Wikipedia

Edson Álvarez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Velázquez.

Edson Omar Álvarez Velázquez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈetson ˈalβaɾes]; born 24 October 1997) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Premier League club West Ham United and captains the Mexico national team.

Edson Álvarez
Picture of Edson Alvarez getting of the West Ham United team bus wearing the classic West Ham colors of purple and light blue.
Álvarez getting off the West Ham United team bus
Personal information
Full name Edson Omar Álvarez Velázquez[1]
Date of birth (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Tlalnepantla, Mexico
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Team information
Current team
 West Ham United
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2014 Pachuca
2014–2016 América
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 América 86 (5)
2019–2023 Ajax 98 (10)
2023– West Ham United 39 (1)
International career‡
2015 Mexico U18 2 (1)
2017 Mexico U20 10 (1)
2017– Mexico 83 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner 2019 United States
Winner 2023 United States–Canada
Runner-up 2021 United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up 2021 United States
Third place 2023 United States
Runner-up 2024 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Early life

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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 worked for his family's business of manufacturing football kits for local teams, which he cites as his first foray into the sport.[5] At the age of 10, Álvarez joined Pachuca, before leaving the club just two years later due to his short stature.[5][6] 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 percent of his monthly salary toward transportation.[5]

Club career

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América

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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.[7]

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.[8] On 25 December, he scored his first career goal in the Apertura final against Tigres UANL.[9]

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.[10]

On 16 December 2018, Álvarez was given the start for the return leg of the Apertura final against Cruz Azul, playing in midfield in place of the injured Mateus Uribe, and scored twice as América won its 13th league title following a 2–0 aggregate score.[11] On 23 February 2019, Álvarez made his 100th competitive appearance for América in the team's 3–0 victory over Lobos BUAP.[12]

Ajax

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Álvarez (right) disputing the ball against Go Ahead Eagles in 2023

On 19 July 2019, Dutch club AFC Ajax announced an agreement with Club América for the signing of Álvarez on a five-year contract, subject to a medical, for a reported fee of US$17 million.[13] He passed his medical and was officially presented on 22 July, being handed the number 4 shirt which had been vacated following the departure of Matthijs de Ligt. The club announced an official transfer sum of €15 million.[14] On 17 August, Álvarez made his competitive debut for Ajax as a 74th minute substitute in the team's 4–1 league win over VVV-Venlo.[15] On 29 August, Álvarez scored his first goal in his first start against APOEL in the second-leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round.[16] On 17 September, Álvarez scored the second goal in the 3–0 Champions League group stage victory over Lille, becoming the first Mexican player to score on his Champions League debut.[17]

On 21 March 2021, Álvarez scored his first Eredivisie goal for Ajax in a 5–0 victory over ADO Den Haag.[18] On 18 April, in the Dutch Cup final against Vitesse, he played the entirety of the match in a 2–1 victory.[19] At the end of his second season, he was nominated for the league Player of the Year Award.[20]

On 27 October 2021, it was announced Álvarez had signed a contract extension with Ajax, keeping him with the club until 2025.[21] On 30 April 2022 he was inducted into the club's Club van 100, making his 100th appearance in a 3–0 league victory over PEC Zwolle, becoming the 174th player in the history of the club to join the ranks.[22]

West Ham United

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On 10 August 2023, English club West Ham United announced they had signed Álvarez on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £35 million.[23][24] He was handed the number 19 jersey.[25] He became the fourth Mexican player, after Guillermo Franco, Pablo Barrera, and Javier Hernández, to represent West Ham United.[26] He made his debut on 20 August, coming on as an 81st minute substitute for James Ward-Prowse in a 3–1 victory against Chelsea.[27]

On 14 December 2023, Álvarez scored his first goal for West Ham, scoring against SC Freiburg in a 2–0 victory in the Europa League.[28] On 2 March 2024, in a 3-1 win against Everton at Goodison Park, Álvarez scored his first Premier league goal collecting a pass from Jarrod Bowen in the 5th minute of added-time.[29]

International career

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Youth

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Álvarez was called up to the under-20 team camp[30] preparing for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship en route to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was included in the tournament's best XI.[31] Álvarez 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.

