Eric Avila

FC Dallas

Avila decided to forgo his senior season as professional clubs started to show interest. Avila decided to sign a Generation Adidas contract and he was subsequently drafted in the 2nd round (19th overall) by FC Dallas in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. Avila made his MLS debut for FC Dallas as an 85th-minute substitute against the Houston Dynamo in a 1–1 tie on June 26, 2008. He earned his first MLS career assist on a header by Abe Thompson during stoppage time helping FC Dallas to a 1–1 tie against the Kansas City Wizards on July 4, 2008. and scored his first senior goal on June 20, 2009, in a game against Columbus Crew. During the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs, he scored the winning goal in the 88th minute to give Dallas a win over Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals, helping the Red Stripes win the series, 3–2, on aggregate as Dallas made its first-ever MLS Cup appearance. In December 2008, Avila traveled to England with fellow FC Dallas teammates Bruno Guarda, Josh Lambo, and Anthony Wallace along with other Generation Adidas players for friendlies against the reserve squads of Chelsea, Reading, and Aston Villa. He graduated from the MLS Generation Adidas program at the end of the 2010 season. In July 2011 it was announced that Avila had been transferred on loan to F.C. Atlas for 6 months, but the loan deal fell through.

Toronto FC

On August 2, 2011, FC Dallas traded Avila to Toronto FC for Maicon Santos and an international…

Avila entered the US U17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida in the fall of 2003. He made his first appearance with US U-17's at the age of 15 against England. He went on to earn 9 international caps with the U-17's, appearing in 15 total matches. The total was the highest of the 1987 boys class. His last appearance came in Spring of 2005. He helped lead the U.S. to the finals of the Ballymena International Tournament held in Northern Ireland, which he regards as one of his most memorable moments in sports. He also participated in the Mondial Minimes Montaigu Vendee Tournament held in France. In addition to tournaments, he played in a number of matches against Major League Soccer teams, including Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire, and Columbus Crew, while scoring the game-tying goal in a friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes.

As of October 5, 2019

Avila who is of Mexican descent, was born on November 24, 1987, in San Diego, California, to Julio and Maria Avila. Avila was raised in the Carlsbad and Encinitas area and started playing soccer with an American Youth Soccer Organization team. He later played club soccer for the San Diego Crusaders and La Jolla Nomads. With the Nomads, he helped the team to the 2002 US Club Soccer national championship. He attended La Costa Canyon High School for two years and played for their boys' soccer program. He was named the CIF San Diego Section's Avocado League MVP as a sophomore for the Mavericks. He finished his last two years of high school with the United States U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida. Upon his return to California, Avila was briefly a member of Chivas USA's U-19 club.

Prior to enrolling in college, Avila was ranked as the 2nd best midfielder and 6th best prospect overall in the class of 2005 by StudentSportsSoccer.com. Avila was recruited with a scholarship to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara by head coach Tim Vom Steeg. Avila was the marquee signing in a class that contained future professionals Chris Pontius, Alfonso Motagalvan, and Ryan Kenny. As a freshman on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team in 2005, he started 21 games while scoring three goals and assisting on five more. Avila was named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman First Team as well as being the Big West Conference Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore,…