Ronald Cerritos
Encyclopedia
Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores (born January 3, 1975 in San Salvador
) is a former Salvadoran footballer, who played as a striker.
Cerritos is the all-time goalscorer of the Major League Soccer
team, the San Jose Earthquakes
, with 61 goals and also holds the all-time assists with 47.
. While with San Jose he achieved great success, being named in the MLS Best XI
in his first year with the club. In the offseason after 2001, however, Cerritos was traded to the Dallas Burn
for Ariel Graziani. He never was able to settle in Dallas, having trouble earning a starting spot, and struggling with injuries.
After a year and a half at Dallas, during which he scored seven goals, Cerritos was traded to D.C. United
for Ali Curtis
and a first-round pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft
. Cerritos again was largely unproductive in D.C. and was cut midway through the 2004 season because his performances were not justifying his large salary, and returned to play for Alianza
in his native El Salvador. After the season with Alianza he returned to MLS and his original team, with San Jose acquiring him from DC for a draft pick. During his returning season, Cerritos scored an additional 6 goals and up to today remains as San Jose's top scorer with 61 goals and also has the honor of having the most assists, with 47. Shortly after his return to the Earthquakes, however, Cerritos was moved to Houston for the 2006 season along with his teammates. Despite his success with San Jose his resulting stint with the Houston Dynamo
was short-lived, as he was released in August 2006.
He was later signed by San Salvador F.C.
on a two year deal and became an outstanding performer week in and week out, soon being recalled to the El Salvador national team
to participate in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
in the United States.
In November 2007, Cerritos signed a two year contract with expansion Real Maryland FC USL Second Division
. He played fifteen games, scoring two goals, but was released by the team after their 6–0 loss to the Richmond Kickers
, a game in which he did not play. On July 31, 2008, Cerritos signed with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division
. He finished the season with the RailHawks, but was not signed by the team for the 2009 season.
At half time of the match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire on September 29, 2010, Cerritos became the second player inducted into the San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame.
, having made over 60 appearances. He made his debut for the national team against the USA
on 5 December 1993 and scored his first goal for El Salvador in a 3–2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago
on January 10, 1996 in a 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
match.
On March 5, 2000 in a FIFA World Cup qualification
match against Belize
, Cerritos scored El Salvador's 400th goal in all senior international matches.
. He currently lives in Montgomery County, Maryland
.
He now coaches his own soccer team for kids named International Cerritos Soccer Academy. He also coaches two U-15 club teams Calverton Revolution and Potomac Warriors.
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
) is a former Salvadoran footballer, who played as a striker.
Cerritos is the all-time goalscorer of the 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...
team, the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, with 61 goals and also holds the all-time assists with 47.
Club career
Cerritos has spent the bulk of his career playing in MLS, being signed by the league on March 21, 1997 and allocated to the San Jose ClashSan Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. While with San Jose he achieved great success, being named in the MLS Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
in his first year with the club. In the offseason after 2001, however, Cerritos was traded to the Dallas Burn
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...
for Ariel Graziani. He never was able to settle in Dallas, having trouble earning a starting spot, and struggling with injuries.
After a year and a half at Dallas, during which he scored seven goals, Cerritos was traded to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
for Ali Curtis
Ali Curtis
Ali Curtis is a former American soccer forward. He was the 1999 Hermann Trophy and 2000 MAC Award winner before spending four seasons in Major League Soccer.-College:...
and a first-round pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft
2004 MLS SuperDraft
The 2004 MLS SuperDraft, held in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 16, 2004, was the fifth incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft, and was most notable for the selection of one of the youngest athletes in American sporting history, Freddy Adu, with the first pick.-Player...
. Cerritos again was largely unproductive in D.C. and was cut midway through the 2004 season because his performances were not justifying his large salary, and returned to play for Alianza
Alianza F.C.
Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador...
in his native El Salvador. After the season with Alianza he returned to MLS and his original team, with San Jose acquiring him from DC for a draft pick. During his returning season, Cerritos scored an additional 6 goals and up to today remains as San Jose's top scorer with 61 goals and also has the honor of having the most assists, with 47. Shortly after his return to the Earthquakes, however, Cerritos was moved to Houston for the 2006 season along with his teammates. Despite his success with San Jose his resulting stint with the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
was short-lived, as he was released in August 2006.
He was later signed by San Salvador F.C.
San Salvador F.C.
San Salvador Futbol Club was a professional football club located in San Salvador, El Salvador that participated in Primera División de Fútbol Profesional from 2002 to 2008...
on a two year deal and became an outstanding performer week in and week out, soon being recalled to the El Salvador national team
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
to participate in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
in the United States.
In November 2007, Cerritos signed a two year contract with expansion Real Maryland FC USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
. He played fifteen games, scoring two goals, but was released by the team after their 6–0 loss to the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, a game in which he did not play. On July 31, 2008, Cerritos signed with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He finished the season with the RailHawks, but was not signed by the team for the 2009 season.
At half time of the match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire on September 29, 2010, Cerritos became the second player inducted into the San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame.
International career
Cerritos has been a mainstay in the El Salvador national teamEl Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
, having made over 60 appearances. He made his debut for the national team against the USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on 5 December 1993 and scored his first goal for El Salvador in a 3–2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
on January 10, 1996 in a 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the third edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
match.
On March 5, 2000 in a FIFA World Cup qualification
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification - CONCACAF Central American Zone
The CONCACAF Central American Zone of the CONCACAF zone of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification was contested between 6 teams from the Central America zone. The teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners...
match against Belize
Belize national football team
The Belize national football team is the national team of Belize and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belize. It is affiliated to the Central American Football Union of CONCACAF...
, Cerritos scored El Salvador's 400th goal in all senior international matches.
International goals
- Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 10 January 1996 Edison International Field Angel Stadium of AnaheimAngel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...
, AnaheimAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
2–0 3–2 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1996 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the third edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....2 25 September 1996 Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
, Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
1–1 2–1 Friendly match 3 29 May 1999 Giants Stadium Giants StadiumGiants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, East RutherfordEast Rutherford, New JerseyEast Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
2–1 2–1 Friendly match 4 5 March 2000 Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio CuscatlánMonumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000...
, San SalvadorSan SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
3–0 5–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 2002 FIFA World Cup qualificationA total of 199 teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 32 spots in the final tournament. and , as the co-hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 29 spots open for competition....5 6 February 2008 Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio CuscatlánMonumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000...
, San SalvadorSan SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
5–0 12–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualificationThe qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...6 6 February 2008 Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio CuscatlánMonumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000...
, San SalvadorSan SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
10–0 12–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualificationThe qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...7 6 February 2008 Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio CuscatlánMonumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000...
, San SalvadorSan SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
12–0 12–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualificationThe qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...8 26 March 2008 RFK Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial StadiumRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
, Washington D.C., United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
1–0 4–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualificationThe qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
Personal life
In his spare time, he enjoys playing cards and playing basketball with his friends. He enjoys spending time with his two sons and his favourite basketball team are the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He currently lives in Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
.
He now coaches his own soccer team for kids named International Cerritos Soccer Academy. He also coaches two U-15 club teams Calverton Revolution and Potomac Warriors.
San Jose Earthquakes
- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
Winners (1): 2001 - Inducted to San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame: 2010