A Lincoln High School senior is preparing to take his soccer career across the pond after becoming the first student-athlete in Dallas ISD history to earn an international soccer scholarship.
Joe Gonzalez, an 18-year-old senior at Lincoln High School and Humanities/Communications Magnet, will attend the University of Central Lancashire in England this fall, where he plans to study sports business while continuing his soccer career with Macclesfield Football Club at Moss Rose Stadium.
The opportunity marks another milestone for Gonzalez, who is believed to be the first student in school history to receive a soccer scholarship and the first Dallas ISD student-athlete to earn an international scholarship in the sport.
“I was actually committed to play soccer at another school here, so when they reached out, I wasn’t going to respond,” Gonzalez said, per Dallas ISD News Hub. “Once I heard them out, my mind just knew that was a better decision and a bigger opportunity.”
Gonzalez, the salutatorian for Lincoln’s Class of 2026, said the chance to study and play abroad aligns with goals he has pursued for years.
“I’m going to get my bachelor’s in the UK, to the University of Central Lancashire, and it’s all new, all great,” Gonzalez said, CBS News Texas reported. “It’s all glory to God.”
For Gonzalez, soccer has long been tied to family history.
“Back in Querétaro, Mexico, my mom was the captain of her soccer team, my dad was a goalie, and my uncle used to play semi-pro,” he said, per News Hub. “Soccer has always been a big part of our family.”
His path to the sport, however, did not begin easily. Gonzalez started playing in sixth grade but quit after a few months because he disliked running. He returned to eighth grade at Harold W. Lang Sr. Middle School, starting on the B team and working to close what he felt was a gap between himself and his teammates.
By the time he arrived at Lincoln as a freshman, Gonzalez had earned a spot on varsity.
“I got thrown into the fire,” he said. “Playing with older guys shaped the player I am today. Now I play fiercely with everything I’ve got.”
That development came through year-round preparation, including daily 5 a.m. training sessions.
“Devotion and discipline outwork talent,” Gonzalez said.
On the field, Gonzalez helped guide Lincoln from losing seasons to the state tournament during his sophomore year, the first state appearance in school history. Teammates later began referring to him as “Captain Joe.”
Off the field, Gonzalez credited Lincoln’s B-tech program for helping him earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree as he prepares to become a first-generation college student.
“The goal is to do the best I can,” Gonzalez said, according to CBS. “To make my mother proud, my family proud, I’m the first generation to go to college, try to make a name for myself. And dedicate it to God.”
Lincoln soccer coach Stanley Haines said Gonzalez’s impact on the program will be difficult to duplicate.
“I don’t think I can ever replace Joe,” Haines said, per News Hub. “When you look at his dedication, integrity and commitment – those are what I call recipes of success. Joe is the first soccer player I’ve ever coached that had all those characteristics.”
Haines said Gonzalez has helped elevate soccer at Lincoln, where basketball has traditionally received more attention.
“If you opened Webster’s dictionary and looked up student-athlete, it would be a picture of Joe,” Haines said, per CBS.
Gonzalez said he looks forward to experiencing life in England while continuing to pursue soccer at a higher level.
“I’m excited to discover everything there; the food, the culture, and especially the soccer games,” he said, per News Hub. “Over there, the culture is straight soccer so even the lower league stadiums are full.”
