Junior Burgos


Efraín Antonio Burgos Jr., better known as Junior Burgos, is a Salvadoran professional footballer who currently plays for USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights FC and the El Salvador national team.

Career

College and Amateur

Burgos grew up in San Bruno, California, attended Westmoor High School, and played two years of college soccer at San Jose State University before transferring to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California as a junior in 2008. He scored seven goals in 28 appearances as a Mustang before graduating in the fall of 2010. Burgos became the first Cal Poly player in history to ever be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft.
During his college years Burgos also played in the Premier Development League, for the San Francisco Seals, Bakersfield Brigade and Chicago Fire Premier.

Professional

On January 13, 2011, Burgos was selected in the third round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC. He signed with Toronto FC on March 21, 2012. Burgos made his debut for Toronto as a second half sub for Julian De Guzman against Columbus Crew on March 31, 2012. Burgos was released by Toronto FC on June 28, 2012.
He spent time training abroad including places such as Germany with FC Energie Cottbus of the 2. Bundesliga and Chile with Club Deportivo Universidad Católica. On February 26, 2014, he signed with Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League. Burgos led the Silverbacks with 3 goals and 3 assists in the club's historic 2014 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, eliminating Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids before being eliminated by Chicago Fire in the quarterfinal stage.
On February 4, 2015 it was announced that Burgos had signed to Colombian club Jaguares de Córdoba, which plays in the Categoría Primera A Colombians highest league, where he would rejoin former Silverbacks teammate Junior Sandoval.
He decided to part ways with the Colombian side after the club refused to meet the terms of the signed contract between both parties. Shortly after, he signed temporarily with Orange County Blues FC of USL in April 2015, as a transition move before the summer window opened up.
After appearing in 4 games for Orange County Blues, Burgos rejoined Atlanta Silverbacks on July 7, 2015. Burgos, went on to score 4 goals and 6 assists making it a successful return to Atlanta. Burgos free kick goal vs San Antonio was nominated as the 2015 NASL Goal of the year. He was presented with an award during half time at the NASL Championship match.
On February 2, 2016 it was announced that Burgos signed with Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC, becoming the second signing in the club's history, ahead of their 2017 MLS debut. Burgos was loaned out to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2016 campaign in the North American Soccer League.
Burgos was waived by Atlanta in December 2016, ahead of their inaugural season.
On March 4, 2020, Burgos joined USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC ahead of the 2020 season.

International

Burgos is a member of El Salvador's national team. He made his international debut on August 30, 2014 vs Dominican Republic, where he assisted on the 2–0 win.
In September, 2014 he was named to the UNCAF cup 21 men roster, making his official international debut on all competitions in the 1–0 win over Honduras.
Burgos first got called in to represent his country prior to the country's September 2010 friendlies versus Honduras and Guatemala, and was previously invited to the El Salvador camp prior to a 2009 friendly versus Peru and World Cup qualifiers versus the United States and Costa Rica.

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 November 2014Estadio Independencia, Esteli, Nicaragua0–10–2Friendly

Personal life

Burgos has one older sister, Sofia, and two younger siblings, Gerardo and Fatima. His mother is Morena Del Carmen de Burgos and his father is Salvadoran international Efrain Burgos, who played professional football for 16 years, mainly for Salvadoran clubs.

Honours

Toronto FC