PRONUNCIATION
Updated through December 12, 2020
Columbus (2020): Jimenez made eight regular-season appearances (four starts as a left-back). He made his first start of the year for Crew SC in a MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matcn against FC Cincinnati (July 11), providing an assist on a Youness Mokhtar goal. Jimenez then started against the New York Red Bulls* (July 16) and made a substitute appearance for Milton Valenzuela against Atlanta United* (July 21). He made a total of four appearances (two starts) during the MLS is Back Tournament. Jimenez started on the road at New York City FC (August 24). The defender then made a substitute appearance at home against Nashville SC (September 19). He then started on the road at Toronto FC (September 27) before making subsitute appearances at home against the Montreal Impact (October 7) and New York City FC (October 18). In Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs action, he made one substitute appearance at home against Seattle Sounders FC (December 12) during MLS Cup 2020.
* MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matches counted towards the 2020 MLS regular season
2019 (Columbus): Hector Jimenez made 23 regular-season appearances (10 starts as a left back, seven starts as a right back and two starts as a right midfielder) in 2019, scoring one goal and providing four assists. He made his 2019 regular-season debut against the New England Revolution (March 9) coming in as a substitute for Pedro Santos in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. He provided an assist on Gyasi Zardes’ second goal, just three minutes after taking the field. Jimenez made his 2019 regular-season start on the road against the Philadelphia Union (March 23). He made his second consecutive start of 2019 in a home contest against the New England Revolution (April 6). Jimenez made eight consecutive starts for the Black & Gold starting on April 6 (New England). He recorded his 100th regular-season MLS start during a home match against D.C. United (April 20). In the 66th minute of a home contest against the LA Galaxy (May 8), Jimenez recorded his first goal of the 2019 regular-season. Jimenez donned the Captain’s band during a home contest against Sporting Kansas City (June 23) playing all 90 minutes of the contest. He returned to the starting lineup during a road contest against the Chicago Fire (July 17) playing all 90 minutes. Jimenez made a substitute appearance during a home contest against the Montreal Impact (July 20) and provided an assist. Jimenez returned to the starting XI during a road contest against the New York Red Bulls (July 27) and provided an assist. He started in a road contest against the San Jose Earthquakes (August 3), suffering a left knee injury in the ninth minute of the match, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Jimenez made two appearances (two starts) during the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2018 (Columbus): Hector Jimenez made 11 regular-season appearances (five starts at leftback and two starts at right back) for Crew SC this season, registering one assist. He made his 2018 MLS regular-season debut as a starter in a home match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (March 31), playing 67 minutes. Jimenez came in as a substitute for Federico Higuain in the 82nd minute of a road match against D.C. United (April 14). He returned to the starting lineup and played all 90 minutes in a road match against Seattle Sounders FC (May 5). Jimenez started and recorded an assist in a home match against the Chicago Fire (May 12). He returned to action as a substitute in a road match against Los Angeles FC (June 23), and he started the following week in a home match against Real Salt Lake (June 30). Jimenez started in an international friendly at home against Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa (July 3) before returning to the starting lineup in regular-season action in a road match against the LA Galaxy (July 7). He also came on as a substitute in a road match against the New York Red Bulls (July 28). Jimenez made his 100th regular-season appearance for Crew SC as he returned to the starting lineup in a road match against Atlanta United FC (August 19). His next start came in a road match against the Portland Timbers (September 19). imenez made a substitute appearance in a road match against Orlando City SC (October 21). Jimenez made one appearance in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. He came in as a substitute for Pedro Santos in an Eastern Conference Knockout Round match against D.C. United (November 1). He made one appearance (one start as a leftback) in a 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round home match against the Chicago Fire (June 6), captaining the team.
