Daniel Cruz
Encyclopedia
Daniel Alberto Cruz Castro (born 3 May 1981 in Cali
) is a Belgian football midfielder
with Colombia
n roots who currently plays for FC Dallas
in Major League Soccer
.
. His father, a retired Argentinian professional football player, was his primary coaching influence. In 1998, Cruz was discovered by an AFC Ajax scout while training with the first team at América de Cali
. Within two weeks, at 17, the young Colombian had signed with the Dutch club's youth reserve program.
In 2005, Cruz captained Germinal Beerschot to a Belgian Cup
title.
for the following season. The deal was rumored to be one of the largest contracts in Belgian Pro League history. Financial troubles at Lierse halfway through the 2005-06 season led to the club actually selling Cruz back to Germinal Beerschot after only six months of his three-year deal.
. Daniel scored his first goal for his new club on September 14, 2011, in a 1-1 draw against Tauro FC
. The goal was just 0:27 seconds into the match officially making it the quickest strike in FC Dallas club history.
and América de Cali
. In January 2009, Voetbal Magazine produced a cover story featuring an extensive interview with Daniel Cruz. The article highlighted the Colombian's role at his club, his recent injuries, and his love for Germinal Beerschot.
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
) is a Belgian football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
with Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n roots who currently plays for FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth career
Cruz played his early football at the Academia de Fútbol Tucumán in his hometown of CaliCalì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
. His father, a retired Argentinian professional football player, was his primary coaching influence. In 1998, Cruz was discovered by an AFC Ajax scout while training with the first team at América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
. Within two weeks, at 17, the young Colombian had signed with the Dutch club's youth reserve program.
Ajax
Cruz made his first team debut for Ajax during the 2000/01 season after two years with the club's youth reserve program. That season, he played in eleven matches for the Ajax first team before being sidelined with a knee injury. A head coaching change during his rehabilitation undermined the possibility of Cruz returning to the first team ranks at Ajax. Eventually he was loaned and later sold to Belgian club Germinal Beerschot.Germinal Beerschot
Since his move from Ajax in 2002, until the expiration of his final contract with the club in 2011, Daniel Cruz established himself as one of most prolific players in Germinal Beerschot club history. His time there spanned nearly a decade - having made over 250 appearances for the club in all competitions. Cruz was considered a trendsetter in the Belgian Pro League. The South American midfielder was known as a play-maker with charisma and modesty.In 2005, Cruz captained Germinal Beerschot to a Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
title.
Lierse SK
After winning the Belgian Cup in 2005, Cruz shocked fans and the media when he announced that he had signed a contract with rival club Lierse S.K.Lierse S.K.
Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups...
for the following season. The deal was rumored to be one of the largest contracts in Belgian Pro League history. Financial troubles at Lierse halfway through the 2005-06 season led to the club actually selling Cruz back to Germinal Beerschot after only six months of his three-year deal.
FC Dallas
On August 4, 2011, it was announced that Cruz had signed with FC Dallas of American Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Daniel scored his first goal for his new club on September 14, 2011, in a 1-1 draw against Tauro FC
Tauro F.C.
Tauro Fútbol Club is a professional football club located in Panama City, Panama that plays in Liga Panameña de Fútbol, the top Panamanian football league. Tauro has won seven Liga Profesional de Fútbol Championships since 1988, the highest total of any team. The club has also finished second seven...
. The goal was just 0:27 seconds into the match officially making it the quickest strike in FC Dallas club history.
Personal life
Cruz is the son of retired Argentinian football player José Luis Cruz who played for Club Atlético River PlateClub Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
and América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
. In January 2009, Voetbal Magazine produced a cover story featuring an extensive interview with Daniel Cruz. The article highlighted the Colombian's role at his club, his recent injuries, and his love for Germinal Beerschot.