Allan Cruz
Cruz with FC Cincinnati in 2019
Personal information
Full name Allan Enzo Cruz Leal
Date of birth (1996-02-24) 24 February 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Nicoya, Costa Rica
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.64 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Uruguay de Coronado 24 (1)
2014–2015 → Generación Saprissa (loan)
2017–2018 Herediano 65 (4)
2019–2022 FC Cincinnati 69 (1)
2022 FC Cincinnati 2 2 (1)
2023 Herediano 6 (0)
International career‡
2015 Costa Rica U23 2 (0)
2018– Costa Rica 24 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 06 January 2023

Allan Enzo Cruz Leal (born 24 February 1996) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Herediano and the Costa Rica national team.

Club career

Uruguay de Coronado

Born in Nicoya, in the province of Guanacaste, Cruz began his career with then Primera División club Uruguay de Coronado.[1] On 29 August 2015, Cruz made his professional debut for the club in their 2–0 victory against Saprissa.[2] Prior to his debut, Cruz spent a short period on loan with Generación Saprissa.[3]

On 7 November, Cruz scored his first competitive goal for Uruguay de Coronado in the 11th minute of a 2–1 defeat against Santos de Guápiles.[4]

Herediano

Prior to the 2017–18 season, Cruz joined Herediano.[5] He made his debut during the club's first game of the season on 29 July 2017 against Guadalupe. He was a starter as Herediano drew the match 0–0.[6] His first goal for the side came on 20 January 2018 against Saprissa in a 1–0 home victory.[7] He ended his first season with Herediano having played in 46 matches and scoring 3 goals.[8]

On 20 February 2018, Cruz made his CONCACAF Champions League debut in Herediano's 2–2 draw against Tigres UANL.[9] The next season, Cruz helped Herediano reach the final of the CONCACAF League, scoring in the first leg of the final against Honduran club Motagua in a 2–0 victory.[10] He then started in the second leg on 1 November as Herediano lost 2–1 but won 3–2 on aggregate.[11]

In December 2018, Cruz helped Herediano win the 2018 Apertura.[11] He started for the club in the second leg of the final against Saprissa as Herediano drew the match 2–2 and won on aggregate 5–4.[12]

FC Cincinnati

On 18 January 2019, it was announced that Cruz had signed with Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati prior to their inaugural season.[11] He made his debut for the club on 10 March 2019, starting in their 1–1 away draw against Atlanta United.[13] Cruz then scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati in their next match against the Portland Timbers. His 61st-minute goal was the second in a 3–0 victory at Nippert Stadium.[14] Cruz ended his first season with FC Cincinnati with 7 goals in 22 matches.[8]

On 1 March 2020, Cruz scored FC Cincinnati's first goal of the 2020 season against the New York Red Bulls, however the club lost the match 3–2.[15]

On October 24, 2022, it was announced that Cruz was departing FC Cincinnati following the end of the 2022 season.[16]

Herediano

In 2023, Cruz signed once again for Herediano.[17]

International career

In September 2018, Cruz was called into the Costa Rica squad which would take on South Korea and Japan in international friendlies.[18] He started for Costa Rica as they lost 2–0 on 7 September 2018.[18] On 20 November 2018, Cruz scored his first ever goal for his country in their 3–2 victory over Peru at the Estadio de la UNSA.[19]

On 5 June 2019, Cruz was included in Gustavo Matosas' squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[20] He scored Costa Rica's third goal in their opening 3–0 victory against Nicaragua.[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 29 August 2021[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Uruguay de Coronado 2015–16 Primera División 24 1 — — 21 1
Herediano 2017–18 Primera División 46 3 — 2 0 48 3
2018–19 Primera División 19 4 — 8 1 27 5
Total 65 7 0 0 10 1 75 8
FC Cincinnati 2019 Major League Soccer 22 7 — — 22 7
2019 Major League Soccer 15 1 — — 15 1
2020 Major League Soccer 13 1 — — 13 1
Total 50 9 0 0 10 1 50 9
Career total 129 17 0 0 10 1 139 18

International

As of match played 25 July 2021[22]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Costa Rica 2018 6 1
2019 11 1
2021 7 0
Total 24 2

Honours

Herediano

References

  1. ^ "FC Cincinnati adds Allan Cruz, Costa Rican national team midfielder". WCPO. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Uruguay 2–0 Saprissa". Soccerway.
  3. ^ Maupomé, Ana Paulina (17 January 2019). "Allan Cruz, el 'N'Golo Kanté' tico que llegara al FC Cincinnati". Diario AS. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Uruguay 1-2 Santos de Guápiles". Soccerway.
  5. ^ Bogert, Tom (17 January 2019). "Report: FC Cincinnati to sign Costa Rican international Allan Cruz". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Herediano 0–0 Guadalupe". Soccerway.
  7. ^ "Herediano 1–0 Saprissa". Soccerway.
  8. ^ a b c d e Allan Cruz at Soccerway
  9. ^ "Herediano 2-2 Tigres UANL". Soccerway.
  10. ^ "Herediano 2–0 Motagua". Soccerway.
  11. ^ a b c Boehm, Charles (18 January 2019). "Official: FC Cincinnati sign Costa Rican midfielder Allan Cruz". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Saprissa 2–2 Herediano". Soccerway.
  13. ^ "Atlanta United 1–1 FC Cincinnati". Soccerway.
  14. ^ Zúñiga, Alejandro (17 March 2021). "Costa Ricans star as FC Cincinnati wins first MLS match". Tico Times. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  15. ^ "New York Red Bulls 3–2 FC Cincinnati". Soccerway.
  16. ^ Pfahler, Laurel [@LaurelPfahler] (24 October 2022). "A bit of #FCCincy news as an emotional Allan Cruz confirmed his time with the club is ending after four years. He was emotional about departing but wanted to share his gratitude for the opportunities he received in Cincinnati. #AllForCincy" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 October 2022 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "Allan Cruz returns to Club Sport Herediano". ncrnoticias. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  18. ^ a b "New lineup falls short, South Korea beats La Sele 2-0". Tico Times. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Peru 2–3 Costa Rica". Soccerway.
  20. ^ Escobar, Gina (5 June 2019). "Matosas escogió el equipo que enfrentará la Copa Oro". Fede Futbol. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Costa Rica 3–0 Nicaragua". Soccerway.
  22. ^ "Allan Cruz – National-Football-Teams". national-football-teams.com.

External links

Costa Rica squad – 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Costa Rica squad – 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Categories