Rónald Gómez Gómez (born 24 January 1975) is a Costa Rican former football forward and manager. He is the current manager for Liga Nacional club Coatepeque Fútbol Club.
An important player on the Costa Rica national football team during the 1990s and 2000s, Gómez is regarded as one of Costa Rica's best forwards, known for his rocket shots and top dribbling.
Gómez is, along with Paulo Wanchope, the top scorer for Costa Rica in the FIFA World Cup with three goals.
Club career
Early years
Born in Puntarenas as the 12th child of Francisca Gómez, he was raised in the village Pilas de Canjel in Guanacaste Province.
Nicknamed La Bala (The Bullit), Gómez started his career at Carmelita and scored his first league goal on 20 September 1992 against Saprissa. He then scored 45 goals for Alajuelense before moving abroad.
Years abroad
He has played in 6 different countries: in Spain with Sporting Gijón and Hercules of Alicante, in Guatemala with Municipal, in Greece with OFI, in Kuwait with Al Qadsia, in Mexico with Irapuato and in Cyprus with APOEL where he won the Cypriot First Division.
OFI Crete
In the summer of 1999, Greek OFI made the decision to sign Ronald Gómez from Guatemalan club Municipal, marking the Costa Rican striker's return to Europe after spells with Sporting de Gijón and Hércules CF. Despite some hesitation from the Cretan club due to the risks involved, the transfer was completed within a matter of hours, and Gómez quickly established himself as one of the most significant players to have graced Greek football during that era.
Known as a classic "number 9" of the 1990s, Gómez became a cult figure in Greece due to his exceptional goal-scoring ability. He made a lasting impact on OFI, scoring 48 goals in 105 appearances. His performance helped lead the team to the UEFA Cup in the 2000–01 season, thanks to an impressive tally of 19 goals that season.
One of his most memorable moments came with a stunning goal against Proodeftiki, considered one of the finest in Greek football history. Gómez’s tenure at OFIcemented his legacy, and he remains a beloved figure among the club’s supporters. He scored the winning goal in the final minutes of the game that Saprissa won in order to achieve the third place of the tournament against Al-Ittihad. His goal was considered among the best of the cup.
Return from retirement
In June 2009, Gómez came out of playing retirement for a final season at Santos after he was relegated to the second division as manager of Carmelita. After the season, he became manager of Santos.
International career
Gómez made his debut for Costa Rica in a February 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification match against Nicaragua and earned a total of 93 caps, scoring 26 goals. He represented his country in 27 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and figured at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. and 2001 UNCAF Nations Cups
as well as at the 1993, 2000 and 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 1997, 2001, and 2004 Copa América.
His final international was a March 2008 friendly match against Peru.
International goals
:Scores and results list. Costa Rica's goal tally first.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Goal !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 16 February 1993 || Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica || || 6–0|| UNCAF Nations Cup qualifier
|-
| 2 || 16 February 1993 || Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica || || 6–0|| UNCAF Nations Cup qualifier
|-
| 3 || 5 March 1993 || Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa || || 1–0 || UNCAF Nations Cup
|-
| – || 23 June 1993 || Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica || || 3–1 || Unofficial friendly match
|-
| 4 || 27 September 1993 || Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia || || 2–3 || Friendly match
|-
| 5 || 17 December 1994 || King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || || 3–1 || Friendly match
|-
| 6 || 17 December 1994 || King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || || 3–1 || Friendly match
|-
| 7|| 17 December 1994 || King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || || 3–1 || Friendly match
|-
| 8 || 5 June 1996 || Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada || || 1–0 || Friendly match
|-
| 9 || 1 September 1996 || Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago || || 1–0 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
|-
| 10 || 14 December 1996 || Stanford Stadium, Stanford, United States || || 1–2 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
|-
| 11 || 23 March 1997 || Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica || || 3–2 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
|-
| 12 || 17 July 1999 || Titan Stadium, Fullerton, United States || || 1–0 || Friendly
|-
| 13 || 18 August 1999 || Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay || || 4–5 || Friendly
|-
| 14 || 18 August 1999 || Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay || || 4–5 || Friendly
|-
| 15|| 30 May 2001 || Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras || || 2–1 || UNCAF Nations Cup
|-
| 16 || 1 September 2001 || Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago || || 2–0 || World Cup qualifier
|-
| 17 || 1 September 2001 || Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago || || 2–0 || World Cup qualifier
|-
| 18 || 26 January 2002 || Orange Bowl, Miami, United States || || 2–1 || 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup
|-
| 19 || 30 January 2002 || Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States || || 3–1 || 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup
|-
| 20|| 4 June 2002 || Gwangju World Cup Stadium, Gwangju, South Korea || || 2–0 || 2002 FIFA World Cup
|-
| 21 || 13 June 2002 || Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea || || 2–5 || 2002 FIFA World Cup
|-
| 22 || 20 June 2004 || Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela, Costa Rica || || 1–1 || World Cup qualifier
|-
| 23 || 8 June 2005 || Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica|| || 3–2 || World Cup qualifier
|-
| 24 || 19 June 2005 || Helong Stadium, Changsha, China|| || 2–2|| Friendly
|-
| 25 || 3 September 2005 || Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama|| || 3–1 || World Cup qualifier
|-
| 26 || 20 June 2006 || AWD-Arena, Hannover, Germany|| || 1–2|| 2006 FIFA World Cup
|-
|}
Managerial career
He made his debut as manager of Carmelita in January 2009. and he later managed second division sides Deportivo Cartagena and Juventud Escazuceña. In September 2013, he took charge of Guatemalan side Halcones and in May 2014 he returned to Costa Rica to take charge at Limón.
In August 2023, Ronald Gómez, a former OFI player, returned to Greece as the head coach of Apollon Smyrnis, a team that was preparing for the upcoming season in the Greek Football League (Gamma Ethniki). His appointment marked the return of a familiar face to Greek football, having been one of the top strikers for OFI during his playing career between 1999 and 2003. Prior to joining Apollon Smyrnis, Gómez had managed Santa Lucia F.C. in Guatemala.
However, his tenure with Apollon Smyrnis ended on 28 February 2024.
After his departure from Apollon Smyrnis, Gómez took on the role of head coach at Deportivo Achuapa in Guatemala, where he began a new challenge, aiming to lead the team to the final phase of the Torneo Clausura 2024.
Personal life
He is married to Gina Soto and they have two sons, Esteban and Daniel.
Honours
- Primera División de Costa Rica (3):
- 1995-96, 2005–06, 2007–08
- Copa Interclubes UNCAF (1):
- 1996
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1):
- 2005
- Cypriot First Division (1):
- 2006–07
References
External links
- 2006 World Cup profile – Nación