Edson Alavarez grew up in a country that loves football. Unlike the Americans, who call this game soccer, the Mexicans prefer to call it “futbol,” like the rest of the world. Alvarez was born in a family which has a keen interest in the sport; his father, Evaristo, was a footballer. Alvarez cites his childhood experiences by saying, “My first family memories were all about football. We had a routine every weekend: We would all have breakfast together and then, no matter what, Saturday or Sunday, we would go to my dad’s game.” He also shared how his discipline for the game was inculcated in him from an early age by his parents. He credits his parents for instilling a love for the sport in him.
Alvarez also highlighted the sacrifices made by his father by sticking with him through the long and hard journey. "My dad is my mentor, the best, along with my mom. When I played for Pachuca [a club team in Hidalgo], he would wake up at 4:30 a.m. and take me to training. Later, when I played for América [one of Mexico City’s club teams], he taught me how to get to the far south training camps, and he never missed a game of mine.”- said Alavarez, recalling how his road to the big stage of football wasn't made sleeping on a bed of roses.
Edson Alvarez's capability was noticed by the West Ham United management, and they roped him in with a lucrative deal of 35.4 million euros. What caught their eye was his aptitude, his versatility, as he can easily fill in as a centre back too. His mental attributes and his movement with the ball were noteworthy, too. Moreover, his off-the-ball movement and supporting positions, particularly in the early possession phases, allow his team to get out of defence and gain control of advanced midfield positions quickly.
Alvarez's defensive interceptions, too, have that sting in them. Alvarez recorded an impressive 5.92 interceptions per 90 during his time at Ajax, highlighting his awareness and ability to read the game. Communication is important in football, and the players involved, sometimes have to shout instructions or signal them through their gestures. He sometimes uses it as a decoy to fool the opposing players by pointing at one direction and then passing the ball to the other end. The 27-year-old is very good at that, making his voice heard through the pitch. In the build-up, the game picture is in his head, so he can use his movements to bring away an opposition player and open a new passing lane. His positional awareness is also on point, which creates a good circulation structure for the team.
Mexico
