Andrés Guardado

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Personal information
Andrés Guardado
Full name	José Andrés Guardado Hernández
Date of birth	September 28, 1986 (age 20)
Place of birth	Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Height	169 cm (5'6")
Nickname	El Zorro Plateado La Joya
Playing position	Left Wing Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Atlas
Number	17
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2005-	Atlas	37 (5)
National team²
2005-	Mexico	10 (1)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 August, 2006. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 20 August, 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

José Andrés Guardado Hernández (born 28 September 1986 in Guadalajara) is a Mexican football player who currently plays as a Left Wing Midfielder for CF Atlas.

[edit] Biography

At 20 years of age, Guardado is one of Mexico's brightest young star players. He is an aggressive marker and attacker, known for his explosive speed and dribbling skills. Guardado made his professional debut for CF Atlas in the Primera División de México on August 2005, with a 3-2 victory over CF Pachuca in Guadalajara. He made his first international appearance for the Mexican National Team 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 FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. He played his first World Cup match against Argentina in the Elimination Round of 16, with a 2-1 defeat in extra time. Despite the loss, Guardado terrorised the Argentine defence with an impressive performance, showing deadly counter-strikes from the wing and in the centre midfield area. Guardado has recently announced he's getting married on December, 2006.

Guardado has been called upon once again to represent the Mexican National Football Team, this time by Coach Hugo Sanchez. Mexico's first friendly under new coach Hugo Sanchez was played against CONCACAF rival USA. Not until Guardado was substituted in, did Mexico show a major threat on the left field. Guardado's skillful dribble and speed as well as his powerful left leg were a major threat again, as he outplayed rival US players. Although the match resulted in a 0-2 loss for Mexico, Guardado showed once again that he is a vital part of the Mexican Team.

On Feburary 28, 2007, in a match against Venezuela, Andres Guardado scored his first goal for the Mexican National Team. The goal, came off a corner kick, that was taken by Ramon Morales, the ball came off the ground after a series of bounces, then going towards the ball, Guardado one timed the shot, and hit it towards the Venezuelan Goalkeeper's farthest post. Then he set up Fernando Arce, with a 30 yard pass, Arce would also one time the shot as it came down, Later Guardado was named the Man of the Match, for his goal, assist to Arce's goal, and outstanding plays against the Venezuealan defense.

[edit] European Team Offers

In June and July 2006, press speculations and rumors have linked Guardado to several Italian Serie A clubs including Inter Milan, Fiorentina, A.C. Milan, Udinese and more recently the Spanish club Real Madrid and Portuguese club SL Benfica have been rumoured to show interest. Real Madrid offered a deal in the summer of 2006 which would send Guardado on loan to Real Madrid for 2 years for around 100,000 euros per year. Atlas CF denied the offer on the basis that Guardado is one of the gems of the team and they would only sell him for at least 5 million euros. As, of 2007, press has romoured in Guardardo leaving to English giant Manchester United. Other big European clubs that have shown interest for Guardado's services include Dutch Eredivisie's PSV Eindhoven, and Spanish La Liga's Atletico de Madrid.

[edit] External links

Andrés Guardado Unofficial Site (In Spanish)
Andrés Guardado Article (In Spanish)
Andrés Guardado's career timeline and detailed statistics
Profile and Statistics
Interest from Real Madrid

	Mexico squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Sánchez \| 2 Suárez \| 3 Salcido \| 4 Márquez \| 5 Osorio \| 6 Torrado \| 7 Naelson \| 8 Pardo \| 9 Borgetti \| 10 Franco \| 11 Morales \| 12 Corona \| 13 Ochoa \| 14 Pineda \| 15 Castro \| 16 Méndez \| 17 Fonseca \| 18 Guardado \| 19 Bravo \| 20 García \| 21 Arellano \| 22 Rodríguez \| 23 Pérez \| Coach: Lavolpe