Brownsville is Futbol: Brownsville’s top 50 high school boys players of all time

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

One name says it all.

Some of Brownsville’s best high school soccer players over the years are immediately identifiable by nicknames such as “ Chelin,” “Moy,” “ Chicle,” “ Bebo,” “Chino,” “ Jaiba” and “ Tanque.”

As evidenced by the four UIL state titles Brownsville boys soccer teams have brought home since 2004, there has been no shortage of talented players at the city’s high school level since the the UIL sport started in Texas in 1983.

Those four state championship teams include Lopez in 2004, Porter in 2006 and 2016 and Rivera in 2015. Also, Lopez reached the state final in 2009 as did Hanna in 2013. Other Brownsville squads advanced to the UIL state tournament in 1984, 1990, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2016.

But none of those teams would have been great without great players.

Coming up with a list of the city’s best players from the past 30-plus years is a challenging task, but The Brownsville Herald gave it a try thanks to input from current local coaches along with help from former coaches and players.

Among the ones selected to The Herald’s Top 50 list of Brownsville’s best players are Rivera’s Isidro “ Chelin” Martinez, Lopez’s Moises “Moy” Gonzalez, Enrique “ Chicle” Rivera and Jose “ Bebo” Ramos, Porter’s Mario “Chino” Perez and Jesus “ Tanque” Rodriguez and Hanna’s Eduardo “ Jaiba ” Sanchez. There are many other standout players known more commonly by one name as well.

Perez, a forward-midfielder, started four years for Porter before graduating in 2009. As a freshman in 2006, he stepped in to start at center midfielder for the Cowboys in the Class 5A state final at Round Rock when Porter rallied to beat favored Coppell 2-1 in overtime. He went on to earn all-conference honors playing at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College .

When told his name was on the Top 50 list as one of Brownsville ’s best players, Perez was surprised and humbled.

“It’s an honor to be one of the ones chosen,” he said. “It’s something you don’t really expect. You play the game because you love it and you play for your team.

“It’s good to hear that people watched you and enjoyed seeing you play,” he added. “I’m just very grateful to be selected as one of the ones (on the list).”

Perez’s response was similar to the others who were selected.

Just like Perez, Juan Gamboa, sometimes known as “ Gamby ,” and Rivera both played at UTB-TSC and earned recognition in college for their strong play after standout high school careers at Pace and Lopez, respectively.

Each was a clear choice for The Herald’s Top 50 list. Gamboa was a four-year starter at goalkeeper for Pace teams that won District 32-5A four straight seasons and that played in the regional final twice. Rivera, as a junior forward in 2004, scored approximately 30 goals, as did fellow junior forward “ Bebo ” Ramos, to help Lopez win the Class 4A state title. It was the Valley’s first of six UIL state championships in soccer.

Gamboa was quick to voice his appreciation.

“First off, I’d just like to say thank you and that I am very humbled to even be considered for that list,” said Gamboa , who will be coaching soccer at Bonham and playing for the Dallas Sidekicks again during the coming school year. “There have been so many great players over the years. My time at Pace was a great experience. I am very grateful to coach (Jose Alfredo) ‘Chico ’ Jimenez and (his assistant) Jesus O. Villarreal for trusting me enough to consider me a varsity player as a freshman. I learned so much from them.

“We had great runs all four years, but it still hurts a little that we never got to take the last step into the state tournament (due to a pair of narrow losses in the regional final in 2006 and 2007),” Gamboa added.

“ Chicle ” feels honored as well.

“It’s a blessing to be named one of the top players of all time in Brownsville ,” Rivera said. “I would’ve never imagined this recognition. Without all my teammates, coaches and staff this wouldn’t be possible. I personally want to thank those who voted in my favor. They recognize the hard work, dedication and passion I have for the game.”

Another player who was a lock for the all-time best list is Martinez, who earned Class 6A MVP honors at the UIL state tournament in 2015 when Rivera captured the inaugural 6A boys state title in soccer. Also, “ Chelin ” is the only player from Brownsville ever chosen as USA Today/Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year for Texas , which happened in 2015.

“Being part of the list of (best) players is not because of me, it’s because of the quality of my teammates that helped me, and God strengthening me,” said Martinez , who now plays for the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. “What stands out to me about my years at Rivera is the help they provide you in the classroom and on the pitch. Everyone at Rivera is a family, and it’s great. You see people there that really care about your future.

“I want to thank (Rivera soccer) coach (Salvador ) Garcia, coach (Andres) Macias and coach (Jose) Dominguez for always believing in me,” he added. “This consideration (as one of the best players) goes to all the Raider family.”

The Herald’s list includes three sets of brothers. They are Ivan (2004 graduate) and Nestor Morales (2009) of Lopez, Filiberto (2004) and Alan Cortinas (2011) of Porter and Jesus “ Tanque ” (2001) and Diego Rodriguez (2006) of Porter.

“It’s a great honor to be considered one of the top all-time players in Brownsville ,” said Diego Rodriguez, who was a defensive midfielder and team captain on Porter’s 2006 state championship team. “It’s funny because I grew up admiring so many local players, including my brother (a strong scorer at forward). He was my greatest role model and I always pushed myself to be at his level.

“It’s really rewarding to be recognized by my city, but I believe there’s always room to improve and grow as a player,” added Rodriguez, who now plays professionally for Barracudas FC of Brownsville .

Likewise, Ivan Morales is glad his brother Nestor is joining him on the Top 50 list. Both were midfielders. Ivan’s 2004 Lopez team won state, while Nestor’s 2009 Lobos squad was a state runner-up. There was also an older brother, Ruben Morales, who played soccer for Lopez. Their grandfather, Santos Morales, began the family’s soccer tradition playing in Matamoros and is in the sports hall of fame there.

“For me, it is really a privilege to be part of such an elite group of great players,” Ivan Morales said. “I personally know most of them, and it was really a pleasure playing against them on many occasions. Being included (on the Top 50 list) with my brother is something special and amazing. I recall Nestor being there as a ball boy during my time playing for Lopez, and I feel very proud of what he has done on and off the field.”

A cousin of the Morales brothers, Nestor Estrada, a standout for Rivera who graduated in 2004, is also on the Top 50 list. Jose Espitia, who just coached Porter to its second state title last April, believes the city’s soccer players and teams will only continue to get better and better. Espitia has seen some good ones. He played for Lopez before graduating in 1997 and was an assistant coach at Lopez when the Lobos won it all in 2004 before he was there to win state as Porter’s head coach in 2016.

“There are so many great players (in Brownsville),” Espitia said. “It has a lot to do with the fact that all Brownsville programs work very hard and are constantly finding ways to improve their coaching. It makes everything more competitive and it makes all of us better.”