Club: CF Atlas
Birthdate: September 28, 1986
Fullname: Jose Andres Guardado Hernandez
An attacking wing midfielder, we all got our first glimpse of Andres when he burned the U.S. wing and defensive line to no avail. No goal or assist to show for his efforts, yet he seared his image into our brains. He looks like the future of the Mexican midfield. In fact, he almost looked Ryan Giggs-esque. Incredible acceleration, skill, and great vision for the ripe-old age of 20. This, however, is not new news to the Mexican Soccer Federation. Guardado has 12 international caps and a goal to his name. He is being hounded by the likes of Real Madrid, A.C. Milan, newly branded powerhouses Udinese, and even youth-nurturing Eredivisie teams like PSV Eindhoven and Ajax Amsterdam. Where he will go, nobody really knows but there are heavy ties to PSV where he would join international teammate Carlos Salcido. We have not seen the last of him – and at 20, it is scary to think about what he can turn into.
Andres Guardado "El Chico Maravilla"
Omar Esparza
Club: Chivas de Guadalajara
Birthdate: May 21, 1988
Fullname: Omar Alejandro Esparza Morales
Esparza is a defensive midfielder looking to be the heart of the Mexican U-20 this summer in Canada at the U-20 World Cup. He has played his first full season with Chivas de Guadalajara and looks poised to get his first full for the Mexican senior national team early this summer. A composed and determined defensive keystone, he might not have the pizzazz of an Andres Guardado but he certainly gets whatever is needed of him done. Think Michael Bradley’s potential with less size, but better vision and more skill. I think you will find him plying his trade in Mexico for a little while longer until he is bit more mature, although he has already received interest from Sevilla, Racing Santander, and even an Italian Serie A team or two.
First Goal for Chivas
Giovanni Dos Santos
Club: Barcelona
Birthdate: May 11, 1989
Fullname: Giovanni dos Santos Ramirez
Son of a Brazilian father and Mexican mother, at 19 years old this attacking midfielder has already made the trip across the Atlantic. His family made the trip with him. His brother Jonathan also plays for the Barcelona youth system, but his chances to play for the first team remain almost certain this year. He was first discovered globally at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship where he assisted over half the Mexican goals and briefly afterwards, he made the move to Barca. He has played with the Barcelona senior team in a friendly against the Swiss team Aarhus. Naturally, he scored but Giovanni is still looking to make his mark consistently on the first team. Look to see him prominently in the U-20 FIFA World Cup this summer and even before in the Gold Cup.
Giovanni Dos Santos vs. St. Kitts and Nevis w/ Mexican U-17s
1 comment:
Wow, I'm impressed at the sheer volume of material you are putting out on this blog! Keep it up, it's been great to read.
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