Mark González

Liverpool

European champions Liverpool attempted to sign González on loan from Albacete in the summer of 2005, but were unsuccessful as he was denied a work permit by British authorities. In October that year, a deal was struck between the two teams for a permanent transfer. In January 2006, while González awaited eligibility for a Spanish passport so he could work freely in Britain, Liverpool loaned him to Real Sociedad.

Real Sociedad (loan)

González was presented on loan at Real Sociedad on 30 January 2006, until 30 June, alongside Jhon Viáfara, whom the club had loaned from Portsmouth. González said that at Sociedad he would aim to improve his tactical play. At Sociedad, González put in some good performances, most notably against Real Madrid, against whom he scored Sociedad's equaliser on 8 April as the game finished 1–1. He played 16 league games for Sociedad and scored five goals. Sociedad showed interest in taking him permanently, along with several other La Liga clubs, but González is quoted to have said, "I am very thankful to Real Sociedad and their coach José Mari Bakero, but while they'd like me to stay I'm going to England to join Liverpool."

Return to Liverpool

On 5 July 2006, González was granted a work permit, and was allowed to start his Liverpool career, wearing the number 11 shirt. His manager, Rafael Benítez, said, "This is very good news for us and I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mark González to Liverpool as he is a…

Born in South Africa, González was also eligible to play for that country, but he chose Chile instead. On 21 June 2010, González scored the only goal of the game for Chile against Switzerland during the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in his birthplace South Africa, heading in a cross from Esteban Paredes. He was named in the preliminary squad for the 2015 Copa America but was omitted from the final squad. The following year he was not initially named in Chile's Copa América Centenario squad, but was called up when Matías Fernández withdrew through injury. Chile went on to win the tournament.

International goals

Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first.

He is the son of the former Chile international footballer Raúl González as well as the brother of the actor and football agent Raúl Hoffmann. From his maternal line, he is the grandnephew of the former Chile international footballers Carlos Hoffmann and Reynaldo Hoffmann, as well as the cousin-nephew of the also former footballers Reinaldo and Alejandro, sons of Reynaldo. González began dating Chilean television personality and model Maura Rivera in 2008, and they married in 2010. They have one son, Mark González Jr. In 2015, they welcome their daughter Luciana González. In March 2021, González suffered from mild pericarditis, which was treated successfully and he made a full recovery.

González was born in Durban, South Africa. His father Raúl was a professional footballer for Durban Bush Bucks, and named him after his friends and fellow footballers Mark Tovey and Dennis Wicks. He left South Africa aged 10 in 1994 and moved back to Chile with his mother.