 Pulido in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alan Pulido Izaguirre[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1991-03-08)8 March 1991 (age 34) | ||
| Place of birth | Ciudad Victoria,Tamaulipas, Mexico | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Guadalajara | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2010 | Tigres UANL | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009 | Tigres B[2] | 12 | (1) |
| 2010–2014 | Tigres UANL | 105 | (23) |
| 2015 | Levadiakos | 6 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Olympiacos | 8 | (5) |
| 2016–2019 | Guadalajara | 97 | (34) |
| 2020–2024 | Sporting Kansas City | 92 | (35) |
| 2025– | Guadalajara | 16 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011 | Mexico U20 | 12 | (4) |
| 2012 | Mexico U23 | 12 | (11) |
| 2014–2021 | Mexico | 20 | (5) |
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 December 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 August 2021 | |||
Alan Pulido Izaguirre[a] (born 8 March 1991) is a Mexican professionalfootballer who plays as astriker forLiga MX clubGuadalajara.
Pulido began his career atTigres UANL, having his professional debut in 2009. Contractual disagreements with the club led to his absence from the2014 Apertura tournament. In February 2015, Pulido moved abroad to join Greek clubLevadiakos, before signing forOlympiacos in the summer of that year. The following season, he won theGreek Super League. In August 2016, he joinedGuadalajara for what was then a club-record fee of US$7.15 million. Winning the leagueDouble, the2018 CONCACAF Champions League, and various individual accolades, in December 2019, Pulido transferred toSporting Kansas City, a move which set a new transfer record for the club.
Pulido represented theunder-20,under-23, andsenior Mexico national teams. He was called up to participate in the2011 Copa América, the2014 FIFA World Cup and the2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Pulido started his career at the youth academy ofTigres UANL. He made his professional debut on 20 June 2009 in aSuperLiga match againstMLS sideChivas USA, scoring his first goal in the 11th minute.[3]
On 27 February 2010, Pulido made hisLiga MX debut coming on as a substitute after the half-time break in the 0–3 defeat toMonarcas Morelia.[4] He scored his first league goal on 13 April 2011 in the 4–2 win overPachuca at theEstadio Universitario.[5]
Pulido scored the third goal in the 3–1 second-leg victory of the2011 Apertura Final againstSantos Laguna on 11 December, winning his first league title and helping secure the club's third league title, the first in over thirty years.[6] Throughout the tournament, Pulido was subdued to a substitute role, behind first-choice strikerHéctor Mancilla, and received limited playing time.
He was a pivotal piece in the club's winning of theClausura 2014 Copa MX, where he finished with the tournament's top scorer, scoring 11 times within 10 matches.[7][8]
After participating with the Mexico national football team at the2014 World Cup, Pulido was meant to rejoin Tigres to prepare for the upcoming2014 Apertura tournament. After alleged interest from several European clubs, among them Greek sideOlympiacos,[9] Pulido stated that his contract with Tigres had ended and was thus a free agent, though club personnel claimed Pulido had signed a contract extension that would keep him with the club until June 2016.[10][11][12] Pulido did not attend any of the club's pre-season training sessions and was separated from the first team and sent to train with the reserves as a result,[13] with Pulido also failing to appear at the training sessions. He subsequently did not participate in the Apertura tournament.
