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Alejandro Zendejas

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zendejas and the second or maternal family name is Saavedra.
Alejandro Zendejas
Zendejas in 2022.
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Zendejas Saavedra[1]
Date of birth (1998-02-07) February 7, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico[2]
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.67 m)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 América
Number 17
Youth career
2012–2014 FC Dallas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 FC Dallas 8 (0)
2016–2020 Guadalajara 8 (0)
2017–2018 → Zacatepec (loan) 32 (4)
2020–2021 Necaxa 50 (11)
2022– América 100 (25)
International career‡
2013 United States U15 10 (2)
2013–2015 United States U17 27 (4)
2017 Mexico U21 1 (0)
2021 Mexico U23 3 (1)
2021–2022 Mexico 2 (0)
2023– United States 10 (1)
Medal record
Men's soccer
Representing  United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner 2023 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 14, 2024

Alejandro "Alex" Zendejas Saavedra (born February 7, 1998) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Liga MX club América. Born in Mexico, he represents the United States national team.

Early life

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Zendejas was born in Ciudad Juárez in Mexico before moving to El Paso, Texas, in the United States at a young age. The MLS, U.S. Soccer, and FC Dallas websites all listed him as being born in El Paso, Texas. FC Dallas later confirmed that Zendejas had been born in Mexico.[2]

Club career

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FC Dallas

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On October 1, 2014, Zendejas signed a homegrown player contract with FC Dallas, making him the 13th homegrown signing in club history. However, he was not eligible to play for the first team until the 2015 season.[3] Zendejas made his professional debut on 1 May 2015, in a 4–1 victory over Houston Dynamo.[4]

C.D. Guadalajara

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On June 23, 2016, Zendejas signed with Liga MX C.D. Guadalajara. In order to meet with the club's tradition of only using Mexican players,[5][6] Zendejas agreed to reject future U.S. national team call-ups and accept Mexico national team call-ups if they ever occur.[7] Zendejas was registered with the first team and was given the number 29 jersey, the same kit he had at Dallas. Zendejas made his Liga MX debut on August 6, in a match against Querétaro.[8]

Loan at Zacatepec

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In a press conference, Chivas coach Matías Almeyda confirmed some youth players would be sent out on loan to sister club Zacatepec to get playing time. On 8 June 2017, Zacatepec announced they had signed Zendejas on loan. Zendejas scored his first professional goal in a Copa MX match against Cruz Azul. He scored his first Ascenso MX goal on August 12, 2017, against Murciélagos F.C. Zacatepec would go on to win 1–0 with his goal.[8]

Necaxa

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On June 29, 2020, Zendejas joined Club Necaxa on a free transfer.[9]

Club América

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On January 17, 2022, Zendejas joined Club América for $3 million.

International career

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United States U15 and U17

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Zendejas was a member the United States under-17 squad that competed at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship playing alongside future USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams. Overall, he gained 27 caps and scored four goals for the U-17 national team.[10] After joining Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara, Zendejas agreed to reject future U.S. national team call-ups and accept Mexico national team call-ups if they occur.

Mexico

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In August 2017, Zendejas was called up to the Mexico under-21 squad for games in China and Qatar, the start of preparation for the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.[11]

Zendejas received his first call-up to the national team by Gerardo Martino, and made his debut on 27 October 2021 in a friendly match against Ecuador, coming in as a substitute in the 65th minute for Uriel Antuna.[12]

National team controversy

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In late August 2022, FIFA issued an investigation probe on the Mexican Football Federation regarding Zendejas' call-ups to friendly matches in October 2021 and April 2022, against Ecuador and Guatemala respectively, the matches themselves were non-FIFA regulated matches but nevertheless, Zendejas' national team allegiance was still under the 'legal' jurisdiction of the United States Soccer Federation, meaning that Zendejas had taken part in friendly matches for Mexico without consulting or filing a one-time switch to FIFA in order to switch national team allegiances, a violation of FIFA regulations.[13]

On November 9, 2022, Zendejas’ attorneys revealed to media that the player was considering representing the United States.[14]

On January 19, 2023, FIFA ordered Mexico to forfeit two friendlies—a 3–2 loss against Ecuador on October 28, 2021, and a 0–0 draw with Guatemala on April 22, 2022— and pay a 10,000 Swiss Franc fine for using Zendejas in violation of regulations. The Mexico under-23 team was also ordered to forfeit three games in which Zendejas played.[15]

United States

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On January 17, 2023, Zendejas was included in the list of United States national team call ups for two friendlies against Serbia and Colombia, as he had never applied to FIFA for a one-time switch in affiliation to be allowed to appear for the Mexico national team.[16]

In January 2023, Zendejas became the fifth player to earn caps for both national teams in the history of the Mexico–U.S. football rivalry and only the second Mexican-born to do so since Martín Vásquez.

