On Friday, exciting news broke as Union Omaha announced the signing of midfielder Luis Gil. The 28-year-old California native brings a wealth of experience, ranging from Major League Soccer (MLS) to Liga MX to virtually every ladder of the US Soccer national team, culminating in two caps for the senior squad.
Luis Gil grew up in Garden Grove, California and started playing soccer at the age of three. By the time he was 15 years old, he was already attending the IMG Soccer Academy and playing with the US Soccer Development Academy. From 2008 to 2009, Gil made 32 appearances with the U17 National Team, scoring 5 goals. In 2010, Gil signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer. Despite gaining the attention of Premier League-side Arsenal, Gil’s professional rights went to the Kansas City Wizards. With a backroom deal in place, Gil was traded to Real Salt Lake, where he would go on to make 134 appearances and score 11 goals. In October of the same year, Gil made his Real Salt Lake debut in a CONCACAF Champions League group-stage match against Cruz Azul. His first MLS goal came against the New York Red Bulls in 2011.
While playing with Querétaro of the Liga MX, he experienced a series of loan spells that saw his return to the MLS with clubs like Orlando City, Colorado Rapids, and Houston Dynamo. In 2019, Gil felt the need to get out of his comfort zone and try to redefine his career. It took a surprising move to Czech Republic and a stint with FK Viktoria Žižkov to really rediscover his strengths and enhance his play. In an interview 2020 with Brian Sciaretta, he spoke about his decision:
“I had options in MLS, but I kind of wanted to get away from that. The whole idea was just kind of get away from where I was comfortable. I feel like I was just so used to a certain way and a certain style…It was kind of a quick decision in a way. It was just something where I can get back to where I wanted to be – the player that I wanted to be, where coached didn’t know me. I wanted something different.”
Adjusting to Czech soccer took some time for Gil, but he learned to embrace the style and began having fun playing the beautiful game again. In the same interview with Sciaretta, he said:
“The soccer here is actually very distinct. Czech football, I would say more in the second league, than first, it’s very, very physical and very direct. It’s kind of its own football in a way. It’s kind of under the radar, but it’s actually a very pretty decent high level even at the second tier. Then obviously, once you get to the first divisions, you can start seeing the Sparta Prague’s, the Slavia Prague’s. Those teams are consistently fighting in the Europe League. It’s been an adjustment at first, but I have found some success here. I’m playing consistently, scoring some goals, making some assists, making some plays. I’m getting back into it and getting back to myself. Hopefully I continue to grow.”
The hard work and perseverance paid off and his current coach, Jay Mims, doled out the compliments. In Union Omaha’s press release, Mims said:
“Luis adds great quality and experience to our team. He has played at the highest level in our country, including at every level with the USMNT. Adding an experienced, quality player like Luis will have such a great impact on our team on and off the field for the second half of the season. We are excited to welcome Luis to the club and I know the players are eager to have another hardworking, humble person in the locker room.”
In the same press release, Gil shared his own excitement. “I’m thrilled to be a part of a championship team. [I’m] Hoping to help bring another to the city of Omaha!”
Gil joins Union Omaha just as the team travels to Greenville, South Carolina to face off against first-placed Triumph. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday night at 6 PM and will broadcast on ESPN+.
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