2017 (Columbus): Jimenez made 19 appearances (15 starts) this season: 11 appearances (nine starts) at rightback, four appearances (two starts) at right wingback and four appearances (four starts) as a leftback, providing three assists. He made his season debut as a starter in a road contest against Chicago (April 8), playing the entire 90 minutes and started in a home match against the New England Revolution (May 6). Jimenez made his 75th regular-season appearance for Crew SC against Toronto FC (May 10), coming into the match as a substitute in the 66th minute. He started in a home match against Seattle Sounders FC (May 31), his 50th start for Crew SC, and recorded his first assist of the 2017 MLS season. Jimenez started in an international friendly match at home against Eintracht Frankfurt (July 14). He made his 125th appearance in MLS in the road contest against Real Salt Lake (July 29) coming on as a substitute in the second half. Jimenez started as a leftback in a road match against Orlando City SC (October 15), providing the game-winning assist. Jimenez made four appearances (three starts) at leftback in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
2016 (Columbus): Jimenez made 25 appearances (14 starts) for Crew SC, with seven appearances at rightback, ten at leftback, five at left midfield, two at central attacking midfield and one at right midfield. He started in the season opener at Portland (March 6) and again vs. Philadelphia (March 12). He registered his 100th MLS regular-season appearance with a start at central attacking midfield at Sporting Kansas City (July 3). He started at leftback as part of a 2-0 win at New England (August 20), where he notched his first assist of the season. He came on as a second-half substitute at leftback to help close-out a win vs. San Jose (August 27). Started vs. New England (September 25) and helped Crew SC earn a shutout. He made two appearances in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He started at rightback in the win over Tampa Bay, playing 90 minutes (June 15) and again started in the Round of 16 at Chicago (June 28).
2015 (Columbus): Jimenez made 23 appearances (12 starts) in his second season with Crew SC, with 17 appearances coming at rightback, four coming at right midfield, one at leftback and one at central attacking midfield. He recorded four assists on the season. He made his campaign debut with a substitute appearance at central attacking midfield against Houston (March 7). Later, he made his first start of the season with a nod at rightback at Vancouver (April 8). He started at rightback vs. Seattle (May 9), registering his first assist of the season on Kei Kamara’s eventual game-winning goal. He again started at rightback at San Jose (May 16), registering his 75th MLS appearance and 50th MLS start in the process. He started the club’s international friendly vs. Valencia CF (May 27). Jimenez notched his third assist of the campaign at Real Salt Lake (June 27) and his fourth at Colorado (August 8). He did not make an appearance in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Jimenez started in Crew SC’s 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round contest at Richmond (June 17), helping the club earn a 3-1 victory.
2014 (Columbus): Jimenez made 24 appearances (19 starts), including 12 starts at right midfield, one start at left midfield and six starts at rightback. He recorded one goal and five assists in his first season with the Black & Gold. He made his Columbus debut in the team’s 2014 Season Opener against D.C. United (March 8) and earned a game-winning assist on Jairo Arrieta’s opening goal in the 3-0 win. He scored his first goal of the season -- nominated for MLS AT&T Goal of the Week honors -- in the 90th minute against D.C. United (April 19), securing a 1-1 draw for the Black & Gold with his fifth career tally. He made his first start of the season at rightback in the 2-0 win over Chicago (May 24). He returned to the right wing in a start against Real Salt Lake (June 4). He made his first start of the season at left midfield in the match at D.C. (June 7). He came on at right midfield versus Chivas USA (September 7), where he recorded his fourth assist of the campaign. He made his first start since July 4 with a nod at rightback versus Montreal (September 27). He made his Columbus postseason debut -- and third Playoffs appearance overall -- in the Black & Gold’s opener versus New England (November 1). He started at central attacking midfield in the second leg at New England (November 9). Jimenez made two starts in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament -- he started at right midfield in the 2-1 win against Indy Eleven in the Fourth Round (June 17) before starting at rightback in the Fifth Round match at Chicago (June 25).
