Defender Alexander Callens Departs New York City Football ClubÃÂ
January 23, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
New York City Football Club today announced that Defender Alexander Callens has departed the Club to join LaLiga side Girona FC.
Alex joined New York ahead of the 2017 season and has played 193 games logging in 17,083 minutes for NYCFC across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and providing one assist. Alex played a crucial role in helping the Club add its first pieces of silverware to its trophy cabinet with the 2021 MLS Cup and Campeones Cup in 2022.
NYCFC Sporting Director David Lee said "I'd like to thank Alex for the tremendous amount he has given to the Club since his arrival. We have seen Alex grow into the player and leader he is today through his incredible work ethic and commitment, establishing himself as one of our longest-serving players. His performances have earned him recognition as one of the best defenders in the league, and he will go down in NYCFC history for playing a vital role in helping us win MLS Cup and Campeones Cup.
"Not only is Alex a fantastic player, he is also a great person and has brought so much energy and positivity to our group over the years. While we're sad to see him go, we understand that it was Alex's desire to test himself in a new league in Europe. Alex is another example of the strong culture we have here in New York of identifying players and helping them develop and achieve their professional goals. We look forward to closely following Alex's career and we wish him all the best in Spain."
In the 2021 MLS Cup run, Alex scored the winning goal in the First Round of the playoffs against Atlanta United in Yankee Stadium to earn a place in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In Foxborough, the Peruvian scored the winning penalty against New England and the championship winning penalty against Portland in the 2021 MLS Cup. Meanwhile in the 2022 Campeones Cup, Alex opened the score for NYCFC in the first minutes to help the team win 2-0 against Liga MX champions Atlas F.C.
A stalwart on defense, Alex became a fan favorite earning himself the nickname "Ironman" for his consistency and durability on the pitch. His performances earned him an MLS All-Star nod in 2022 and was a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year. While at his time in the Bronx, Alex was called up to the Peruvian National Team where he made 26 appearances while donning the Bronx Blue.
Everyone at the Club would like to wish Alex all the best in Spain.
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