Senior

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Álvarez prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup match against South Korea

On 30 January 2017, Álvarez received his first call up to the senior national team for a friendly against Iceland.[32] He made his senior debut on 8 February against Iceland, replacing Jesús Molina in the 60th minute.[33] Along with Alejandro Mayorga, he was cited to be a supporting practice squad player with the Confederations Cup team.[34] He was called up to the Gold Cup, making him the youngest player on the squad. The roster was largely composed of alternate players, as the primary squad was in Russia competing in the Confederations Cup.[35] On 17 July, in the last game of the group stage against Curaçao, Álvarez scored his first goal for the national team in their 2–0 win, becoming the youngest Mexican player to score a goal in a Gold Cup tournament at 19 years old.[36]

In May 2018, Álvarez was named to Mexico's preliminary 28-man squad for the World Cup.[37] He was the youngest player on the list.[38] He was ultimately included in the final 23-man roster revealed on 4 June.[39] He appeared in all of Mexico's group stage matches; in Mexico's final group match against Sweden, Álvarez started at right-back and scored an own goal at the 74th minute when the ball deflected off his left thigh in Mexico's 3–0 loss.[40] He also started in the round-of-16 defeat to Brazil.

In May 2019, Álvarez was included in Gerardo Martino's provisional Gold Cup roster.[41] In a friendly match against Venezuela, he suffered an apparent knee injury[42] but was revealed to only be a scare.[43] He was included in the final list for the competition.[44] Álvarez appeared as a starter in five matches, including the final, as Mexico would go on to win the tournament.[45]

In October 2022, Álvarez was named in Mexico's preliminary 31-man squad for the World Cup, and in November, was ultimately included in the final 26-man roster.[46] Álvarez played in the group stage draw against Poland[47] as well as the win against Saudi Arabia.[48]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 2 November 2024[49]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
América 2016–17 Liga MX 21 2 6 0 — — 1[c] 0 28 2
2017–18 31 0 4 0 — 4[d] 0 — 39 0
2018–19 34 3 12 0 — — — 46 3
Total 86 5 22 0 — 4 0 1 0 113 5
Ajax 2019–20 Eredivisie 12 0 3 0 — 8[e] 2 — 23 2
2020–21 24 2 5 0 — 10[f] 0 — 39 2
2021–22 31 5 3 0 — 7[g] 0 — 41 5
2022–23 31 3 4 0 — 8[h] 1 1[i] 0 44 4
Total 98 10 15 0 — 33 3 1 0 147 13
West Ham United 2023–24 Premier League 31 1 1 0 3 0 7[j] 1 — 42 2
2024–25 8 0 0 0 2 0 — — 10 0
Total 39 1 1 0 5 0 7 1 — 52 2
Career total 223 16 38 0 5 0 44 4 2 0 312 20
  1. ^ Includes Copa MX, KNVB Cup and FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  5. ^ Seven appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. ^ Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
  10. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 19 November 2024[50]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico 2017 9 1
2018 11 0
2019 10[a] 1
2020 3 0
2021 18 0
2022 9 1
2023 14 1
2024 9 1
Total 83 5
  1. ^ Álvarez additionally played a match against Martinique in 2019, which is not recognized by FIFA.
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Álvarez goal.
List of international goals scored by Edson Álvarez
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 July 2017 Alamodome, San Antonio, United States   Curaçao 2–0 2–0 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2 15 November 2019 Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama   Panama 2–0 3–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
3 27 March 2022 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras   Honduras 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 21 November 2023 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico   Honduras 2–0 2–0 (a.e.t.) 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A
5 21 March 2024 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States   Panama 1–0 3–0 2024 CONCACAF Nations League Finals

