Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores (born January 3, 1975 in San Salvador, El Salvador) is a Salvadoran footballer who last played for the Carolina Railhawks of the USL First Division.

[edit] Club career

Cerritos has spent the bulk of his career playing in MLS, being signed by the league on March 21, 1997 and allocated to the San Jose Clash. While with San Jose he achieved great success, being named in the MLS Best XI in his first year with the club. In the offseason after 2001, however, Cerritos was traded to the Dallas Burn for Ariel Graziani. He never was able to settle in Dallas, having trouble earning a starting spot, and struggling with injuries.

After a year and a half at Dallas, during which he scored seven goals, Cerritos was traded to D.C. United for Ali Curtis and a first-round pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Cerritos again was largely unproductive in D.C. and was cut midway through the 2004 season because his performances were not justifying his large salary, and returned to play for Alianza in his native El Salvador. After the season with Alianza he returned to MLS and his original team, with San Jose acquiring him from DC for a draft pick. During his return season Cerritos scored an additional 6 goals and remains the top scorer for San Jose with 61 goals. Shortly after his return to the Earthquakes, however, Cerritos was moved to Houston for the 2006 season along with his teammates. Despite his success with San Jose his resulting stint with the Houston Dynamo was short-lived, as he was released in August 2006.

He was later signed by San Salvador F.C. on a two year deal and became an outstanding performer week in and week out, soon being recalled to the El Salvador national team to participate in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.

In November 2007, Cerritos signed a two year contract with expansion Real Maryland FC USL Second Division.^[1] He played fifteen games, scoring two goals,^[2], but was released by the team after their 6-0 loss to the Richmond Kickers, a game in which he did not play. On July 31, 2008, Cerritos signed with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division. He finished the season with the RailHawks, but was not signed by the team for the 2009 season.

[edit] National team

Cerritos has been a mainstay in the El Salvador national team, having made over 60 appearances.^[3] He made his debut for the national team against Yugoslavia on November 12, 1995 and scored his first goal for El Salvador in a 3-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on January 10, 1996 in a 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup Match.

On March 5, 2000 in a FIFA World Cup qualification match against Belize, Cerritos scored El Salvador's 400th goal in all senior international matches.

[edit] Family Life

In his spare time he enjoys playing cards and playing basketball with his friends. He enjoys spending time with his two sons and his favorite basketball team is the Los Angeles Lakers. He currently lives in Montgomery County Maryland.

He now coaches his own soccer team for kids named International Cerritos Soccer Academy. He also coaches two U-15 club teams Calverton Revolution and Potomac Warriors.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ronald Cerritos FIFA competition record
• MLS Career Statistics
• Real Maryland player profile

v • d • e El Salvador squad – 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Alfaro • 2 Hernández • 3 Cárcamo • 4 Rojas • 5 de la Cruz • 6 Vicevic • 7 Renderos • 8 C. Castro • 9 I. Castro • 10 González • 11 Cerritos • 12 Cienfuegos • 14 Amaya • 16 Argueta • 17 Rodríguez • 18 Guerra • 19 Díaz • 20 Iraheta • 21 G. Rivera • 22 S. Rivera • Coach: Dojčinovski

v • d • e El Salvador squad – 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Rivera • 2 Osorio • 3 — • 4 Benítez • 5 Velásquez • 6 Cubías • 7 Canjura • 8 Cabrera • 9 Galdámez • 10 — • 11 Cerritos • 13 Umanzor • 14 Corrales • 16 A. Martínez • 17 Rodríguez • 18 Navarro • 19 E. Martínez • 20 García • Coach: Recinos

v • d • e El Salvador squad – 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Gómez • 2 Guevara • 3 Anaya • 4 Mendoza • 5 Henríquez • 6 J.O. Martínez • 7 Merino • 8 Menjívar • 9 Campos • 10 Melgar • 11 Cerritos • 12 Carballo • 13 J.E. Martínez • 14 Sánchez • 15 Salazar • 16 Larios • 17 Alas • 18 Escobar • 19 Pacheco • 20 Álvarez • 21 Quintanilla • 22 Portillo • 23 Montes • Coach: de los Cobos