In November of that year, Pulido and his representative started a legal dispute against Tigres via theMexican Football Federation, claiming the signature on theaddendum of the contract was falsified.[14] The Federation ultimately ruled in favor of Tigres, though another complaint was filed with theCourt of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).[15]
On 29 January 2015, it was reported that Pulido had signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Greek clubLevadiakos, with the deal being confirmed by both Pulido – who announced the transfer via hisTwitter account – and the club.[16][17] However that same day, Tigres issued a press release declaring that CAS had ruled in their favor and would reject the transfer, with the court stating that‘there is not a risk of irreparable damage to the player, because such damage, if exists, is caused by the player himself who decided not to re-join Tigres’.[18] Pulido's request for a provisional transfer had also been denied by CAS,[19] though another request was submitted toFIFA.[20] On 2 February, Pulido participated in his first training session with Levadiakos.[20] On 27 February, a provisional transfer was granted to Pulido by FIFA's Player's Status Committee, thus allowing him to play forLevadiakos while the legal dispute continued.[21]
On 9 March 2015, Pulido scored on his official league debut with Levadiakos in the 3–1 win againstPlatanias, and was named man of the match.[22]
He completed the campaign with six games played and one goal scored as Levadiakos finished 14th in the table
On 3 July 2015,Olympiacos announced the signing of Pulido from Levadiakos. Prior to the move, Mexican clubGuadalajara claimed they had purchased fifty percent of the player's rights during the annual league draft, and were awaiting on a verdict from the resolution from CAS in favor of Tigres UANL, who as a result could negotiate with Guadalajara over Pulido.[23]
On 13 January 2016, Pulido started his first match for Olympiacos in theGreek Cup match againstChania, scoring the fifth goal in the 6–0 victory.[24] On 18 January, he made his debut with the club in theSuper League in a 0–0 draw game againstPlatanias. Five days later, Pulido played all 90 minutes and scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory againstSkoda Xanthi.[25] On 28 February, Pulido scored the third goal in the 3–0 win overVeria, meaning Olympiacos won the league with six matches to spare, 21 points clear of second-placeAEK Athens.[26]
On 30 August 2016 it was announced that Pulido was returning to Mexico to play forGuadalajara for a reported US$7.15 million(€6 million), making Pulido Guadalajara's most expensive signing at the time.[27] Pulido made his league debut with Guadalajara on 10 September, coming on as a substitute in the second half in a 2–0 victory overChiapas.[28] The following week, he scored his first goal with the club in a 2–1 loss againstToluca.[29]
In April 2017, Guadalajara won theClausura Copa MXfinal againstMonarcas Morelia after defeating them in apenalty shoot-out in which he scored.[30][31] The following month, theClausura championship was disputed against his former club,Tigres UANL. In the first leg atEstadio Universitario, he scored the first goal in a 2–2 draw. In the return leg atEstadio Chivas, he scored the first goal of the match again — a goal named as Goal of the Tournament[32] — this time the final score being 2–1 in Guadalajara's favor meaning they were crowned champions for the first time since theApertura 2006[33] and won their firstDouble since the1969–70 season.[34] He was included in the Clausura's Best XI and named as the tournament'smost valuable player as well.[35]
On 17 April 2018, during the first leg of theCONCACAF Champions League finals againstMajor League Soccer clubToronto FC, Pulido would score from a free kick, helping his team attain a 2–1 victory — the goal was named as Goal of the Tournament.[36][37] Guadalajara went on to win the finals after defeating them in a penalty shoot-out 4–2 following a 3–3 aggregate draw; managing to score during the shoot-out.[38][39]
Pulido finished theApertura 2019 as one of the joint top goalscorers with 12 goals and was the first Mexican to score the most goals in a tournament sinceÁngel Reyna in theClausura 2011 with 11 goals.[40] Pulido was subsequently awarded the Golden Boot and included in the Apertura's Best XI.[41]
On 11 December 2019 it was announced that Pulido would play forMajor League Soccer clubSporting Kansas City on a four-year contract for a reported US$9.5 million (€9.2 million) as aDesignated Player, making his transfer the most expensive in the history of the club.[42][43][44]
On 29 February 2020, Pulido scored a goal in his debut match againstVancouver Whitecaps in a 3–1 victory.[45] On 3 October, he returned to the lineup following a hamstring injury and scored his first brace in a 2–1 victory overHouston Dynamo,[46][47] leading him to being named MLS Player of the Week.[48]
At the end of the regular season, Pulido was nominated as a finalist for that year'sMLS Newcomer of the Year Award[49] and was awarded the club's Offensive Player of the Year award.[50]
In June 2023, Pulido won the MLS Player of the Month award for the first time, scoring 6 goals and chipping in an assist in 5 games. He became the first Sporting Kansas City player in five years and the fourthMexican player to win the award.[51]
On 7 January 2025, Sporting Kansas City reached an agreement with Guadalajara to transfer Pulido.[52]
Pulido scored three goals in the group stage of the2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship inGuatemala and helped Mexico win the tournament and qualify to theunder-20 World Cup inColombia held that same year.
Pulido was included in the roster that participated at said tournament,[53] as Mexico placed third.[54]
Pulido received his first call up to the senior national team byLuis Fernando Tena for the2011 Copa América,[55] a team largely composed of under-23 players due to the close proximity of the recently concludedGold Cup, but did not appear in any matches.
