“We all need to have long hair and headbands now” Guillermo Ochoa
Guillermo Ochoa is famous for his style of play his black headband and his defensive abilities to keep the clean sheets and push the ball away from the net, including to motivation and leadership that he imparts on the defenders.
Footballers' haircuts are the center of attraction for their fans, Guillermo Ochoa (nickname Memo) has long hair and he always wears a headband. Memo once said, “We all need to have long hair and headbands now". After his statement, he is always seen wearing a black headband that adds charms to his personality.
Ochoa is often described as "proven to be a save keeper, with confidence and leadership by commentators and football experts.
Ochoa is Germany’s worst nightmare, he is one of the reasons for the knockout of Germany in group stages of FIFA 2018. Defending champion Germany and Mexico were in the same group F. In their opening game, Mexico beat Germany by 1-0, and Ochoa made 9 saves against a world-class squad of Germany. This match costs Germany and they eliminated from the FIFA campaign. In this match, Guillermo Ochoa made a heroic save of German and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos’s free-kick and push his team in the next round. Ochoa made 25 saves in the tournament and he has 2nd to Belgian Thibaut Courtois who made 27 in total.
Ochoa wears no. 13 for Mexico and no. 6 for his club. Despite his age, he still manages to find his place in playing 11.
CLUBS AND TRANSFER HISTORY
Guillermo Ochoa started his professional club career in 2004. He played his first match for Club América against Monterry in the Clausura tournament. Leo Beenhakker was his first coach in club career, who also managed European Giant Real Madrid. The following year Ochoa won two trophies with Club América, Clausura 2005 and Campeon de Campeones Cup. Mexican had to battle for his place in the net, he worked hard and made himself Club's first-choice goalkeeper. In 2006, Ochoa won CONCACAF Champion’s Cup Club América.
He is only first-ever Mexican to be nominated for FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2007. Rumors speculated about the transfer of Ochoa to England; as Manchester United seemed to be interested in Mexican.
After his successful 8 seasons with Club América, he moved to France, where he played with newly promoted AC Ajaccio in Ligue 1 from Ligue 2. Ochoa managed to keep 12 clean sheets in the season including the one against Paris Saint-Germain. He made their season alive and save the club from relegation. He was a first-choice goalkeeper for the next two seasons as well. Ochoa made it into headlines when he made 12 saves against PSG in the Ligue 1, 2013-14 campaign.
After leaving AC Ajaccio, Mexican signed 3 years contract with Malaga as a free agent. After 2015-16 season, he was loaned to Granada for 1 year, after the end of the season, he was loaned to Standard Liege, where the Mexican no. 13 spent 2 seasons.
In August 2019, Ochoa decided to come back home, where it all started and signed a 4 years contract with Club América.
OCHOA'S ACHIEVEMENTS
Liga MX Clausura Winner, 2004-05
CONCACAF Champions Cup Winner 2005-06
Belgian Cup Winner, 2018
Mexico Gold Cup Winner, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2109
FUTURE PLANS
Memo is getting older, he might retire after two or three seasons, he wishes to stay at his first and retire at club América. We are looking forward to watching Ochoa wearing headband on the pitch.
