Player Details

Name

Greg Garza

Height

5' 8"

Weight

154 lbs

Date of Birth

8.16.1991 (32)

Birthplace

Grapevine, TX

Position

Defender
Career Summary

Garza joined Atlanta United on loan prior to the 2017 season after spending the majority of his soccer career abroad, with youth stints in academies at São Paulo and Sporting Lisbon. After a productive season that included a start in the MLS All-Star Game, he signed a multi-year contract with Atlanta United on Nov. 28. He combined to make 84 career appearances for Tijuana, including six appearances in CONCACAF Champions League and four appearances in Copa Libertadores. He has represented the United States National Team with 10 appearances since 2014.

2017 (Atlanta United): Garza joined Atlanta United on loan from Club Tijuana and made 26 appearances and 25 starts in his first season in MLS. He scored two goals (against Vancouver on June 3 and FC Dallas on Sept. 10), added five assists and was voted to participate in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game where he started the match against Real Madrid. Despite missing nine matches, Garza created 33 chances, which was fourth-most in MLS among defenders. He was twice named to the MLS Team of the Week (Weeks 2 and 3) and won the league’s Goal of the Week for his strike against FC Dallas in the inaugural match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

2016-17 (Club Tijuana): Garza featured on three occasions and played in two games, both consecutive starts to begin the season against Monarcas (July 16) and Puebla (July 25).

2015-16 (Atlas Guadalajara): Tijuana loaned Garza to Atlas Guadalajara in July 2015. He managed to make five combined appearances while dealing with a hip injury. He started and played the full 90 minutes in his Atlas debut against Queretaro FC on July 26, 2015. Garza made four more starts with the club, two in Apertura league play against America (Aug. 2) and Pumas (Aug. 13), and two in Copa MX Apertura competition against Murcielagos (Aug. 19 and 27).

2014-15 (Club Tijuana): Garza made 31 combined appearances. He scored against Atlas (May 2, 2015) for his only goal of the season.

2013-14 (Club Tijuana): Garza made 25 appearances across all competitions, including 12 in league play, six starts, and six in CONCACAF Champions League competition where he made five starts.

2012-13 (Club Tijuana): While he only appeared in six games during league play, he made his difference in the postseason, scoring an 86th minute goal against Monterrey on Nov. 15, 2012 to pick up a 1-0 road win during the first leg of quarterfinals. Tijuana went onto beat Monterrey 2-1 on aggregate, en route to beating Toluca in the championship, claiming Tijuana’s first-ever title. Garza scored his first professional goal against Santos on Oct. 14, 2012, a left-footed shot to tie the match in the 28th minute. He made 21 appearances across all competitions and scored two goals.

2011-12 (Club Tijuana): Garza signed with Club Tijuana Dec. 20, 2011. He made five appearances, two starts, in his first season with the Xolos. Garza made his debut with Tijuana on Jan. 7, 2012 against Monarcas, entering as a substitute and logging 18 minutes. He made his first start against San Luis (April 22) and played the full 90 minutes.

2010-11 (G.D. Estoril Praia): After spending two years in Sporting Lisbon’s youth system, Garza signed a contract in August of 2010 with Estoril Praia of the Primeira Liga. He featured three times in league play and once in the Taça CTT where he made his debut against Penafiel on Jan. 2, 2011. Garza made his league debut against Santa Clara on April 17 after he came on as a substitute and logged 13 minutes.

INTERNATIONAL: Garza has been capped for the United States Men’s National Team 10 times, most recently during a friendly against Serbia on Jan. 29, 2017 where he started and played 69 minutes. Garza also was on the roster during the 2015 Gold Cup, and helped lead the U.S to a 1-0 win in group stage against Haiti. He made his National Team debut when he entered as a substitute in a friendly against the Czech Republic on Sept. 3, 2014.