Jose Vasquez (soccer)


Jose Vasquez is a retired Mexican-American soccer player who played professionally in the United States and Mexico, including three seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Player

Youth

Vasquez graduated from Santa Ana High School and attended Santa Ana College, a two year, community college in California. He played soccer both years. He was inducted into the Santa Ana Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Professional

In 1991, Vasquez began his professional career with Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara before moving to Club Atlas in 1992. In 1993, he returned to the United States to sign with the Los Angeles Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League. He spent two seasons with the Salsa. In 1995, he played for the Anaheim Splash in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. Vasquez was invited by the Los Angeles Galaxy to attend the team’s 1996 pre-season training camp. He impressed the coaching staff and was offered a contract. Vasquez lost much of the season with a broken foot and the Galaxy released him in February 1997. Vasquez moved to the Orange County Zodiac an A-League team associated with the Galaxy. On July 2, 1997, the Galaxy called Vasquez up from the Zodiac. Vasquez played the next two seasons with the Galaxy, briefly going on loan to the MLS Pro 40 in 1998. The Galaxy waived him on April 3, 1999. Vasquez then rejoined the Zodiac for the rest of the season.

Coach

During his playing career, Vasquez also coached high school teams, including Santa Ana High School,Orange High School, Katella High School with success of winning CIF championships in the years of 2006 and 2007. In 1992, he became an assistant coach at Santa Ana College. In 2004, Vasquez became head coach at Santa Ana. He took the Dons to the top ranking in the nation and was the 2004 junior college Coach of the Year.