On March 14, 2023, U.S. Soccer announced that Zendejas had officially committed to play internationally for the United States on a permanent basis.[17]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of October 6, 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Dallas 2015 MLS 8 0 2 0 – – 10 0
Guadalajara 2016–17 Liga MX 2 0 8 0 — — 10 0
2018–19 4 0 6 1 – – 10 1
2019–20 2 0 1 0 – – 3 0
Total 8 0 15 1 — — 23 1
Zacatepec (loan) 2017–18 Ascenso MX 32 4 8 1 — — 40 5
Necaxa 2020–21 Liga MX 32 5 — – – 32 5
2021–22 18 6 – – – 18 6
Total 50 11 — — — 50 11
América 2021–22 Liga MX 18 5 — – – 18 5
2022–23 34 11 – – – 34 11
2023–24 42 9 – 8[b] 5 4[c] 1 54 15
2024–25 6 0 – – – 6 0
Total 100 25 — 8 5 4 1 112 31
Career total 198 40 25 2 8 5 4 1 235 48
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Copa MX
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

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As of match played November 14, 2024[19]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2023 7 1
2024 3 0
Total 10 1
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zendejas goal.
List of international goals scored by Alejandro Zendejas
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 March 24, 2023 Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada 2  Grenada 7–1 7–1 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A

Honors

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Guadalajara

América

United States

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018: List of Players: CD Guadalajara" (PDF). FIFA. December 6, 2018. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Tom Marshall on Twitter".
  3. ^ "FC Dallas signs 13th Homegrown player Alejandro Zendejas". FCDallas.com. FC Dallas Media Services. October 1, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  4. ^ Lovell, Darrell (May 1, 2015). "Match Recap: FC Dallas 4, Houston Dynamo 1". FCDallas.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  5. ^ C.V., Chivas de Corazon S.A. de (March 15, 2024). "Nueva incorporación para el Rebaño".
  6. ^ "FC Dallas winger Alex Zendejas set to join Chivas - sources".
  7. ^ "Sources: FC Dallas homegrown Zendejas set for Chivas move". goal.com. Ives Galarcep and Jon Arnold. June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  8. ^ a b MX, LIGA MX / ASCENSO. "LIGA MX - Página Oficial de la Liga del Fútbol Profesional en México .: Bienvenido". www.ligamx.net.
  9. ^ "Necaxa. Alejandro Zendejas deja a Chivas y se viste de Rayo". June 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "2015 statistics". USsoccer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  11. ^ a.esteban (August 25, 2017). "Sorpresas en Sub 21".
  12. ^ "Alejandro Zendejas, el nuevo jugador del Tri que rompe el molde del futbolista mexicano". espn.com.mx. October 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Booth, Chuck (August 26, 2022). "Alejandro Zendejas-Mexico case: FIFA to investigate ex-USMNT prospect's dual national eligibility, per reports". CBS Soccer.
  14. ^ "Alejandro Zendejas se decanta por la selección de Estados Unidos sobre la selección mexicana". MSN.com (in Spanish). November 11, 2022.
  15. ^ "FIFA orders Mexico to forfeit Zendejas matches". ESPN.com. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  16. ^ Hernandez, Cesar (January 18, 2023). "Sources: U.S. calls 2 dual nationals to Jan. camp". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Tenorio, Paul (March 14, 2023). "Alex Zendejas commits to USMNT after switching from Mexico's team". The Athletic.
  18. ^ Alejandro Zendejas at Soccerway
  19. ^ Alejandro Zendejas at National-Football-Teams.com
  20. ^ "Regresó el Gigante". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. May 28, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Hace historia en la Copa". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  22. ^ "¡Chivas Campeón de la SuperCopa MX!". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  23. ^ Hernandez, Cesar (December 18, 2023). "Club América extends Liga MX record to 14 titles after defeating Tigres". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  24. ^ Hernandez, Cesar (May 27, 2024). "América secure back-to-back Liga MX titles with win over Cruz Azul". ESPN. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  25. ^ "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
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