Finding the Best Mexican International Fit for Austin FC

Sergio Tristan is a local Austin resident, born and raised, and fan of Austin FC, the Mexican National Team, and Lonestar U7 2013 Age Group where his son plays.

Mexican International Miguel Layun

The recent announcement of Cecilio Dominguez to the Austin F.C. roster, as a designated player no less, has started the conversation of whether or not MLS’s newest franchise should seek a Mexican international for the team. 

In my opinion, Austin F.C. needs to have a Mexican international player on the team. It shouldn’t be a question. Why? There are several reasons why a Mexican national team player makes sense. First, leadership. A senior Mexican player will bring leadership and stability to a new team. A Mexican player will also bring exposure to the new franchise. Austin F.C. may be MLS’s newest club but it has little brand awareness outside of MLS and Austin. As the southern most MLS club it only makes sense to bring in a Mexican player who can draw interest from Mexico. The Mexican media would provide a huge initial media blitz and swoon Austin F.C. with press coverage. This coverage and interest can be transformed into visibility by Mexican and Latin American clubs as well as players. A Mexican player on opening day can open the door to future players looking towards the Texas capital as a potential playing destination. Lastly, the large majority of latinos in Austin are Mexican and Mexican-American. As someone who has purchased a jersey of Chicharito, Gio and Jonathan Dos Santos, Rodolfo Pizarro, Carlos Vela, and Alan Pulido I can tell you that Mexico fans support Mexican players. Austin F.C. should be a bridge between North and West Austin and South and East Austin. A Mexican player would do a lot to help unite the city. In a recent poll that I ran on my twitter feed 70% of those polled believed Austin F.C. should sign a Mexican player. 

So who can Austin F.C. realistically sign in the next six to eight months? Which players are realistically available to make a move? Which players can contribute on the field and off the field? Rising star players like Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Sebastian Codova, and Jose Juan “JJ” Macias are probably not an option. However, there are several very interesting options for Austin F.C.’s Claudio Reyna and Josh Wolff to consider for the squad. 

For me, the four most likely options for Austin F.C. at this time are Guillermo Ochoa, Andres Guardado, Hector Moreno, and Miguel Layun. Surprisingly, I began my analysis of these four players with Andres Guardado as my personal frontrunner. In the end, after evaluating multiple factors, I think Miguel Layun would be the best Mexican International for Austin F.C. 

Ochoa and Guardado are probably the two most recognizable players for non-Mexico fans. This probably has a lot to do with both players featuring greatly for the Mexican National Team over the last ten years. Guardado, the current senior team Captain, made his debut at just 20 years of age and has been a steady regular since the 2006 World Cup. While Guardado has enjoyed regularity on the National Team the same cannot be said of Guillermo Ochoa who made his debut around the same time and was selected for the 2006 World Cup but did not become the uncontested number 1 goalkeeper until 2014. A tremendous showing at the World Cup with notable performances against Brazil and Croatia made fans lament Ochoa’s number 2 status at the 2010 World Cup where coach Javier Aguirre opted for veteran Oscar “El Conejo” Perez. 

Both players have also had very different club careers which began with a lot of potential but never materialized into a “big club” move. Arguably, Ochoa’s best times were with America before he moved to Europe. Memo won the LigaMX championship in 2005, Copa de Campeones 2005, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2006 with Club America. In 2011, after much speculation, Ochoa left Mexico and joined unknown French league side Ajaccio. The Mexican goalkeeper never failed to impress, often being praised internationally for his performances, but what should have been a stepping stone to a greater club ended up being home for three seasons. Eventually Ochoa bounced around Europe with stints at Malaga, Granada, and ending up in Belgium with Standard Liege. All the while rumors of an eventual big move circling but never coming to fruition. In 2019 Guillermo Ochoa returned to America with much fanfare, rumors that MLS sides LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire were also interested. The 2019 and 2020 seasons have not been Ochoa’s best, even though the team is performing decently overall. Many America fans have lost faith in the academy homegrown player and there is a clamor for change. A change may be hard to do since the 35 year old Ochoa is tied to America through the 2022 season and his contract value is $2.2mdd with a $4.4mdd yearly salary. 

