Carlos Gruezo

PLAYER PROFILE: CARLOS GRUEZO

By: PXI STAFF (@ProspectXI)

Position: Midfielder
Primary Role: Defensive Midfielder
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 148
DOB: 04/19/1995
Nationality: Ecuador
Preferred Footed: Right
Club: FC Dallas (MLS)

Has 10 appearances with Ecuador Senior National Team.

Signed a Designated Player Contract with FC Dallas, January 23^rd, 2016.

2011: Independiente Teran (Ecuador Serie A) – 4 games, 153 minutes, 1 shot on target
2012: Barcelona SC (Ecuador Serie A) – 38 games, 3064 minutes, 1 goal, 5 shots on target, 13 yellows, 1 red
2013: Barcelona SC (Ecuador Serie A) – 38 games, 3193 minutes, 2 goals, 4 shots on target, 8 yellows
2013-2014: VfB Stuttgart (German 1.Bundesliga) – 8 games, 625 minutes, 3 yellows
2014-2015: VfB Stuttgart (German 1.Bundesliga) – 8 games, 438 minutes, 1 goal, 1 shot on target, 1 yellow
2015-2016: VfB Stuttgart (German 1.Bundesliga) – 2 games, 59 minutes

A phenom in Ecuadorian soccer since the age of 14, Gruezo quickly established himself from playing youth soccer with LDU Quito to making his Ecuador Serie A debut as a 16-year-old in 2011 with Independiente. Gruezo was also the key player on the Ecuador U-17 side that made the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup including scoring a goal in the tournament.

Gruezo transferred to Barcelona SC and quickly became the starting defensive midfielder playing 77 league games with the club between 2012 and 2013 winning the 2012 Seria A title and playing in the 2013 Copa Libertadores. Carlos went on trial with VfB Stuttgart of the German Bundesliga 2013-2014 winter break and signed a four year contract with the club on January 30, 2014. In three years with the German club, Gruezo only featured in 18 games scoring one Bundesliga goal in 2014 becoming the first Ecuadorian to score in the Bundesliga. Gruezo has 10 caps with the Ecuador National Team and played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup where he played in games against Honduras and Switzerland

Gruezo transferred to FC Dallas on January 23, 2016 in a deal reported multi-million dollar deal and although his salary has yet to be announced it is said that Gruezo will be a designated player for the MLS side. Carlos is an aggressive defender with good tackling skills and is also good on the ball especially involving short passes in the midfield. He reads the pitch very well especially for a player at his age. He is defensive minded first and although he has shown he can shoot for the distance he doesn’t get involved offensively which might be expected from him in the MLS.

+ Made Ecuador Serie A debut in 2011 with Independente
+ Played in the 2011 U-17 FIFA World Cup
+ Played two seasons with Barclona SC in the Ecuadorian Serie A
+ Played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
+ Transferred to VfB Stuttgart in the Germany 1.Bundesliga in 2014
+ Transferred to FC Dallas in MLS in 2016