Joe Corona

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Corona and the second or maternal family name is Crespín.
Joe Corona
Personal information
Full name Joe Benny Corona
Date of birth (1990-07-09) July 9, 1990
Place of birth Los Angeles, California, United States
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Sinaloa
Number 70
Youth career
2006–2008 Nomads Academy
2009–2010 Tijuana
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 San Diego State Aztecs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010– Tijuana 110 (4)
2015Veracruz (loan) 9 (0)
2016–Sinaloa (loan) 7 (0)
National team
2011 Mexico U22 1 (0)
2012 United States U23 4 (4)
2012– United States 17 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 21, 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of May 21, 2016

Joe Benny Corona (born July 9, 1990) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays for Dorados de Sinaloa on loan from Club Tijuana in the Ascenso MX.[1]

Professional career

Corona made his first appearance in the 2010 Clausura season and was the first player coming from youth teams to score a goal with the Pro Team on September 2010. He started his career with the Nomads from San Diego, California, following the example of Marcelo Balboa, Frankie Hejduk and Steve Cherundolo, all from the United States men's national soccer team.

During the 2009/2010 season, Corona played 160 minutes in 3 appearances.

During the 2010/2011 season, Corona played/made 39 appearances, including 34 starts, and scored six goals as Tijuana earned promotion to the Primera División. Joe Corona started his first game in Primera Division de Mexico, scoring his team's only goal in a 2–1 loss to Monarcas. On July 30, 2011, Corona scored a goal (2–0) against Rayados de Monterrey. Xolos were up by two but ended up losing that game.

On June 10, 2015, he was loaned by Veracruz.[2][3]

International career

Due to Joe Corona's unique ethnicity, his parents being of both Mexican and Salvadoran nationality, he was eligible to represent any of the three countries including the United States, as he is a US citizen. He was named to the preliminary roster to represent the United States in a friendly match against Mexico in August 2011 under Bob Bradley, but Bradley was fired before the official roster was announced. Corona stated that if he had been named to the official roster that "I think I would have accepted." Corona accepted a call-up to represent Mexico in a two-legged friendly series against Chile's U22 squad in preparation for the 2011 Pan American Games. Corona only played in the second game and this did not tie him to play for the Mexican team, as the game was not an official FIFA match.[4] Corona did not make the final cut for Mexico's Pan American Games squad, and on November 2, 2011, Corona accepted a call up to the United States U-23 team.

On March 22, 2012, Corona recorded a hat trick in the Olympic qualifying match in a 6–0 victory over Cuba. In the final group stage match, Corona scored to give the Americans a 3–2 lead over El Salvador; however, a late El Salvador goal earned a draw and eliminated the Americans from contention for the 2012 Olympic Games.

On May 26, 2012, Corona made his debut for the United States men's national soccer team in a friendly against Scotland, coming on in the 68th minute as a sub. On October 16, 2012, Corona made his first official appearance, coming on as a sub in a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Guatemala, permanently cap-tying him to the United States National Soccer Team.

U.S Men's National Team & Lack of Minutes with Xolos

Corona found himself on the end of the bench at Club Tijuana during the Apertura 2013 season, with his playing time having vanished and his standing with the national team suddenly in jeopardy. Corona went many matches without playing a single minute, having been reduced to playing time in CONCACAF Champions League matches. He fell behind 18-year-old American prospect Paul Arriola on the Xolos depth chart during the Apertura 2013 season, and even further behind regular starter Javier Guemez in the plans of Club Tijuana head coach Jorge Almiron.

Career Injury

On October 17, 2014 the breaking news in the soccer world broke with indications that US international Joe Corona left Estadio Caliente on crutches after the game, as Club Tijuana came from behind to defeat Ronaldinho’s Querétaro 2-1. Corona and Greg Garza both came off the bench – with Xolos behind – after an hour, but the former was forced off 13 minutes later with what looked liked a serious injury to his right foot. Garza and Corona had just returned to their respective club after playing for the US Men's National Team in two friendly matches. Early reports in the media the following day indicated that Corona had fractured the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot. Corona was placed on the Xolo's disable list and underwent surgery to repair the fracture on October 28, 2014. He returned to practice with his team Club Xolos in January, under strict supervision in preparation for the Clausura Torneo ( Tournament) 2015. As for the USA Men's National team he continues to be a top contender for which he was already brewing to become, as a regular starter prior to his foot injury.

2015 Trade/Draft Liga MX

On June 10, 2015 the Liga MX draft conference concluded with a last minute transaction between Club Tijuana and the Veracruz Tiburones. Joe Benny Corona was traded from Club Tijuana, in a deal that would send him packing to Veracruz, Mexico. The decision did not resonate very well with local fans from both sides of the border, as Corona had always been seen as the face of the Xolos bi-national relations and marketable agenda. Corona left a historic mark with the Tijuana team, since he was the player that scored the goal, which took the team to an upper level of recognition with in the first division platform. It was Joe Corona who placed the first goal into the net, when Club Tijuana scored their first goal as first division contenders. Corona, hit the social media immediately the following day giving thanks to his fans, for always making him feel at home. He also added, he always felt comforted by great people. "It is six years of soccer which I take with me, no matter where I go, god bless Tijuana" his statement concluded. Corona is set to start the Apertura Torneo 2015, in the city of Veracruz, Mexico, with the team known as Tiburones Rojos, of professional soccer in the LIGA MX.

Gold Cup Roster

At the same time news spread of Joe Corona's departure from Club Tijuana, on June 10, 2015, the USA Men's National team placed Corona on the 35 man preliminary roster for the International tournament Gold Cup.

Personal life

Joe Corona is of Mexican and Salvadoran descent. His mother was born in El Salvador (Janira Corona), and his father in Mexico (Angel Corona). He has one sibling (a sister). He was born in Los Angeles, California, and as a young boy moved to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He later moved to San Diego, where he attended Sweetwater High School in National City. He graduated and received a scholarship to attend San Diego State University. Corona scored three goals and had an assist in 15 games with the Aztecs in 2008.[5] He resides in the border town of San Ysidro. He has an instagram account as well as a Twitter.

International goals

As of December 14, 2014
Scores and results list USA's goal tally first.
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. July 13, 2013 Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, USA  Cuba 2–1 4–1 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2. July 21, 2013 M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA  El Salvador 2–0 5–1 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honors

United States

Tijuana

References

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