Popularly known asPrincipito (Spanish forLittle Prince),[4][5] Guardado came through the youth ranks atAtlas, making his professional debut in 2005 before signing with Spain'sDeportivo two years later, where he spent five seasons. In 2012 he joinedValencia, with brief loan stints atBayer Leverkusen andPSV, before permanently joining the latter club in 2015 and winning twoEredivisie titles and twoJohan Cruyff Shield titles. He returned to Spain two years later withReal Betis, where he won aCopa del Rey and made 218 appearances before returning to his native Mexico in 2024.
Born inGuadalajara,Jalisco, to Andrés Manuel Guardado and Teresa Hernández,[8] Guardado began playing professionally for local sideAtlas, joining the team's youth system at the age of seven and going on to appear in two fullPrimera División seasons. He made his league debut on 20 August 2005, in a 3–2 home win againstC.F. Pachuca,[4] and on 15 October, scored his first goal againstTigres UANL in a 2–1 away victory.[9][10] At the end ofthe tournament, he was voted best rookie.[11]
On 19 August 2006, Guardado scored his first professional brace againstClub América in a 2–0 home victory, both of them being long-range shots from outside the box.[12] His performances in his second season led him to win back-to-back (Apertura andClausura) awards for best full-back.[13]
In the summer of 2006, press speculation linked Guardado to severalSerie A teams[14] as well asReal Madrid,[15] butDeportivo de La Coruña moved quickly and made an offer of€7 million for 75% of his rights. An offer was accepted and the transfer was finalised on 7 July 2007, making him the most expensive ever Mexican player at the time; Atlas retained a 25% sell-on-fee as long as it held the remaining 25% of his rights.[16]
Guardado played his final match at theEstadio Jalisco in afriendly against theArgentine championsSan Lorenzo de Almagro, featuring 30 minutes. At half-time, he was awarded the club's highest honor, the Athletic Excellence Award.[17]
Guardado was officially introduced on 24 July 2007, with the Spanish team giving him the number 18 shirt.[18] He made hisLa Liga debut on 26 August in a 3–0 home loss toUD Almería[19] and on 16 September scored his first goal againstReal Betis, attacking a long throw-in at the back post, in which his attempt was described as "karate style" finish, in a 1–0 victory.[20][21] He finishedhis first season with 26 games and five goals asDepor finished in ninth position, eventuallyqualifying to theUEFA Intertoto Cup – andthe subsequentUEFA Cup, where he scored in a 3–0 group stage home win overFeyenoord;[22] he was voted by fans as the best player.[23]
Halfway throughhis second year, fans chose Guardado as the best player of 2008.[24] CoachMiguel Ángel Lotina stated that he was a key player for Deportivo, and admired his talent and character.[25] He solidified himself as first choice, providing severalassists and being charged withset pieces; he was also hampered by several injuries, however.[26][27]
On 20 September 2010, Guardado scored a brace within seven minutes of each other, bothpenalties, in a 2–2 draw againstGetafe CF.[28] On 15 May 2011, he made his 100th La Liga appearance in a scoreless draw atFC Barcelona, the third Mexican to achieve this feat behindRafael Márquez andHugo Sánchez.[29] He only managed to take part in 20 matches in2010–11, and theGalicians were relegated toSegunda División after 20 years.[30]
In January 2012, Guardado was voted by fans as the best player of the previous year.[31] On 27 March 2012 he confirmed that he would leave theEstadio Riazor on 30 June,[32] and contributed career-bests of 11 goals and 12 assists as his team returned to the top level as champions.[33][34] At the end ofthe campaign he was again voted by fans as best player,[35] and was also named the competition's bestattacking midfielder;[36] additionally, he eventually surpassedJuan Carlos Valerón as the highest provider of assists.[37]
Guardado scored his first goal for theChe on 12 May 2013, contributing to a 4–0 rout atRayo Vallecano,[45] and he featured mostly in the backline the following months. On 30 January 2014,Bundesliga clubBayer 04 Leverkusen announced that they had signed him on loan for the rest of the season, with an option to buy afterwards.[46] He made his debut on 2 February in a1–0 loss against1. FC Kaiserslautern for theDFB-Pokal, playing as a leftwing-back.[47]
