Biography
Who is Carlos Gruezo?
Early life and background
Carlos Gruezo was born on April 19, 1995, in Santo Domingo, Ecuador. His father is Carlos Armando Gruezo Quiñónez, and his full name at birth is Carlos Armando Gruezo Arboleda. Growing up in Ecuador, he developed an interest in association football and started his youth development path in the sport.
He began his official club career playing for Independiente del Valle. During his early years in his home country, he showed his skills on the field as a defensive midfielder before transferring to Ecuadorian club Barcelona SC. With Barcelona SC, he achieved early success by winning the Serie A de Ecuador title in 2012, which helped establish his reputation as a promising young talent in South American football.
Career highlights in Europe
After establishing himself in Ecuador, Carlos earned an opportunity in Germany by going on trial for VfB Stuttgart during their preseason friendlies in South Africa. Following the trial, he signed a four-year contract with Stuttgart on January 30, 2014. Later that year, he scored his first goal for the German club in a victory over Freiburg, marking a well-known milestone by becoming the first Ecuadorian player to score in the Bundesliga.
Although he experienced a strong start in Germany, he later lost his spot in the starting lineup during 2015 and made only a few more appearances for Stuttgart. Seeking new opportunities, he eventually returned to Germany years later on July 2, 2019, by joining FC Augsburg on a five-year deal, further extending his professional experience in European league competition.
Move to Major League Soccer
Carlos expanded his career to North America by moving to FC Dallas on January 23, 2016. During his time with FC Dallas, he contributed to team success by winning both the U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield in 2016. In February 2019, he reached an important personal milestone by obtaining a U.S. Green card, which qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
Later in his career, he returned to the United States on January 31, 2023, to join the San Jose Earthquakes on a three-year deal. After playing for the San Jose Earthquakes for a couple of seasons, the club and Carlos mutually agreed to terminate his contract in February 2025, leading to a subsequent move to L.D.U. Quito.
International career and playing style
On the international stage, Carlos represented the Ecuador U17 national team at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2013 South American Youth Championship. He made his debut for the senior Ecuador national team on May 17, 2014, entering the match as a second-half substitute against the Netherlands. Following his debut, he earned selections for multiple major international competitions, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, several editions of the Copa América, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA's official website has described him as a technically adept holding midfielder and a precise passer of the ball. His defensive skills and tactical awareness have made him a consistent choice for the Ecuador national team across various coaching staffs and international tournaments over more than a decade.
Birthday and age
Carlos Gruezo was born on April 19, 1995, which makes Carlos 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Carlos shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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