Honours

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América

Ajax

Mexico

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: List of Players: Mexico" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Edson Álvarez". Premier League. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Edson Álvarez, un águila de calle" [Edson Álvarez, an eagle from the streets] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Causa y Efecto de… Edson Álvarez" [Cause and Effect of… Edson Álvarez] (in Spanish). Futbol Total. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Edson Álvarez visita y motiva a la Sub-17 de Pachuca en Ámsterdam" (in Spanish). TUDN. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Edson Omar Álvarez Velazquez" (in Spanish). Liga MX. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Edson Álvarez debuta en la Liga MX". ClubAmérica.com.mx (in Spanish). Club América. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Video: Gol de Edson Álvarez contra Tigres". Goal.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  10. ^ "América registra 11 jugadores de 21 años o menos" [America registers 11 players aged 21 and under]. espn.com (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Edson Alvarez delivers dream finish to Club America after World Cup fiasco". The Athletic. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Edson Álvarez llegó a 100 partidos oficiales con América" [Edson Álvarez reached 100 official matches with America]. telemundodeportes.com (in Spanish). Telemundo. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  13. ^ Valentine, Ben. "Ajax complete $17m signing of versatile Mexico star Alvarez". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Transfer completed: Edson Álvarez is now Ajacied!". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Ajax brings 3 points back to Amsterdam". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Edson Alvarez scores first Ajax goal in Champions League playoff". Goal.com. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Report: Ajax 3-0 Lille". Goal.com. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  18. ^ "Report: Ajax ease to win over ADO Den Haag". football-oranje.com. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Neres' stoppage-time goal seals Dutch Cup win". english.ajax.nl.
  20. ^ "Edson Álvarez, nominado a jugador del año en Holanda". 6 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Edson Álvarez verlengt contract bij Ajax". www.ajax.nl.
  22. ^ "How Edson Álvarez came to make his one hundredth appearance for the Ajax first team". Ajax.nl. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  23. ^ "West Ham United sign Edson Álvarez". West Ham United FC. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Edson Alvarez: West Ham sign Ajax & Mexico midfielder for about £35m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Edson Álvarez: Why I've chosen the No19 shirt at West Ham United | West Ham United F.C."
  26. ^ "Seven things you need to know about West Ham United's new midfielder Edson Álvarez!". West Ham United FC. 10 August 2023.
  27. ^ Emons, Michael (20 August 2023). "West Ham 3–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  28. ^ Jurejko, Jonathan (14 December 2023). "West Ham 2–0 Freiburg: Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez goals send Hammers into last 16". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Everton v West Ham, 2023/24 | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Convocatoria de la Selección Nacional de México Sub 20". MiSeleccion.com.mx (in Spanish).
  31. ^ "TSG announces CU20 Best XI, Awards". CONCACAF.com. 8 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  32. ^ Zacarias, Mariana. "Edson Álvarez se dice 'en shock' por la noticia del Tri". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  33. ^ "Juan Carlos Osorio debutó a Edson Álvarez y Luis Reyes". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). 9 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  34. ^ "Edson Álvarez y Alejandro Mayorga, 'invitados' de Osorio a Confederaciones". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  35. ^ "Elías en la lista preliminar de Copa Oro" [Elías in the preliminary list of the Gold Cup]. am.com (in Spanish). Periódico am. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Édson Álvarez, el mexicano más joven en convertir un gol en la Copa Oro". Univision Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  37. ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 Squad - 23-Man Preliminary Lists & When Will They Be Announced?". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  38. ^ Arnold, Jon. "Get to know Hernandez, Lozano & Mexico's World Cup roster". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  39. ^ "Convocatoria de la Selección Nacional de México". MiSeleccion.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  40. ^ "Sweden v. Mexico". FIFA.com. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  41. ^ Tinajero, Antonio (14 May 2019). "Tata Martino Announces Mexico Preliminary Gold Cup Squad; Vela, Chicharito, Herrera, Corona left out". Fmfstateofmind.com.
  42. ^ Arnold, Jon (5 June 2019). "Alvarez injury in Venezuela friendly puts focus on Martino's provisional roster error". Goal.com.
  43. ^ Arnold, Jon. "Mexico midfielder Alvarez says injury 'only a scare'". Goal.com.
  44. ^ Diaz, Rafael (5 June 2019). "Mexico unveil final Gold Cup roster; Edson Alvarez doubtful". Fmfstateofmind.com.
  45. ^ a b Straus, Brian (7 July 2019). "Mexico Turns Tide, Wins Gold Cup Title Again vs. Wasteful USMNT". Sports Illustrated.
  46. ^ Moro, Omar (14 November 2022). "Lista de convocados de la Selección Mexicana al Mundial de Qatar 2022". Tvazteca.com (in Spanish).
  47. ^ "Robert Lewandowski misses penalty in World Cup opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  48. ^ "Gerardo Martino's side out on goal difference". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  49. ^ Edson Álvarez at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  50. ^ "Edson Álvarez". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  51. ^ "Mexico beats Panama in Gold Cup final with late Gimenez goal". ESPN. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  52. ^ "Mexico leads way in Concacaf Men's Best XI". www.concacaf.com. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  53. ^ "2021 Concacaf Awards". 24 January 2022.
  54. ^ "Turner, Funes Mori named to Best XI". CONCACAF. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  55. ^ "Edson Álvarez figura en el 11 ideal de abril de la Eredivisie". 30 April 2021.
  56. ^ "Seven clubs provide players for Eredivisie team of the month (May)". eredivisie.eu. 20 May 2022.
  57. ^ "Nick Olij named Eredivisie Player of the Month for January". Eredivisie. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  58. ^ "Ajax and PSV dominate Eredivisie Team of the Month in February". 3 March 2023.
  59. ^ "CONCACAF MEN TEAM 2020 by IFFHS". IFFHS. 16 December 2020.
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