Jorge Valenzuela

Jorge Valenzuela Jr. is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the United States during the late 1980s and 1990s. He competed outdoors in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and had an extensive indoor career in the AISA, NPSL, and CISL, playing for clubs such as the Memphis Storm, Canton Invaders, Harrisburg Heat, and Anaheim Splash.

Early life and youth career Jorge Valenzuela Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado, and began playing soccer at a young age in the Aurora Soccer League. His father, Jorge Valenzuela Sr., was a nationally licensed soccer coach and a certified referee with the U.S. Soccer Federation. After the family moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico, Jorge Sr. was involved in the development of local youth soccer programs, and the family operated the Carlsbad Tortilla Factory, which sponsored regional youth teams including the under-19 Carlsbad Kickers.

During his youth, Jorge Jr., along with his brother Ricardo, participated in regional and national soccer training programs. Both were selected in 1982 for the Umbro American Select Squad, a group of U.S. players chosen to tour Wales and England.

Playing career

College Valenzuela played college soccer at USC-Upstate from 1983 to 1986. He earned NAIA All-America team 3 different times. he joined the team after recovering from surgery, initially training without a contract. During the 1993 season, he started all 19 games he played, recording 2 shutouts, and maintaining a goals-against average of 2.16. Thunder finished the regular season with a 20–20 record in the NPSL's National Division and qualified for the playoffs, where they posted a 1–2 record. On November 12, 1993, he recorded 20 saves in a 15–13 overtime loss to the Baltimore Spirit at the Farm Show Arena.

Denver Thunder (1992-1993)

During the 1992–93 season, Valenzuela played for the Denver Thunder in the National Professional Soccer League Indoor. The team finished the season with a 3–37 record in the NPSL's National Division. Valenzuela led the team with all three of its wins.

Canton Invaders (1992-1993)

In the 1992–93 NPSL season, Valenzuela appeared in 23 games for the Canton Invaders, who finished the season with a 13–27 record in the American Division. Valenzuela posted a goals-against average that was best among the team's qualifying goalkeepers during the season and recorded over 300 saves.

Anaheim Splash (1994-1995)

From 1994 to 1995, Valenzuela played for the Anaheim Splash in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). In 1995, he was named the CISL Goalkeeper of the Year with nearly 900 saves that season.

Statistics Indoor soccer

Over his indoor soccer career spanning from 1987 to 1995, Jorge Valenzuela appeared in 118 games across multiple teams in the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA), National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), and Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). During this period, he played a total of 5,305 minutes, compiling a nearly even win-loss record of 44 wins and 45 losses. 118 5305:35 44 45 628 — 2,289 1,313 .574

Outdoor soccer

Jorge Valenzuela played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Over two campaigns, he appeared in 23 matches, starting all of them, and compiled a career record of 10 wins and 13 losses with no ties. Valenzuela posted a goals against average (GAA) of 1.91 across 2,123 minutes played. In 1992, he achieved 0.75 GAA over four games, remaining undefeated, and in 1993 he played 19 games with a 2.15 GAA. 23 23 2123 10 13 45 1.91 45 ?

Honors

New Mexico Under-16 State Select Team All-State, All-District, and All-Southern selection, Eldorado High School soccer 3x NAIA All-America team, USC-Upstate 1995 CISL Goalkeeper of the Year, Anaheim Splash 1988 AISA Championship, Memphis Storm.

Personal life After retiring from professional soccer in 1995, Valenzuela transitioned into business. He founded Speed Trainers USA and served as a Regional Director for Visalus Sciences. He practiced yoga before games and playing the saxophone to relax. Valenzuela resides in San Diego, California. His father, Jorge Valenzuela Sr., was a USSF referee and his brother, Ricardo Valenzuela, was a FIFA referee.