Andres Guardado’s club career has been more steady. Guardado left to chase the European dream much earlier than Ochoa. In 2007, as the most promising Mexican prospect of the time, Andres arrived to Deportivo La Coruna in Spain. His performance over 5 years earned him the coveted “big club” move to Valencia, but things quickly soured. Guardado only appeared 48 times for Spanish side before being loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen in 2014. In 2015, Andres was loaned out to PSV who eventually executed a buy option to retain the Mexican midfielder. After two very good seasons with PSV, rumors abound that Guardado would make a move to MLS, with Atlanta United and LAFC showing the most interest. However, Real Betis snatched up Guardado with a reported $2.3mdd, three year, deal. The 33, soon to be 34, year old renewed his contract with Betis through June 2022. 

Of course Hector Moreno has to be involved in any Austin F.C. conversation. The Mexican center-back has flirted online with the new MLS franchise on multiple occasions. There has been huge speculation surrounding a move to Austin F.C. by Moreno, speculation which was quickly shot down by coach Josh Wolff and Athletic Director Claudio Reyna. Outside of these flirtations, many non-Mexico fans probably don’t know much about Hector Moreno. The Mexican international was touted early as Rafa Marquez’s replacement but Moreno never truly achieved the success of Mexico’s most prominent number 4. After successful spells in the Dutch league and in Spain, Moreno made a move to Italian giants Roma. This move should have cemented Moreno’s career and legacy but the transfer proved to be the start of the end for Hector Moreno. The Sinaloa native played in only 5 matches for Roma. A transfer to Real Sociedad for $6mdd should have restarted his career but an injury sidelined Moreno for a long period of time. Eventually, Hector Moreno made the move to Al-Gharafa of the Qatari Stars League where he earns $2.1mdd a year.   

At 72 Mexico appearances Miguel Layun has had the “shortest” Mexican national team career of the four potential players. Layun has been a consistent national player since 2013, representing Mexico at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, as well as the 2017 Confederations Cup and two Gold Cups. The current Monterrey wingback did not feature in the 2019 edition of the Gold Cup, which Mexico won over the U.S. Men’s National Team (I had to throw this note into the blog) because he suffered an infection that required immediate and emergency surgery.  Layun is of Lebanese and Spanish decent, helping him make an early club move to Europe due to a dual passport. He began his European adventure at Atalanta of Italy but returned to America one year later. In America Layun solidified himself winning the 2013 Clausura championship and then Captaining the team to the 2014 Apertura championship. Following the success in Mexico, Layun made another move to Europe, this time to Championship side Watford. He moved onto Porto the following year where he remained and had a successful period through the end of 2017. In January of 2018 Layun was loaned out to Sevilla but eventually settled at Villareal. After the 2018 World Cup Layun returned to Mexico but this time to Rayados of Monterrey where he won his third LigaMX title against none other than his former club Club America. 

So how did I reach my conclusion that Miguel Layun is the best fit for Austin? Well for one, I don’t think, and many agree, that utilizing a DP slot for a goalkeeper is the best way to build a team. Memo Ochoa would provide great brand awareness and instant recognition (he is the most well known Mexico player other than Chucky Lozano) but at 35 years of age, even considering that goalkeepers have a longer career span, and a heavy multimillion dollar yearly salary, he is simply too expensive and has had too much of a drop in form to seriously consider him a viable DP signing at this time. 

