Edson Álvarez

Edson Álvarez
Álvarez at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Edson Omar Álvarez Velázquez[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997
Place of birth Tlalnepantla de Baz,
State of Mexico, Mexico
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position Defender
Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 América
Number 4
Youth career
2014–2016 América
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– América 62 (2)
National team‡
2017 Mexico U20 10 (1)
2017– Mexico 19 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 September 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:48, 12 October 2018 (UTC)

Edson Omar Álvarez Velázquez (born 24 October 1997) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a defender for América and the Mexico national team. Mainly a centre-back, he is also capable of playing as a right back, or as a defensive midfielder.[3]

Early life

Álvarez was born in Tlalnepantla de Baz, a municipality just north of Mexico City, to Adriana Velázquez and Evaristo Álvarez.[4] As a child he would work for his family's business of manufacturing football jerseys for local teams, which he cites as his first foray into the sport.[5] At age 14, Álvarez tried out for the youth team of Pachuca, though he did not make the team due to his short stature.[5] Contemplating quitting football, to the resistance of his parents who believed he had the talent to pursue his dream of playing professionally, Álvarez decided to try out for Club América's youth team, eventually making the team after a three-month tryout. He would make it to the daily team practices by way of a three-to-four-hour round trip commute from his home in Tlalnepantla and the club's training ground in Coapa. According to Álvarez, he would spend almost 70 per cent of his monthly salary towards transportation.[5]

Club career

In 2014, at age 16, Álvarez joined Club América's youth system, playing for the under-17 team.[4] The following year, while still playing for the under-17 squad, Álvarez was promoted to América's second division team.[6]

In August 2016, first team coach Ignacio Ambríz gave Álvarez his first call-up, sitting on the bench in América's week 5 league match against Monarcas Morelia, using the jersey number 282.[5] On 29 October, newly appointed coach Ricardo La Volpe gave 19 year-old Álvarez his Liga MX debut in the team's win over Santos Laguna; he played all 90 minutes and was voted third in a Man of the Match online poll by club fans.[7] On 25 December, he scored his first career goal in the Apertura final against Tigres UANL.[8]

Prior to the start of the 2017–18 season, Álvarez was handed the number 4 shirt, which was vacated following the departure of Erik Pimentel.[9]

International career

Mexico U-20

Álvarez was called up for the Mexico national under-20 football team camp[10] preparing for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship en route to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was included in the World Cup under-20 squad, and scored the winning goal in Mexico's 3–2 win over Group B minnows Vanuatu.

Mexico national team

On 30 January 2017, Álvarez received his first call up to Mexico's senior squad for a friendly against Iceland.[11] He made his senior debut on 8 February against Iceland, replacing Jesús Molina in the 60th minute.[12]

Along with Alejandro Mayorga, Álvarez was cited to be a supporting practice squad player with the Mexico 2017 Confederations Cup team.[13]

He was called up to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster for Mexico, making him the youngest player of the squad. This roster was largely composed of alternate players as the primary squad was in Russia disputing the Confederations Cup.[14] On 17 July, against Curaçao in the last game of the group stage, Álvarez scored his first goal for the national team in their 2–0 win; he became the youngest Mexican player to score a goal in a Gold Cup tournament at 19 years old.[15]

In May 2018, Álvarez was named in Mexico’s preliminary 28-man squad for the World Cup.[16] He was the youngest player named in the list.[3] He was ultimately included in the final 23-man roster revealed on 4 June.[17] He appeared in all of Mexico's group stage matches; in Mexico's final group match against Sweden, he scored an own goal at the 74th minute in Mexico's 3–0 loss.[18] He also started in the round-of-16 defeat to Brazil.

Style of play

Considered a versatile player that is able to play as either a center back, full back, and defensive midfielder, he is best suited as a center back.[19][20] Thomas Harrison of Outsideoftheboot.com, has said about Alvarez that he "has impressed with his superb abilities in possession." Following a friendly match against Iceland, former Mexico manager, Juan Carlos Osorio, said "We think that Edson is a very technical player with a good aerial game… it seems that he has that pause (alluding to the technical concept of la pausa), that extra second to make a good decision."[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of 25 September 2018[22]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
América 2016–17 Liga MX 21260—1[lower-alpha 1]0282
2017–18 3104040—390
2018–19 10040——140
Total 6221404010812
Career total 6221404010812
  1. ↑ Includes one match from the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup

International

As of 11 October 2018[23]
Mexico
YearAppsGoals
201791
2018100
Total191

International goals

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.16 July 2017Alamodome, San Antonio, United States Curaçao2–02–02017 CONCACAF Gold Cup

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 presented by Alibaba E-Auto: List of Players" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 Arnold, Jon. "Get to know Hernandez, Lozano & Mexico's World Cup roster". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Edson Álvarez, un águila de calle" [Edson Álvarez, an eagle from the streets] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Causa y Efecto de… Edson Álvarez" [Cause and Effect of… Edson Álvarez] (in Spanish). Futbol Total. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Edson Álvarez debuta en la Liga MX". ClubAmérica.com.mx (in Spanish). Club América. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Video: Gol de Edson Álvarez contra Tigres". Goal.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "América registra 11 jugadores de 21 años o menos" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Convocatoria de la Selección Nacional de México Sub 20". MiSeleccion.com.mx (in Spanish).
  11. ↑ Zacarias, Mariana. "Edson Álvarez se dice 'en shock' por la noticia del Tri". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Juan Carlos Osorio debutó a Edson Álvarez y Luis Reyes". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Edson Álvarez y Alejandro Mayorga, 'invitados' de Osorio a Confederaciones". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  14. ↑ https://www.am.com.mx/2017/06/07/leon/deportes/elias-en-la-lista-preliminar-de-copa-oro-360107
  15. ↑ "Édson Álvarez, el mexicano más joven en convertir un gol en la Copa Oro". Univision Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 Squad - 23-Man Preliminary Lists & When Will They Be Announced?". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Convocatoria de la Selección Nacional de México". MiSeleccion.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "Sweden v. Mexico". FIFA.com. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  19. ↑ Moran, Nayib (26 July 2017). "Breakout summer with El Tri has Edson Alvarez ready for life at Club America". ESPN. Retrieved 21 September 2018. What makes Alvarez a special talent is his versatility. It's important that at the start of his career he's being put in scenarios as a right-back, center-back and defensive midfielder.
  20. ↑ Harrison, Thomas (16 August 2018). "Talent Radar: Liga MX's 10 Young Players to Watch in 2018-19". Outsideoftheboot.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018. A versatile defensive player, Edson has been used at right-back and holding midfield, but is best suited to a centre-back role.
  21. ↑ Harrison, Thomas. "Liga MX: 5 Unheralded Youngsters Making a Name for Themselves This Season". Outside of the Boot. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  22. ↑ "Mexico - E. Álvarez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Edson Álvarez". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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