On 23 March 2012, Pulido scored the opening goal inMexico's 7–1 win overTrinidad and Tobago in the2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in theUnited States. Two days later, he scored ahat-trick in Mexico's 3–0 victory overHonduras. His fifth goal came in the semi-final match againstCanada, making him joint-top-scorer, along with teammateMarco Fabián.
In the summer of that year, Mexico won theToulon Tournament, with Pulido scoring his only goal in the competition in the 3–0 win overTurkey in the Final.[56]
On 29 January 2014, Pulido scored ahat-trick on his debut appearance againstSouth Korea, with Mexico going on to win the match 4–0.[57] On 2 April, he scored the second goal in the 2–2 draw against theUnited States in afriendly match at theUniversity of Phoenix Stadium.[58]
On 2 June 2014, Pulido was named in Mexico's squad for theWorld Cup inBrazil.[59] He did not appear in any match.
Pulido was originally included in the roster for the2017 Gold Cup,[60] but withdrew from the list after picking up an injury in a friendly match againstParaguay and was subsequently replaced byErick Torres Padilla.[61]
On 28 May 2016, Pulido attended a party with his girlfriend in a rural area inCiudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. After leaving the party at 11:30 p.m., he drove through a highway and was cut off by a vehicle. Pulido and his girlfriend were then forcibly taken by six masked gunmen. His girlfriend was later released unharmed. His family members(Mother, Father, and brother Eli Pulido) were concerned with his health and safety, they later contacted the police and the case was escalated to all three levels of law enforcement.[62] On 30 May, Pulido managed to escape by overpowering one of his captors and taking one of his guns. The other captor ran from the scene after Pulido destroyed the windows of the room he was in. Once he was safe, Pulido dialed 066, the emergency number, to contact law enforcement and give his location.[63][64] In the operation, at least one person was arrested; Pulido was sent to a hospital for medical examination.[65] He suffered a minor injury in his right hand for breaking through the window to escape the kidnapper's safe house, where he was being held.[66]
Alan's older brother,Armando, is a former professional footballer.
| Club | Season | League | National cup[b] | Continental[c] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tigres UANL | 2009–10 | Mexican Primera División | 4 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11 | 16 | 3 | — | — | — | 16 | 3 | |||||
| 2011–12 | 28 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 30 | 4 | ||||
| 2012–13 | Liga MX | 21 | 4 | — | 8 | 4 | — | 29 | 8 | |||
| 2013–14 | 36 | 14 | 9 | 11 | — | — | 45 | 25 | ||||
| Total | 105 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 7 | — | 127 | 41 | |||
| Levadiakos | 2014–15 | Super League Greece | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | |||
| Olympiacos | 2015–16 | Super League Greece | 8 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 6 | |
| 2016–17 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 8 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 17 | 6 | |||
| Guadalajara | 2016–17 | Liga MX | 33 | 11 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 41 | 14 | ||
| 2017–18 | 18 | 4 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 25 | 6 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 2 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 33 | 9 | |||
| 2019–20 | 18 | 12 | — | — | — | 18 | 12 | |||||
| Total | 97 | 34 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 117 | 41 | ||
| Sporting Kansas City | 2020 | MLS | 12[e] | 6 | — | — | 2[f] | 1 | 14 | 7 | ||
| 2021 | 21 | 8 | — | — | 1[g] | 0 | 22 | 8 | ||||
| 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| 2023 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 1 | — | 5[h] | 0 | 34 | 15 | |||
| 2024 | 31 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 2[i] | 0 | 38 | 8 | |||
| Total | 92 | 35 | 6 | 2 | — | 10 | 1 | 108 | 38 | |||
| Guadalajara | 2024–25 | Liga MX | 5 | 2 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| Career total | 313 | 100 | 33 | 19 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 383 | 129 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2014 | 6 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 20 | 5 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 January 2014 | Alamodome,San Antonio, United States |  South Korea | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 3–0 | |||||
| 3 | 4–0 | |||||
| 4 | 2 April 2014 | University of Phoenix Stadium,Glendale, United States |  United States | 2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 8 February 2017 | Sam Boyd Stadium,Whitney, United States |  Iceland | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
Tigres UANL
Olympiacos
Sporting Kansas City
Guadalajara
Mexico Youth
Individual
Mexico squads | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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