Gabriel Enrique Gómez


Gabriel Enrique Gómez Girón is a Panamanian footballer who plays for San Francisco F.C. as a defensive midfielder.
His own notwithstanding, he played professionally in six countries, mainly Colombia and Portugal.
Gómez is Panama's all-time record cap holder, appearing in 149 internationals and representing the nation in seven Gold Cup tournaments and the 2018 World Cup.

Club career

In his early career, Panama City-born Gómez – nicknamed Gavilán – rarely settled with a club, playing in both his country and Colombia. In 2007, he moved to Portugal and signed for C.F. Os Belenenses initially on a one-year loan, from Club Santa Fe whom he had joined in December 2005.
Gómez made his Primeira Liga debut on 20 August 2007 in a 1–1 draw at Associação Naval 1º de Maio, being relatively used during his three-year stint as the Lisbon side were eventually relegated at the end of the 2009–10 season. In the very last minutes of the following summer transfer window, he moved to Cyprus and signed with Ermis Aradippou FC, reuniting with former Belenenses teammate Wender.
In August 2011, after a spell back in Colombia with La Equidad alongside countrymen Gabriel Torres and Román Torres, Gómez teamed up with compatriot Blas Pérez at Mexican Ascenso MX side Indios de Ciudad Juárez. He signed for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer on 21 December 2011, scoring his first league goal in the season opener against the Portland Timbers.
Gómez returned to Colombia in December 2012, to play for Junior FC. He continued changing clubs and countries in quick succession in the following years, representing San Francisco F.C. and C.S. Herediano.

International career

Gómez represented the Panamanian under-20 team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, in the United Arab Emirates. He made his debut for the full side in a game against El Salvador for the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup, and went on to play for his country on more than 100 occasions, including in 27 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
Gómez was named in the 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He made his debut in the competition on 18 June at the age of 34 years and 20 days, playing the entire 0–3 group stage defeat to Belgium; late in the same month, he announced his retirement from international play.

Personal life

Gómez married former model Ingrid González, sister of former international goalkeeper Donaldo González, fathering two children.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 August 2006Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru2–02–0Friendly
2.12 July 2009University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, United States2–04–02009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3.7 September 2010Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama3–03–0Friendly
4.25 March 2011Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–02–0Friendly
5.29 May 2011Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–02–0Friendly
6.7 June 2011Ford Field, Detroit, United States3–03–22011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
7.11 June 2011Raymond James, Tampa, United States2–02–12011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
8.12 November 2011Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–02–0Friendly
9.14 November 2012Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–51–5Friendly
10.31 May 2014Toyota Park, Bridgeview, United States1–11–1Friendly
11.8 January 2016Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–04–0Copa América Centenario qualifying play-offs
12.28 March 2017Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–11–12018 World Cup qualification

Honours

Panama