Ranking the Top 10 Mexicans to Play in Spain's La Liga
Spain's La Liga has been the main destination for Mexican footballers who have left for Europe. Overall, 31 players have tried their luck there, but 10 have really excelled.
In this list we'll find Hugo Sanchez and Rafael Marquez, who conquered a bunch of league titles and became living legends.
But we will also take a close look at some of the youngsters that are defining El Tri's new generation.
These 10 footballers are or have been cornerstones for their teams. They have actually played, becoming key in the starting XI.
They have been considered for top competitions, proving they belong.
Let's take a look.
10. Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona and Villarreal)
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Jonathan dos Santos has had a short career in La Liga, but he is no stranger to Spanish football. The Mexican started his career with Barcelona B and was eventually promoted to the senior team.
However, the midfielder couldn't secure the starting position and was sold to Villarreal, where he joined his brother Giovani.
This season, the 24-year-old has appeared 21 times in the local league and has scored twice. He has also created 17 goal opportunities, 40 percent of those though the center of the pitch and 29 percent through the right flank.
Dos Santos’ performance has earned him a spot with the national team and is aspiring to appear in this year’s Gold Cup or Copa America.
9. Gerardo Torrado (Sevilla and Racing Santander)
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After spending three years with UNAM, Gerardo Torrado secured a contract with second division club Tenerife.
The club was promoted to La Liga, but Torrado didn’t continue with the squad, instead he joined Poli Ejido, a squad that had just qualified for the second division.
Torrado moved to La Liga in the beginning of 2002. He appeared seven times, six of them as a starter.
The following season he played 22 league matches, proving his fine touch and toughness in the midfield were very valuable.
However he couldn't do much in the next tournament and left the club in 2005 to join Racing Santander.Torrado played six months there before returning to Mexico.
Overall, he appeared 59 times in La Liga.
8. Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia)
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Andres Guardado arrived in Deportivo La Coruna in 2007 as the most expensive Mexican footballer in history, per MedioTiempo.com.
He spent six seasons with Depor, one of those in the second division. In his first five tournaments he played 101 games and scored 12 goals.
Guardado arrived in Valencia in 2012, he appeared 32 times, 26 of them as a starter (he completed 21 matches).
The midfielder created 30 goal opportunities in his first season, 50 percent of them from the left flank.
His second season wasn't so impressive. He played 16 times and had a 20 percent shot accuracy.
Valencia loaned him to Bayer Leverkusen, in January 2014, and to PSV, where he currently plays, in the summer.
7. Guillermo Franco (Villarreal)
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Guillermo Franco became a Mexican citizen in 2004, after making quite an impression with Liga MX club Monterrey.
Two years later he arrived in Villarreal, where he quickly became a cornerstone. Franco played 81 La Liga matches with the Yellow Submarine.
The 2007/08 was his most successful season, as he appeared 24 times in the first division and scored eight goals.
In his four years in Spain, Franco also had activity in the Copa del Rey and the Europa League. After that period he joined Premier League club West Ham.
6.Giovani Dos Santos (Barcelona, Racing Santander, Mallorca and Villarreal)
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Giovani dos Santos started his career with Barcelona, but just as it happened with his brother, he couldn't secure a spot in the starting XI and left the team.
After a shaky period in England and Turkey, dos Santos arrived in Racing Santander on a loan in 2011. It was a huge move for him because he finally started to get playing time.
Six months later Mallorca bought him and dos Santos started to get back on track. He played in 29 La Liga matches, scored six times and created 61 opportunities, including seven assists.
Dos Santos was sold to Villarreal in the following season. With the Yellow Submarine he quickly secured the starting position.
The Mexican scored more goals in his first season with Villarreal than with any other of the clubs he had played for.
The 2014/15 season hasn't been so good for dos Santos, mainly due to a couple injuries that have sidelined him for over two months.
Overall, the forward has put the ball away 23 times in La Liga.
5. Hector Moreno (Espanyol)
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Hector Moreno has been a standard bearer in Espanyol's defense.
The 27-year-old has proven to be very strong, he knows how to cover tightly, as well as coming out with the ball on his feet and distributing it to his teammates.
Ever since he left UNAM for AZ Alkmaar he has worked toward perfection. After four seasons and one league title he joined Espanyol.
Moreno has been an undisputed starter. So far he has appeared 102 times in La Liga since 2011. Despite being a defender he is no stranger to scoring, especially in set pieces. He has a total tally of six goals in the league.
His fierceness sets him as the natural choice to take over Rafael Marquez's role in Mexico’s back line.
4. Luis Garcia (Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad)
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Luis Garcia arrived in Atletico Madrid after six years with UNAM. In that period he secured a league title, a CONCACAF Champions Cup and two top scorers’ awards.
Garcia proved to be a powerful striker, with a fantastic knack for goalscoring. In his two-year stint with the Colchoneros he played 58 La Liga games and put the ball away 28 times.
In his first season he netted 20 times, setting the record as the Mexican with more goals in his debut season in Europe.
Garcia left Atletico Madrid in 1994 and joined Real Sociedad for one season, in which he appeared 10 times and put the ball away twice.
3. Carlos Vela (Osasuna and Real Sociedad)
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After the 2005 U17 World Cup Arsenal acquired Carlos Vela, however he was quickly loaned to second division side Salamanca.
One year later he arrived in La Liga to wear Osasuna's kit. After 33 games he scored three times, Arsenal took him back.
Unfortunately Vela hardly ever played and was loaned again to West Bromwich, where things didn't change much.
It was until Real Sociedad gave Vela a chance that he proved he belonged in Europe. The striker scored 12 times in 35 appearances, enough reason for the Txuriurdin to buy him.
In La Liga, Vela has been 127 on the pitch with Real Sociedad. He has also scored 49 goals and made 30 assists.
2. Rafael Marquez (Barcelona)
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Rafael Marquez secured four La Liga titles with Barcelona in the seven seasons he spent there.
As soon as he arrived from Monaco he locked the starting position. Marquez appeared in 163 league matches, 141 in the starting XI, and put the ball away nine times.
His enviable fine touch was especially useful in set pieces, while his strong aerial game allowed him to join the attack in corner kicks.
Marquez established himself as one of the toughest centre-backs of his generation. He faced some of the best strikers in the world, such as Diego Forlan, Adriano, Raul, Sergio Aguero and Ruud van Nistelrooy to name a few.
1. Hugo Sanchez (Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid)
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Hugo Sanchez is considered by many as the best Mexican footballer in history. His credential precede him.
Hugol arrived in Spain to join Atletico Madrid in 1991. His rampant pace with the Colchoneros included 111 league appearances, as well as 54 goals.
His performance grabbed Real Madrid attentions and finally bought him in 1985. Sanchez continued his rampant pace with 22 goals in 33 appearances in his debut season.
The Mexican grabbed the Pichichi trophy five times (four of them successively) and won five La Liga titles.
Overall, he put the ball away 218 times in 318 league games.
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