QuickFacts

• A product of Chivas Guadalajara’s youth system, joined Chivas USA prior to the 2005 season and is one of two players still on the roster from the original season (with Brad Guzan)
• A mercurial midfielder, has become a dangerous left sided player who has become one of the club’s most potent and unpredictable offensive weapons
• Is the club’s all-time leader in both games played (83) and minutes (6989) ahead of the 2008 season

Mercurial midfielder who joined Club Guadalajara’s youth system through open tryouts in 1999 and has since shone in Major League Soccer, becoming a regular starter for Chivas USA and one of the club’s most potent and unpredictable offensive weapons.

Before joining Chivas USA, Mendoza played 11 games (starting six) for La Piedad during the 19-game Apertura (Fall) 2004 season, scoring four goals. Born in the soccer hotbed of El Salto, Jalisco, Mendoza currently resides in Southern California.

PROFESSIONAL (MLS)

2007: Regular season: Played 28 regular-season games for Chivas USA (starting 27), logging 2652 minutes, registering 2 goals and 4 assists. Playoffs: Played 2 postseason games for Chivas USA (starting 2), logging 171 minutes.

2006: Regular season: Played 31 regular-season games for Chivas USA (starting 31), logging 2652 minutes, registering 3 goals and 6 assists. Finished third on Chivas USA in assists (tied with Juan Pablo García). Playoffs: Played 2 postseason games for Chivas USA (starting 2), logging 180 minutes.

2005: Played 24 regular-season games for Chivas USA (starting 20), logging 1878 minutes. Played four Reserve Division games (all starts), logging 316 minutes and registering 1 goal and 1 assist.

CHIVAS GUADALAJARA

Represented Chivas at the Piloto, Tercera, Segunda, Reservas and Primera ‘A’ levels. Registered with Primera ‘A’ (second-tier) side Chivas La Piedad since 2003, saw action with both La Piedad and Chivas’ Segunda División teams.

Mendoza logged minutes for Chivas’ first team in exhibition matches and international tournaments, making his debut at age 16 in the Copa Mercosur 2001 under then-head coach Oscar Ruggeri.

Mendoza’s last match as a Club Guadalajara player was in the final of the Copa Lowe’s at East Los Angeles College in January 2005.

INTERNATIONAL

A member of Mexico’s U-17 squad during the qualifying process for the 2001 World Championships.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Beginnings: I started playing since I was six years old in a team in my neighborhood called Atlante.

Chivas USA: A challenge since I’ve been with the first team and in which I want to become a champion.

Idols: Ramón Ramírez he is a player that I have always admired and I think that I have many of his qualities.

Other sports: I used to play basketball in school but I didn’t keep playing since I am very short.

Charitable causes: I like to help the poor kinds in my town, El Salto, Jalisco. I try to help them every time I go there.