For2014–15, still owned by Valencia, Guardado joinedPSV Eindhoven,[51] who had previously attempted purchasing him in 2007.[52] He made hisEredivisie debut on 31 August 2014 againstVitesse Arnhem atPhilips Stadion.[53] He managed to wear thecaptain's armband within his first months,[54] won the Player of the Month award for November,[55] and on 7 March of the following year he scored his first goal for his new club, contributing to a 3–0 away victory overGo Ahead Eagles.[56]
On 15 March 2015, prior to the match againstFC Groningen and amidst rumours of a transfer toAFC Ajax,[57] PSV fans displayed a Mexican flagtifo and a banner in Spanish which read "Andrés Guardado, our Golden Mexican Eagle. He has to stay in PSV Eindhoven. Our house is your house, Andrés".[58] On 27 March, PSV announced that they had reached a deal with Valencia over a permanent transfer, for an undisclosed fee and three years.[59]
At the start ofthe following campaign, Guardado came on as a 74th-minute substitute in theJohan Cruyff Shield match against Groningen, winning 3–0.[64] He contributed 25 appearances to help the side successfully defend their title,[65] finishing with nine assists as the team's second-highest provider.[49] He played a pivotal part as they qualified to theChampions League round of 16 for the first time since the2006–07 edition,[66][67] and was also listed on Football Oranje's team of the season.[68]
Despite rumors linking him to a possible move toMajor League Soccer clubsAtlanta United andLos Angeles FC,[71] it was announced on 27 July 2017 that Spanish clubReal Betis had signed Guardado for a reported €2.3 million on a three-year deal.[72] The following month he was named their co-captain,[73] and on 20 August he made his competitive debut, playing all 90 minutes in a 2–0 loss to Barcelona.[74] He scored his first goal on 25 November, in a 2–2 home draw againstGirona FC.[75]
In December 2019, the 33-year-old Guardado renewed his contract until 2022.[76] On 4 July 2020 he made his 100th official appearance for theAndalusians, captaining the side in their 1–1 league draw toRC Celta de Vigo[77] and becoming the first Mexican to reach that mark for three European clubs in the process.[78] On 11 July, he picked up a hamstring injury in a 1–0 league loss toAtlético Madrid, causing him to miss the rest ofthe season.[79]
Following an absence as a result of the hamstring injury, Guardado played his first match of the2020–21 season against Valencia on 3 October, coming on as a stoppage time substitute in a 2–0 away league victory,[80][81] marking it as his 14th season in Europe and becoming the Mexican with most seasons in Europe, surpassingHugo Sánchez's record of 13.[82] On 17 January 2021, after recovering for nearly two weeks fromCOVID-19,[83][84] Guardado returned to the field, coming on as a second-half substitute in theCopa del Rey round of 32 match againstSporting de Gijón, winning 2–0.[85]
On 11 January 2022, following his appearance in the league match againstRayo Vallecano, Guardado became the Mexican player with the most games in Europe with 496, surpassing the record held by Hugo Sánchez.[86] He reached the 500 game mark on 13 February in the 4–2 victory overLevante.[87] The following month, it was announced that the 35-year-old Guardado had extended his contract with Real Betis for one more season.[88] On 23 April, in theSpanish Cup final against Valencia, Guardado came on as a substitute inextra time in a 1–1 draw that went into penalties, successfully converting his shot as his team won the cup.[89]
Following the retirement ofJoaquín, Guardado was named main captain of the team for the2023–24 season.[90] On 21 October, coming on as a substitute against Getafe FC in a 1–1 draw, he made his 208th appearance for the club, making him the club's top non-European with most appearances, surpassing that of Brazilian footballerDenílson.[91]
On 18 January 2024, Guardado and Real Betis parted ways by mutual agreement.[92] On the same day, Guardado made his return to Mexico and joinedLiga MX clubLeón.[93] On 27 January, he made his debut coming on as a substitute and being given the captain's armband in a 3–2 victory overSantos Laguna.[94]
On 7 November 2024, Guardado announced his retirement from professional football.[95] However, on 12 January, he came out of retirement in order to play theFIFA Club World Cup with León.[96]
Guardado's first game under the new manager was an exhibition game against theUnited States on 7 February 2007, where he came on as a substitute in a 0–2 defeat.[104] On 28 February, in a friendly withVenezuela, he scored his first international goal in Mexico's 3–1 victory.[105]
