Player Details

Name

Fabian Espindola

Height

5' 9"

Weight

161 lbs

Date of Birth

5.4.1985 (38)

Birthplace

Merlo, San Luis, Argentina Argentina

Position

Forward

Player Category

Designated Player
Career Summary

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2015 

D.C. United’s most dynamic offensive player was limited for much of the season due to injuries and suspension, but he was a force every time he stepped on the field, averaging nearly a goal or assist per game. After missing the first six games of the regular season due to suspension, he had a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Columbus on May 2. He came off the bench to deliver two assists in a 3-1 win over Chicago on June 3 and recorded one more each against Toronto on June 6 and New England on June 21. Espíndola scored in back-to-back games against Philadelphia on July 26 and Real Salt Lake on Aug. 1. Following a month-long injury layoff, he had the game-tying assist in a 1-1 draw at Colorado. He again scored in consecutive games against New York City FC on Oct. 2 and Chicago on Oct. 18, also adding an assist in the latter. Espíndola also scored in both legs of the 2014-15 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals against Alajuelense.

2014

In his first season in D.C., Espíndola made 27 appearances (24 starts) and finished the year with new career-highs in goals (11) and assists (9) en route to being named team MVP. It was the most productive of his eight years in Major League Soccer, during which he has compiled 55 goals and 28 assists. Espíndola became one of only four MLS players with at least nine goals in each season from 2011-14, along with Landon Donovan, Thierry Henry and  Chris Wondolowski. Announced his arrival by scoring D.C. United’s first goal of the season in a 2-2 tie with Chicago on March 29, 2014. He also scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over 2013 MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City on May 31 with a magnificent curling strike that was No. 1 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10, after contributing two goals and an assist in 4-1 win over FC Dallas on Apr. 26. Despite being injured in the opening seconds of the Black-and-Red’s visit to the Montreal Impact on June 11, Espíndola recorded a hat trick of assists before being substituted at halftime. He also scored both goals in a 2-1 CONCACAF Champions League win at Waterhouse FC of Jamaica.

2013

Shot out of the gate in his Red Bulls debut when he scored the fifth brace of his career in the season opener against the Portland Timbers on Mar. 3. His first goal as a Red Bull gave New York an early 1-0 lead over the Timbers, and his second stood as the go-ahead tally in the 24th minute in what concluded as a 3-3 draw. Espíndola had 28 appearances, 23 starts, 48 shots and 2,054 minutes of action.

2012

Finished just one goal shy of his career-high from the previous season with nine total tallies, and set a new career-best in assists with seven. His 30 appearances, 27 starts, 69 shots and 2,293 minutes of action were also new career highs. Registered two braces during the course of the season, his first coming against Chivas USA on June 16, and the other against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 6.

2011

Espíndola recorded a career-high 10 goals, coupled with three assists (tying his best), in 27 appearances (25 starts) for Real Salt Lake. Ironically, Espindola registered the second brace of his career in a 3-1 win over the Red Bulls on Sept. 21. By season’s end, Espíndola finished second overall in RSL’s goal-scoring race, behind only Alvaro Saborio.

2010

In 22 matches and 19 starts, both career highs, Espíndola accumulated six goals and two assists in 1,945 minutes of action. His goal total placed him third overall on the team and marked his best performance since his five-goal outing during his sophomore campaign in 2008. During a CCL match on Aug. 25, Espíndola scored a goal in the 64th minute that gave RSL a 3-1 lead, one they later forfeited in a 5-4 loss.

2009

Spent his 2008-09 offseason with Venezuelan side Deportivo Anzoategui and didn’t return to the Real Salt Lake lineup until May 4. Upon his return, the Argentinean scored three goals and three assists in 23 games (17 starts), and helped power RSL into the postseason. During the MLS Cup Playoffs, Espindola started in both wins against the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, came off the bench in the Eastern Conference Championship match, and also appeared off the bench in RSL’s 1-1 draw, and 5-4 PK win, over the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final.

2008

Despite a number of injuries that limited his playing time, Espíndola still registered five goals in 12 appearances, eight of which were starts, in just 642 minutes of action. Espíndola suffered a left knee sprain on May 31 against San Jose that left him out of the lineup for two months, and shortly after his return suffered a severe ankle sprain on Sept. 6 that left him out for the remainder of the regular season. He did return in time for the playoffs, but saw limited time off the bench.

2007

Signed with Real Salt Lake on Aug. 17 and made his MLS debut the very next day against the Chicago Fire. Two weeks later on Aug. 29, Espíndola scored his first MLS goal, a game-winner against Kansas City. Earned his first assist on Sept. 29 against the Red Bulls on a goal that was finished by Kyle Beckerman.

ACQUIRED

Selected in Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 on Dec. 18, 2013.