2013 (LA Galaxy): Jimenez’s third and final season in LA set early career highs in appearances (26), starts (14), goals (three) and assists (four) in regular-season action. He added an assist at Real Salt Lake (April 27) and scored his first goal of the season at Philadelphia (May 15). He scored his second goal of the season in the match against San Jose at Stanford Stadium (June 29) and later added an insurance goal – his third tally of the year – in the 2-0 win against FC Dallas (July 7). When the Galaxy and the Hoops would meet again the next month (August 11), Jimenez added an 82nd-minute assist on Landon Donovan’s goal in the 3-3 draw. His fourth and final assist of 2013 came on Robbie Keane’s equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Seattle Sounders FC (October 27). In Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action, he started in the club’s lone match, a 2-0 Third Round loss to the Carolina RailHawks (May 30). During the club’s 2013-2014 CONCACAF Champions League run, he made two appearances, including one start: earning a late-match appearance in the 2-0 win over Cartaginés (August 21) and the starting nod and a full 90 minutes against Isidro Metapán (October 25). Jimenez made his second career MLS Cup Playoffs appearance in a substitute role in the First Leg of the 2013 Western Conference Final in which Real Salt Lake would ultimately advance (November 3)
2012 (LA Galaxy): In his sophomore season with the Galaxy – en route to his second consecutive MLS Cup title – Jimenez saw his playing time increase drastically. He earned 15 appearances and 13 starts after making just two appearances and a single start in his rookie campaign. In his first action of 2012, he started and scored a third-minute goal against San Jose (May 23) and later added his first career assist at San Jose (June 30). His second assist of the season – the game-winner – was on a second half goal in the 2-0 win over Vancouver (September 1). In Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action, he started in the team’s lone match, a 2-1 loss to the Carolina RailHawks (May 29). During the Galaxy’s 2012-2013 CONCACAF Champions League run, he made five appearances – including four starts – and logged 358 minutes of action. In the same tournament, Jimenez also faced now-Columbus defender Waylon Francis (previously with CS Herediano) in a 0-0 draw (March 3, 2013). He made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut in the Knockout Round, come-from-behind, 2-1 win over Vancouver (November 1).
2011 (LA Galaxy): Drafted by the Galaxy in the Second Round (34th overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Jimenez helped the Galaxy to the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in his rookie season. He made two appearances, including one start. His Galaxy – and MLS debuts – came in a substitute appearance at the New York Red Bulls (October 4) before making his first start in a 90-minute performance at Houston (October 23). He made one appearance – a substitute appearance – in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play in the 3-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders (July 14). Jimenez also made one appearance – a substitute appearance – in the Galaxy’s 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League run, appearing the LA’s 2-1 win over Morelia (September 29).
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
At Cal from 2006-2010, the former Golden Bear was a three-time First Team All-Pac 10 (2008-2010) and finished second on Cal’s all-time assist list in program history (28). He scored five goals and 22 assists after being forced to miss the 2007 season with an injury. Jimenez led his team to the NCAA Tournament four times in his five years on campus, including a quarterfinal berth as a senior in 2010, matching the school’s best-ever finish in the Tournament. The Bears also won the Pac-10 that season, going 8-1-1 in the conference. His nine assists as a junior were the most in the conference.
INTERNATIONAL
The midfielder was also a member of the U.S. Under-17 National Team Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. in 2004 and 2005.
ACQUIRED
Jimenez was acquired along with a First Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (14th overall) from the LA Galaxy in exchange for the Black & Gold’s Second Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (42nd overall) and allocation money.
PERSONAL
Jimenez is the son of Mauricio and Dalilia Jimenez and brother to two younger sisters. He enjoys watching television shows on Netflix, including “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead.” In his spare time, he also enjoys hanging out with his niece. A fan of action movies, his go-to flick is “Gladiator” and he is a fan of most every type of music, but prefers hip-hop the most. He enjoys the musical work of Drake and Lil Wayne and looked up to Thierry Henry as a younger soccer player. Outside of MLS, Jimenez supports Arsenal and lists being a part of back-to-back MLS Cups in his first two seasons with the LA Galaxy as one of his favorite soccer memories. He enjoyed traveling with the Galaxy to the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia on a team tour. He speaks English and Spanish fluently and most frequently enjoys spending down moments with his family when he is not traveling for soccer.
Crew acquired Hector Jimenez and a First Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (14th overall) from the LA Galaxy in exchange for the Crew’s Second Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (23rd overall) and allocation money.
Name: Hector Jimenez
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 140
Born: November 3, 1988 in Huntington Park, California
Hometown: Bell Gardens, California
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Acquired along with a First Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (14th overall) from the LA Galaxy in exchange for the Crew’s Second Round 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection (23rd overall) and allocation money
Professional Experience: LA Galaxy (2011-2013)
