Tag: David Ochoa

David Ochoa, 22, hired as Ventura County Fusion youth goalkeeper coach

The former U.S. and Mexico youth international has been without a club since May

Former U.S. and Mexico youth international goalkeeper David Ochoa has been hired as a youth goalkeeper coach for USL League Two side Ventura County Fusion.

The 22-year-old has been without a club since May, when he was released by Liga MX side Atlético San Luis amid reports of indiscipline. It wasn’t the first time Ochoa had left a club in acrimonious fashion.

Ochoa rose to prominence in 2021 with Real Salt Lake before a very public falling out with the club the following year.

“[Ochoa] was tardy a couple times, and just training habits weren’t up to par,” RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni told ESPN last year.

“At that point, we had quite a few conversations about being a professional footballer. It’s not always about starting. It’s about understanding how to conduct yourself within a club. We have club rules, we have team rules, locker rules, and you have to abide by those, regardless of who you are, or what you did last year.”

Though Ochoa appears to be taking a detour from his playing career, Ventura County’s academy director Keith Costigan hinted that the goalkeeper wasn’t quite ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

“So happy our staff made this happen,” Costigan said on X (formerly Twitter). “David is a top young keeper who will have many great years ahead. Excited to have him mentor our next generation of talent.”

Ochoa has represented both the U.S. and Mexico at youth international levels, and has been called up at the senior level by both countries. He committed his international future to Mexico in 2021.

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David Ochoa gets himself run out of another club

The 22-year-old has left Liga MX side Atlético San Luis in acrimonious fashion

Once again, David Ochoa is leaving a club in acrimonious fashion.

Liga MX side Atlético San Luis announced Tuesday that they had released the 22-year-old goalkeeper amid reports of indiscipline.

The club’s release seemed to confirm something had gone awry, saying: “As a club, our main objective is to transcend by respecting and putting institutional values first by promoting respect, professionalism, ethics and commitment of all our collaborators, as well as having a positive impact inside and outside the community.”

Ochoa made just one senior appearance for the club after signing in November 2022.

The goalkeeper seems to be making a habit of burning bridges, with his time at Real Salt Lake blighted by a tumultuous 2022 season.

Ochoa rose to prominence in 2021, becoming RSL’s starter and leading the club on a memorable run through the playoffs. But things quickly soured last year, as the goalkeeper lost his starting job and then was banished to the club’s reserves due to disciplinary issues.

“[Ochoa] was tardy a couple times, and just training habits weren’t up to par,” RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni told ESPN last year. “At that point, we had quite a few conversations about being a professional footballer. It’s not always about starting. It’s about understanding how to conduct yourself within a club. We have club rules, we have team rules, locker rules, and you have to abide by those, regardless of who you are, or what you did last year.”

Ochoa was traded to D.C. United at midseason. He would make nine appearances before leaving at the end of the season when his contract expired.

In 2021, Ochoa announced he was committing his international future to Mexico. The California-born goalkeeper had previously represented the U.S. and Mexico at various youth levels. Ochoa has received senior call-ups for both countries, but has yet to earn his first senior cap.

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