{{short description|Argentine footballer}} {{distinguish|Matías Vega|Matías Vera (footballer, born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Matías Vera | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Matías Gabriel Vera | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|11|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Merlo, Argentina | height = {{height|m=1.72}}<ref name="Soccerway"/> | position = Defensive midfielder | currentclub = Central Córdoba | clubnumber = 22 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Nueva Chicago | years1 = 2015–2018 | clubs1 = Nueva Chicago | caps1 = 82 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2018–2019 | clubs2 = San Lorenzo | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2018 | clubs3 = → O'Higgins (loan) | caps3 = 28 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2019–2023 | clubs4 = Houston Dynamo | caps4 = 108 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 2023 | clubs5 = → Argentinos Juniors (loan) | caps5 = 14 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2024–2025 | clubs6 = Olimpia | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Central Córdoba | caps7 = 31 | goals7 = 0 | club-update = 16:21, 9 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Matías Gabriel Vera''' (born 20 November 1995) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Central Córdoba.
==Career==
=== Nueva Chicago === Vera started his career with Nueva Chicago and came through their youth ranks, serving as a captain for his teams. He originally played as a right winger and right back before his coaches moved him to defensive midfield due to his ball winning ability and natural instincts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebayoucitian.com/matias-vera-the-houston-dynamos-ball-winner/|title=Matías Vera: The Houston Dynamo's ball winner|date=2019-08-08|website=The Bayoucitian|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-11}}</ref> Vera was promoted to the first team during the 2015 Argentine Primera División season.<ref name="Soccerway">{{cite news|title=Argentina - G. Vera|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/matias-gabriel-vera/402208/|accessdate=26 October 2018|work=Soccerway}}</ref><ref name="BDFA">{{cite news|title=Ficha Estadistica de MATIAS VERA|url=http://www.bdfa.com.ar/jugadores-MATIAS-GABRIEL-VERA-102610.html|accessdate=26 October 2018|work=BDFA}}</ref> He made his debut on 6 April in a 2–1 defeat to Banfield and went on to make 17 appearances across all competitions in his first season.<ref name="Soccerway" /> Nueva Chicago were relegated to Primera B Nacional in 2015, where they remained for the next three seasons as Vera featured sixty-eight times for them in all competitions while also scoring twice, netting in games with All Boys and Atlético Paraná.<ref name="Soccerway" /><ref name="Solo Ascenso">{{cite news|title=Fue el último en Mataderos?|url=http://www.soloascenso.com.ar/notas/nueva-chicago/fue-el-ultimo-en-mataderos/114709|accessdate=26 October 2018|work=Solo Ascenso|date=3 December 2017}}</ref>
=== O'Higgins === In January 2018, Vera joined Argentine Primera División side San Lorenzo.<ref name="Soccerway" /> However, he was immediately loaned to O'Higgins of the Chilean Primera División.<ref name="Soccerway" /><ref name="El Rancagüino">{{cite news|title=Nicolás Oroz y Matías Vera son nuevos refuerzos de O'Higgins|url=https://www.elrancaguino.cl/2018/01/09/nicolas-oroz-y-matias-vera-son-nuevos-refuerzos-de-ohiggins/|accessdate=26 October 2018|work=El Rancagüino|date=9 January 2018}}</ref>
His first appearance for O'Higgins was against Huachipato on 18 February 2018 in matchweek 1 of the Primera División season. He would start the first 8 games of the season before he missed matchweek 9 after getting two yellow cards in the previous match. He returned to the starting lineup for matchweek 10 Vera scored his first goal for O'Higgins on 25 August in a 1–1 draw with his first Unión Española. Vera was suspended for their matchweek 29 game due to yellow card accumulation. He returned to the lineup in matchweek 30, the final week of the season, and scored in a 4–0 win over Audax Italiano.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/fe529f25/matchlogs/2018/Matias-Vera-Match-Logs|title=Matías Vera 2018 Match Logs|website=FBref.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> Vera started 30 out of a possible 32 games for O'Higgins, only missing out on 2 due to suspension. O'Higgins finished the season eighth in the table, missing out on qualification to 2019 Copa Sudamericana first stage to Unión Española on goal difference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/comps/35/1621/2018-Primera-Division-Stats|title=2018 Primera División Stats|website=FBref.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>
=== Houston Dynamo === On 21 December 2018, Vera signed with the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.<ref name="Houston Dynamo">{{cite press release|title=Dynamo sign midfielder Matías Vera on full transfer from San Lorenzo|url=https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2018/12/21/dynamo-sign-midfielder-mat-vera-full-transfer-san-lorenzo|accessdate=21 December 2018|publisher=Houston Dynamo|date=21 December 2018}}</ref> The reported transfer fee was around $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Araiza|first=Victor|date=2020-02-28|title=2020 Houston Dynamo season preview|url=https://houston.sportsmap.com/2020-houston-dynamo-season-preview|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-11-13|website=SportsMap|language=en}}</ref> Vera made his Dynamo debut on 19 February, playing all 90 minutes in a 1–0 win over CD Guastatoya in the CONCACAF Champions League. He played every minute of the tournament as Houston reached the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Tigres UANL. Vera made his MLS debut on 2 March in a 1–1 draw with Real Salt Lake, but he was sent off after picking up two yellow cards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/matias-gabriel-vera/402208/matches/|title=Argentina - G. Vera - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com|access-date=2019-08-11}}</ref> He scored for the Dynamo for the first time on 11 June, netting in a 3–2 win over Austin Bold in the U.S. Open Cup.<ref name=":0" /> Although Houston missed out on the playoffs, Vera enjoyed a strong debut season, leading the team in minutes played with 2,639 in the league and 3,088 in all competitions. He was voted as the team MVP and Newcomer of the Year by local journalists and the Dynamo staff.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2019/12/04/houston-dynamo-announce-2019-team-awards|title=Houston Dynamo Announce 2019 Team Awards|last=|first=|date=4 December 2019|website=Houston Dynamo|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=8 December 2019}}</ref>