Inthe final of the2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[106] Guardado scored the opening goal against the United States. During the second half he collided head-on withJonathan Spector while both attempted to head the ball, but recovered to play the rest of the match, which ended in a 2–1 loss;[107] he was listed as anHonorable Mention for the competition's All-Tournament Team.[108] He also participated inthat year'sCopa América,[106] scoring the third goal againstUruguay in the third-place match.[109]
Javier Aguirre included Guardado in the roster for the2010 World Cup.[110] He assistedRafael Márquez in the opening game of the World Cup against hostsSouth Africa, in a 1–1 draw.[111] An expected starter, he lacked playing time[112] and appeared in three out of four games, in another last-16 exit at the hands of Argentina.[113]
In May 2011, Guardado was called up byJosé Manuel de la Torre for the2011 Gold Cup.[114] He scored his first brace with the national team during that tournament, in a 4–1 win overCosta Rica on 12 June.[115] He found the net again inthe final in a 4–2 victory over the United States, as Mexico retained the trophy.[116][117]
Guardado made the squad for the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.[118] AsEl Tri failed to progress from the group stage, he played all three matches.[119]
At the2015 Gold Cup,[127] Guardado's first tournament as captain,[128] he scored six times en route to the title;[129] the first being a first-half effort in a 6–0 demolition ofCuba in the group stage,[130] the second in a 4–4 draw againstTrinidad and Tobago,[131] and his third via penalty kick in the last minute of stoppage time in the 1–0 quarter-final victory against Costa Rica.[132] In the semi-finals withPanama, he scored twice from the penalty spot to helpEl Tri come from behind and win 2–1[133][134] and, inthe decisive match againstJamaica, scored the opener in an eventual 3–1 victory,[135] becoming the first player to score in three Gold Cup finals, and subsequently won the Golden Ball Award as the tournament's best player.[136] He was also called up by then interim-managerRicardo Ferretti for the subsequentCONCACAF Cup – a play-off match to determine CONCACAF's entry into the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup – against the United States, which Mexico won 3–2.[137]
Picked for theCopa América Centenario squad byJuan Carlos Osorio,[138] Guardado provided a cross in the opening fixture against Uruguay that led to an own goal in an eventual 3–1 victory, but was also sent off for two bookable offences.[139][140] He took part in a further two games, including the team's 7–0 quarter-final defeat toChile.[141]
Guardado also made the final list for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia,[142] where he appeared as captain in the group stage fixtures againstPortugal andRussia, picking up a yellow card on both occasions and thus missing the semi-final match againstGermany.[143] He returned to the lineup in the third-place playoff, a 2–1 loss to Portugal.[144]
Following an injury scare that required medical intervention that was picked up while playing with Betis,[145] Guardado was selected in the final 23-man squad for the2018 World Cup,[146] his first as captain.[147] In the first match, he played 74 minutes in a 1–0 defeat of Germany,[148] going on to take part in all the fixtures including the round of 16 loss withBrazil.[149] Following their elimination, it was reported by Mexican sports newspaperRécord that he had played through the tournament with a muscle injury.[150]
Guardado was called up byGerardo Martino to participate in the2019 Gold Cup.[151] In the secondgroup match againstCanada, he replaced the injuredÉrick Gutiérrez at the 37th minute and scored twice, helping to a 3–1 win and being namedPlayer of the match.[152] He broke variousCONCACAF-based records at the end of that stage, among them the most-capped Mexican player in the Gold Cup and the only from the country to score in four editions of theCONCACAF Gold Cup,[153] eventually winning the competition and being included in the Best XI.[154]
In November 2022, Guardado was included in Mexico's 26-man squad for theWorld Cup.[155] In a friendly match againstSweden prior to the World Cup, Guardado made his 178th appearance for Mexico as a half-time substitute, and became the most capped player in the history of the national side, surpassingClaudio Suárez.[156] He made his only appearance in thegroup stage match against Argentina appearing as captain, he was brought off before the end of the first half due to a pulled muscle as Mexico lost 2–0.[157]
On 16 May 2023, Guardado announced his retirement from the national team,[158] and played one final match on 15 October 2024 as a farewell match against the United States on home soil, Mexico won the match 2-0.
