Andrés Guardado

Football player infobox


playername = Andrés Guardado
fullname = José Andrés Guardado Hernández
height = height|m=1.69
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|9|28
cityofbirth = Guadalajara, Jalisco
countryofbirth = Mexico
youthclubs = F.C. Atlas
youthyears = 1993-2005
currentclub = Deportivo La Coruña
clubnumber = 18
position = Left winger
years = 2005–2007 2007–
clubs = F.C. Atlas Deportivo La Coruña
caps(goals) = 064 0(6) 031 0(5)
nationalyears = 2005–
nationalteam = Mexico
nationalcaps(goals) = 035 0(6)
pcupdate = October 08, 2008
ntupdate = September 01, 2008

José Andrés Guardado Hernández (born September 28, 1986 in Guadalajara) is a Mexican international footballer who plays as a left winger for Deportivo de La Coruña in "La Liga". He is known for his long-distance left-foot strikes and pace.

Club career

F.C. Atlas

Guardado started playing professionally in F.C. Atlas, and made his league debut in August 2005 at 18 years old, in a 3-2 victory over Pachuca C.F in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He eventually became a very important player for Atlas, and would go on to play 64 games with the side, scoring 6 goals. In the summer of 2006, press speculations linked Guardado to several Italian Serie A teams, the Spanish club Real Madrid, and Portuguese club SL Benfica. Madrid offered a deal which would send Guardado on loan to Real for 2 years for around €400k per year. Atlas rejected the offer on the basis that Guardado was one of the team's gems and they would only sell him for at least €5m. However, Deportivo de La Coruña moved quickly and made an offer of €5.25m, for 75% of his rights which in turn will be worth a total of €7.0m. The Mexican side accepted the offer and the transfer was finalized on July 7, 2007. Atlas remained entitled a 25% sell-on-fee as long as they held the remaining 25% of his rights. He stated his happiness with the agreement, with a preference to move to Spain, as he would not have to learn any additional languages or cope with a non-Hispanic culture. [" [http://www.mediotiempo.com/noticia.php?id_noticia=41649 Guardado, to Deportivo] " 7 Jul 2007,]

Deportivo La Coruña

He was officially presented on July 24, with the team giving him the number 18 which he also used in the Mexico national football team. Miguel Ángel Lotina, coach of Deportivo, stated that Guardado was a key player, and admired his talent and character. [" [http://www.mediotiempo.com/noticia.php?id_noticia=42265 Guardado a reference player in Deportivo] " 24 Jul 2007]

A key player throughout the majority of the season, an injury prevented Guardado from playing the final two months, as "Depor" achieved a mid-table final position, enough to claim a spot in the Intertoto Cup, with subsequent UEFA Cup qualification, which marked Guardado's debut in European football.

CF Indios

Currently Indios de Juarez chairman Francisco Ibarra Molina is trying to bring the succesful young Mexican star for a 2 year length contract

International career

Guardado made his first international appearance for Mexico in a friendly match against Hungary on December 14, 2005, just four months after his first team debut for Atlas. Displaying his stupendous form, Guardado was called up to represent his country in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He played his first World Cup match against Argentina in the round-of-16 2-1 loss 2-1 in extra time. Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe was sacked shortly after the finals, but his replacement, Hugo Sánchez, kept Guardado in the setup.

Guardado played in Mexico's first friendly under Sánchez against his country's CONCACAF rival USA. His introduction from the bench saw the game turn in Mexico's favour and, although the match resulted in a 2-0 loss. Guardado cemented his place in the nation's subsequent starting XI.

On February 28, 2007, in a friendly match against Venezuela, Guardado scored his first goal for Mexico. Upon Mexico reaching the final of the 2007 Gold Cup Guardado scored the opening goal against the United States, however the goal was for naught as for the first time ever, the US came from behind to beat Mexico, 2-1, thus retaining their Gold Cup trophy. The third came against Uruguay for the third spot in 2007 Copa América, on July 15.

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 08 October, 2008)"

Honours

Individual

*flagicon|Mexico F.C. Atlas:
**Mexican first division: Best rookie ("Apertura" 2005); Best wingback ("Apertura" 2006, "Clausura" 2007)
*flagicon|Spain Deportivo de La Coruña:
**Deportivo player of the year, 2007-08

References

External links

* [http://www.canaldeportivo.com/servlet/es.iris.servlets.Equipo?accion=1&ver=2&id_persona=22688&id_equipo=27 Deportivo de La Coruña profile] es icon
* [http://andresguardado.graxia.com Unofficial player site] es icon
*Medio Tiempo|idj=4690
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=7000&b=true&pn=José_Andrés_Guardado_Hernández FootballDatabase profile and stats]
* [http://www.memoflores.com/blog/?p=263 Guardado pictures]