I also have to discard Hector Moreno. The defender has been the only one to have openly flirted with Austin F.C., he has also been linked to a move to MLS for some time. There were rumors that Inter Miami had sought out his services prior to him making a move to Qatar. However, the 32 year old center-back is tied down through June 2022 on an expensive $2.2mdd yearly salary contract. Transfermarket lists Moreno’s current value at a little over $3mdd making him fairly expensive for an aging defender. More importantly, Austin F.C. needs a leader in the backline and on the team overall. Moreno is simply not that leader. He is a very good and dependable defender but he is not a leader within the locker room or on the field. 

Speaking of leaders, there is no one better than Andres Guardado in that arena. Guardado has shouldered the captain’s arm band for all his club teams and the Mexican National Team. He is considered the current Captain under Gerardo “Tata” Martino and very much expected to lead the team through qualification and, hopefully, to the 2022 World Cup. Given all his on field and leadership positives I still have to discard him as the “best” option for Austin F.C. While Guardado’s transfer fee is very high and his salary requirements are fairly large too, those are not my biggest concerns. Mexico’s captain has suffered many injuries over the last several seasons and has struggled greatly to remain match fit. It is impossible not to think that a 33 year old, who turns 34 in September 2020, will not continue to suffer from injuries especially if he continues to Captain Mexico and given Mexico’s heavy upcoming schedules. A DP slot for Guardado at this time is just too risky at this time. 

This brings me to the man I believe would best serve in all aspects of what a Mexican international player can, and should, bring to Austin F.C. Layun is the youngest of the four. He is more affordable and has the shortest contract term, making Monterrey more willing to sell Layun or risk losing him without a fee. Miguel Layun has the more affordable salary requirements and has had a relatively injury free career, meaning he should hold up better as he ages. More importantly, Miguel Layun is a leader, a professional and teammate, and a winner. Everywhere Layun goes he leaves a good impression. He has plenty of experience as a Captain but also as a good teammate. I firmly believe that a good leader is first a good follower. Layun can follow and be a good teammate but he can also lead. Layun wins! He has won three Liga MX titles, a Portuguese title, a Concacaf Champions League, and a Gold Cup.  He won these titles at big clubs with high expectations and the pressure that comes with them. Miguel Layun also speaks very good English, making it easier to transition and adapt to the American lifestyle and team requirements. He is perfectly comfortable giving full interviews in English and addresses English media often after Mexico friendlies. Miguel has also shown tremendous ability to overcome adversity. Club America fans often lamented his participation with the #TodoEsCulpaDeLayun (Its all Layun’s fault) when the team struggled to find its form. Layun turned this negative, and the immeasurable media onslaught by the Mexican press, into a positive. He eventually used the hashtag as his trademark, even labeling his boots with it, as he went on to win two Championships with Club America. He is a utility player that is known for his wingback work but can also slip into the center of the defense or defensive center midfield. He has the vision to create goals, the speed to fly down the wing, and the power to score from outside the box. He is a complete player that can, and will, contribute on day one!

Off the field, Miguel Layun is a high profile Mexican superstar. He might not have the name recognition that Memo Ochoa or Andres Guardado have in the United States but Layun is every bit the star. He is also the most technologically and social media savvy Mexican player. Miguel Layun’s social media presence dwarfs all MLS teams, TUDN (formerly Univision), Telemundo, and many LigaMX team’s social media accounts. Layun boosts 3.2 million followers on Twitter and 2.7 million on Instagram, Austin F.C. has 28K and 46K respectively. His reach is worldwide. He is also a fan favorite because he engages with fans. He engages on social media. He engages through technology on twitch and other gaming platforms. He uses technology as a way to allow fans to get to know him. His transparency is refreshing. As a fan I can tell you that we love the opportunity to get close to players. Through social media Miguel Layun gives fans that opportunity. 

Austin F.C. is at a crucial and critical point in its’ launch. The foundation of today will build the character and the culture of tomorrow and for years to come. Miguel Layun is the man for the job. He is the ambassador Austin F.C. needs and the bridge to the Austin Mexican and Mexican-American soccer community.