Guardado started his career as awinger at Atlas, occasionally playing as aleft-back.[159] He was mainly deployed in the former position at Deportivo byMiguel Ángel Lotina,[160] and changed to the latter after moving to Valencia.[43] When played as a winger, he was an incisive and quick footballer, known to play deep into the field, take on defenders one-on-one and provide accurate crosses, managing to score for both club and country.[160][161]
"[H]e will surely be the best footballer I have trained and that I am going to train [...] He is a footballer with many merits. Not only in his conditions, but in what he creates. When everyone else stops, he keeps on going."
A creative player with excellent vision,[166][176] Guardado is also a technically proficient player known for establishing the tempo of his team.[170][177] He also has good passing anddribbling skills, also being proficient atfree kicks, penalties and holding up the ball. He also possesses a powerful and accurate shot from distance, and is also capable of aiding his team defensively due to hiswork rate and stamina;[173][178][179][180] additionally, he was described as playing closer to the "Iberian midfielder archetype," focused on possession in the center of the field, winning the ball back with smart positioning instead of tackles and then pushing it forward.[152]
Guardado has cited his compatriot and national teammateRafael Márquez as an influence in his playing style and leadership.[181][182][183][184]
Guardado married fellow Guadalajara native Briana Morales in December 2006. Five years later, they divorced.[8]
Guardado is an "honorary associate" of theAsociación Mexicana de Futbolistas (Mexican Footballers Association), created in October 2017. An association that its main goal is, according to him, to "create a dialogue with league, federation and club authorities" with the domestic footballers.[185][186]
Much of Guardado's first year at Betis'Estadio Benito Villamarín was captured in theAmazon Prime television documentary seriesSix Dreams, in which he was one of the stars.[187]
On 1 January 2021, it was reported that Guardado tested positive forCOVID-19.[83] By 13 January, he recovered.[84]
^Fernández, Guillermo (14 January 2013)."Guardado, el lateral perfecto" [Guardado, the perfect full back] (in Spanish). Fútbol Pasión. Archived fromthe original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved16 February 2014.
^Siguero, Santiago (12 May 2013)."Paseo matinal en Vallecas" [Morning walk in Vallecas].Marca (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved31 January 2014.
^Ramos, Rafa (22 July 2015)."México y Guardado mandan en Copa Oro" [Mexico and Guardado rule the Gold Cup] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved23 July 2015.
^Medina, Paulo (28 June 2017)."¿Qué pierde México sin Andrés Guardado?" [What are Mexico missing without Andrés Guardado?] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved5 December 2019.
^Jennings, Patrick (2 July 2018)."Brazil 2–0 Mexico". BBC Sport. Retrieved27 September 2019.
^Ponce de León, Carlos (5 July 2018)."Andrés Guardado jugó infiltrado el Mundial" [Andrés Guardado played through pain in World Cup].Récord (in Spanish). Retrieved17 December 2019.
^Blumrosen Juárez, Daniel (30 May 2014)."Donde me pongan seré feliz: Guardado" [Wherever they play me I'll be happy: Guardado].El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved27 February 2020.
^ab"Guardado's mixed memories and enduring dream". FIFA. 2 January 2018. Retrieved20 September 2019.I used to be more of a box-to-box player, who took people on and got on the end of moves. Now, I'm a central midfielder and hold my position more; I bring balance to the team.
^"Andres GUARDADO". FIFA. Archived fromthe original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved20 September 2019.The midfielder began his career stationed on the left flank, where he got himself noticed with his speed and long-range shooting skills. As his career developed, he shifted to central midfield and now performs more defensive duties.
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Chile
Guyana
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