22]

Mexico national team

Jiménez made his debut for the senior national team in a 1–1 draw against Denmark on 30 January 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute.^[23]

2013 FIFA Confederations Cup

Jiménez participated with Mexico in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup held in Brazil and made all 3 appearances unfortunately playing a very limited 96' minutes in the tournament. he made his Confederations Cup debut against Italy coming in as a late substitute in the 86' minute of the game for Jesus Zavala in which Raul managed to get a shot on goal unfortunately Italian Goal keeper Gianluigi Buffon managed to deflect the ball. he appeared in the match against Brazil coming in as a substitute for Gerardo Torrado in the 88' minute of the game. Jimenez made his final appearance against Japan starting the match and was substituted out for Javier Aquino after 90' minutes played.

2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Jimenez was the only squad member from the Confederations Cup to be included in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Mexican squad. Raul was a starter and played the entire 90' minutes for the 3 group stage matches against Panama, Martinique, and Canada, in which he managed to score once in the group stage and once in the Quarter final match against Trinidad and Tobago ending the match in a 1-0 win. Mexico finished in 3rd place after being beaten in the semi final against Panama 1-2.

2014 World Cup Qualifiers

Jimenez was included in the 2014 world cup qualifiers, his first match being against Honduras March 22, 2013 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras coming in for Giovanni Dos Santos in the 76' minute of the game. His first world cup qualifying goal was scored October 11, 2013 in the Estadio Azteca against Panama. Raul came into the match for Jesus Zavala in the 82' minute in which after 2' minutes he received a pass from Fernando Arce inside the 18-box Raul tried to control the ball but it bounced off his foot into the air in which Jimenez tried the Bycicle kick and was successful, the ball hit the left post and went in breaking the tie and ending the game 2-1. the goal was very important if not the most important goal scored during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, also it was voted as the best goal of 2013 by CONCACAF.

2014 FIFA World Cup

In May 8, 2014 Raul Jimenez was included in Coach Miguel Herrera's final 23-man squad participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup wearing the #9 jersey. He was in the bench and did not participate in Mexico's game opener against Cameroon. Jimenez made his World Cup debut June 17, 2014 Against host nation Brazil in the Castelão stadium he entered as a substitute for Giovani dos Santos in the 84' minute of the match. He played a more defensive role in this match by going into the 18-box and clearing the ball in several occasions most notably marking Marcelo and managed to take away the ball in the 18-box without giving away a penalty, although Marcelo dived looking for a penalty, He also managed to get one powerful shot on target in which Brazilian Goal Keeper Júlio César managed to save, the match ended in a historical 0-0 tie for Mexico.

Style of play

Jiménez is known as a "supporting striker", or "second striker", rather than a regular goal-scorer, creating plays with former teammate Christian Benítez in manager Miguel Herrera's 5–3–2 system. His strengths are being able to pick a pass and provide assists to his teammates.

Career statistics

Club

As of 14 June 2014^[24]

International

As of 14 June 2014

Honours

Club

América

• Liga MX (1): Clausura 2013

International

Mexico U23

• Summer Olympics (1): 2012
• Toulon Tournament (1): 2012

References

External links

• Transfermarkt profile
• MedioTiempo Profile
• IMScouting Profile
• ESPN Profile
• 2014 FIFA World Cup Profile