Vera and the Dynamo opened the season on February 29 with a 1–1 draw against the LA Galaxy. After the second game of the year, the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with play resuming in July. Vera played in 20 of a possible 23 games in a shortened season, anchoring the Dynamo midfield. He served as team captain for 11 of the games during the season, as the primary captain, Boniek Garcia, missed time with an injury and also featured primarily as a substitute.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Matías Vera 2020 Match Logs|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/fe529f25/matchlogs/2020/summary/Matias-Vera-Match-Logs|access-date=2020-11-13|website=FBref.com|language=en}}</ref> It was another poor season for the Dynamo as a team, finishing bottom of the Western Conference and failing to qualify for the playoffs again.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Major League Soccer Stats|url=https://fbref.com/en/comps/22/Major-League-Soccer-Stats|access-date=2020-11-13|website=FBref.com|language=en}}</ref>
On 16 April 2021, Vera made his first appearance of the season, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in matchweek 1.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Matías Vera 2021 Match Logs|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/fe529f25/matchlogs/2021/summary/Matias-Vera-Match-Logs|access-date=2021-11-24|website=FBref.com|language=en}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the season, and first career MLS goal, on 29 May in a 3–2 loss to Sporting Kansas City.<ref name=":2" /> On 21 August, Vera scored the equalizer to give the Dynamo a 2–2 draw against Texas Derby rivals FC Dallas.<ref name=":2" /> He ended the season with 3 goals and 1 assist in 30 appearances, as the Dynamo finished last in the Western Conference again.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Major League Soccer Stats|url=https://fbref.com/en/comps/22/Major-League-Soccer-Stats|access-date=2021-11-24|website=FBref.com|language=en}}</ref> On 29 November 2021, Vera signed a new contract keeping him in Houston through the 2023 season, with a team option for 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 November 2021|title=Houston Dynamo FC re-sign midfielder Matías Vera|url=https://www.houstondynamofc.com/news/houston-dynamo-fc-re-sign-midfielder-matias-vera|access-date=30 November 2021|website=Houston Dynamo FC}}</ref>
Vera featured frequently again in 2022, making 28 appearances (all starts) and recording 2 assists in the 2022 regular season <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Matías Vera |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/matias-vera/stats/ |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=Major League Soccer}}</ref> However the Dynamo missed out on the playoffs again after finishing 13th in the conference.<ref name=":3" />
==== Loan to Argentinos Juniors ==== On 9 January 2023, Vera returned to Argentina, joining Primera División side Argentinos Juniors on loan for the 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2023 |title=Houston Dynamo loan midfielder Matías Vera to Argentinos Juniors |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/houston-dynamo-loan-midfielder-matias-vera-to-argentinos-juniors |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=Major League Soccer}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|19 February 2023}}<ref name="Soccerway"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Matias Vera|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/matias-vera|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=November 13, 2020|website=Major League Soccer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Matías Vera Stats|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/fe529f25/Matias-Vera|access-date=2020-11-13|website=FBref.com|language=en}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Club statistics |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup<ref group="lower-alpha">Includes the Copa Argentina, Copa Chile and US Open Cup</ref> !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|Nueva Chicago |2015 |rowspan="1|Argentine Primera División |16||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||17||0 |- |2016 |rowspan="3|Primera B Nacional |18||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||18||1 |- |2016–17 |38||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||40||1 |- |2017–18 |10||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||10||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !82!!2!!3!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!85!!2 |- |San Lorenzo |2017–18 |Argentine Primera División |0||0||0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0 |- |rowspan="1"|O'Higgins (loan) |2018 |rowspan="1|Chilean Primera División |28||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||30||2 |- | rowspan="5" |Houston Dynamo |2019 | rowspan="4" |Major League Soccer |30||0||2||1||4<ref group="lower-alpha" name="CCL">Appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League</ref>||0|| colspan="2" |—||36||1 |- |2020 |20||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||20||0 |- |2021 |30||3|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||30||3 |- |2022 |28 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |29 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !108!!3!!3!!1!!4!!0!!0!!0!!115!!4 |- |Argentinos Juniors |2023 |Argentine Primera División |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !218!!7!!8!!1!!4!!0!!0!!0!!227!!8 |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
== Honors == '''Houston Dynamo''' * Dynamo Team MVP: 2019<ref name=":1" /> * Dynamo Newcomer of the Year: 2019<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway|matias-gabriel-vera/402208}}
{{Central Córdoba SdE squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vera, Matías}} Category:1995 births Category:Footballers from Merlo Partido Category:Living people Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Argentine men's footballers Category:Club Atlético Nueva Chicago footballers Category:San Lorenzo de Almagro footballers Category:O'Higgins F.C. footballers Category:Houston Dynamo FC players Category:Argentinos Juniors footballers Category:Club Olimpia footballers Category:Central Córdoba de Santiago del Estero footballers Category:Argentine Primera División players Category:Primera Nacional players Category:Chilean Primera División players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:Paraguayan Primera División players Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Chile Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Chile Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Paraguay Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Paraguay Category:21st-century Argentine sportsmen