Alex_Zendejas
Alejandro Zendejas
Soccer player (born 1998)
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.
| 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 | 94 | (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 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 26, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 9, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
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]
FC Dallas
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
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
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
On June 29, 2020, Zendejas joined Club Necaxa on a free transfer.[9]
Club América
On January 17, 2022, Zendejas joined Club América for $3 million.
United States
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.
However, on January 17, 2023, Zendejas was included in the list of call ups for two friendlies against Serbia and Colombia, as he never applied to FIFA for a one-time switch in affiliation to be allowed to appear for a Mexico national team.[11]
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.[12]
Mexico
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.[13]
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.[14]
Controversy
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.[15]
On November 9, 2022, Zendejas’ attorneys revealed to media that the player was considering a one-time switch to the United States.[16]
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.[17]
Club
- As of 26 May 2024[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[lower-alpha 1] | 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[lower-alpha 2] | 5 | 4[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | 54 | 15 | |||
| Total | 94 | 25 | — | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 106 | 31 | |||
| Career total | 192 | 40 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 229 | 48 | ||
- Includes U.S. Open Cup and Copa MX
- Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
- Appearances in Leagues Cup
International
- As of match played July 9, 2023[19]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2023 | 7 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zendejas goal.
| 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 |
Guadalajara
América
United States
- "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.
- "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.
- 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.
- C.V., Chivas de Corazon S.A. de (March 15, 2024). "Nueva incorporación para el Rebaño".
- "Sources: FC Dallas homegrown Zendejas set for Chivas move". goal.com. Ives Galarcep and Jon Arnold. June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- MX, LIGA MX / ASCENSO. "LIGA MX - Página Oficial de la Liga del Fútbol Profesional en México .: Bienvenido". www.ligamx.net.
- "Necaxa. Alejandro Zendejas deja a Chivas y se viste de Rayo". June 25, 2020.
- "2015 statistics". USsoccer.com. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
- Hernandez, Cesar (January 18, 2023). "Sources: U.S. calls 2 dual nationals to Jan. camp". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Tenorio, Paul (March 14, 2023). "Alex Zendejas commits to USMNT after switching from Mexico's team". The Athletic.
- a.esteban (August 25, 2017). "Sorpresas en Sub 21".
- "Alejandro Zendejas, el nuevo jugador del Tri que rompe el molde del futbolista mexicano". espn.com.mx. October 25, 2021.
- Booth, Chuck (August 26, 2022). "Alejandro Zendejas-Mexico case: FIFA to investigate ex-USMNT prospect's dual national eligibility, per reports". CBS Soccer.
- "Alejandro Zendejas se decanta por la selección de Estados Unidos sobre la selección mexicana". MSN.com (in Spanish). November 11, 2022.
- "FIFA orders Mexico to forfeit Zendejas matches". ESPN.com. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Alejandro Zendejas at Soccerway
- Alejandro Zendejas at National-Football-Teams.com
- "Regresó el Gigante". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. May 28, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- "Hace historia en la Copa". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- "¡Chivas Campeón de la SuperCopa MX!". chivasdecorazon.com.mx. July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- Hernandez, Cesar (December 18, 2023). "Club América extends Liga MX record to 14 titles after defeating Tigres". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- Hernandez, Cesar (May 27, 2024). "América secure back-to-back Liga MX titles with win over Cruz Azul". ESPN. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
- Alejandro Zendejas at Liga MX (archive) (in Spanish)
- Alex Zendejas at Major League Soccer
- Alejandro Zendejas at National-Football-Teams.com