Sporting Kansas City Inks Alan Pulido

By Sean McCaffery, December 11, 2019

The goal scoring king of 2019 in Liga MX with two dozen for CD Guadalarjara in the Apertua this fall is now the latest member of SKC of MLS. The 28 year old striker joined by way of a club-record transfer fee with a 4 year deal and an international spot. Peter Vermes the HC 7 Sporting Director of KC informed, " We are very excited to add Alan Pulido to our roster. He is a winner, has a terrific work rate. Allan looks forward to getting started with us on the field.

Internationally, Alan has netted 5 times with the senior national team of Mexico, as he was with them for the 2011 Copa America and 2014 World Cup. Pulido headed the charge of the of the U-23's in the 2012 Concacaf Olympic Qualifiers at his new home fields, Children's Mercy Park in being the top scorer for the games. 

From Ciudad VIctoria in Mexico, he came through the esteemed academy at Tigres UANL, hitting the first team in 2009 at just 18. He aided them in reaching the 2009 North American SuperLiga crown, with 2 starts in his trio of games. A scant pair of years forward,, and he hit for the big goal in the 2nd leg of the 2011 Liga MX Apertura Final as they took their first title since 1982. 

2013='14 saw him strike for a quater century of goals over all games with Tigres in what would be his final year there, getting one in the 2014 Copa MX Clausura Final helping get to the eventual 3-0 win over Oaxaca and come in wearing the golden boot. 

Off to the Mediterranian and Greek side Levadiakos, putting one away in his inital game , then off to the legendary Olympiacos in July. He hit for half a dozen goals over the 2015-'16 year  and they brought home the Super League title with a 30 point buffer, he made it to the UEFA Europa League & Uefa Champions League qualifiers in his time with the team.

2016 and back to Liga MX in Aug. '16 with CD Guadaljara, with his first club record transfer, amd off to his amazing time with the most popular team in the land. The first full year saw him find the back of the net 14 times over all games, including in each leg of the 2017 Liga MX Clausura Final that brought them to a 4-3 aggregate win beyond his past team of Tigres. Alan helped his side to the 2017 Copa Clausura Crown with a double as he achived his first Liga MX Best IX choice.

2018 and new levels were achived as Chivas secured the first contiental title in 56 years in taking the  Concacaf Champions League . Both of the games in the final leg saw him with 2 restart goals, one an amazing direct kick in Toronto then a PK at home in a 3-3 tie for another aggregate win. The free kick was the Goal of the Tournament as he was then a finalist for the 2018 Concacaf Player of the Year.

The CCL win of coure sent them off to the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in UAE, he started in the close 2nd round loss to Japan's Kashima Antlers, this occured at the half way point of the Liga MX season as Pulido lead his team with 7 goals. He hit for a dozen goals in a dozen and a half games of Liga MX play. The Apertura ended with him as the top in goals as he hit for a pair during his last game with Chivas on Nov. 24, a 3-1 win facing Veracruz.

At the international level, Alan has seen time with the U-20's, U-23's and full national teams of his native Mexico. 2011 had him lead the U-20's to the title in the Concacaf Championships with 3 goals then onto 5 games at the U-20 World Cup as the El Tri came in third overall.

With the U-23's. they took the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournament top spot in KC in 2012. The final and semi were played at his new home field as he had a goal in the 3-1 semi win over Canada. He eneded up as the top goal getter in the games with 5 scored as they were then on their way to the 2012 Summer Games in London. He would in that same year speahead the team in the Toulon Tournament later in France that same year.

Jan. 29, 2014 and his big break, a senior team game, not about to squander the moment, he hit for 3 of the 4 goals in a shut out of South Korea in San Antonio. A 2-2 tie with the US as he had half his teams goals was next 2+ months later, and his being chosen to go to Brazil and the World Cup. His 5th goal with the full team came in a defeat of Iceland, Feb, 2017, his last, a tie with El Tri was Sept. 2018, losses to Uraguay & the USA. 

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