Itzel Velasco

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Velasco and the second or maternal family name is Loza.
Itzel Velasco
Personal information
Full name Itzel Alejandra Velasco Loza
Date of birth (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Jalisco, Mexico
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 América
Number 12
Youth career
Atlas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Atlas 8 (0)
2022– América 41 (0)
International career
2023 Mexico U-20 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2024

Itzel Alejandra Velasco Loza (born 23 September 2004) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Liga MX Femenil side Club América.[1]

Club career

Club Atlas (2021–2022)

Velasco is a product of Atlas youth academy. She was promoted to the first-team as a reserved goalkeeper ahead of the Clasura 2021 tournament. She made her professional debut with Atlas on 29 October 2021, during the Apertura 2021 tournament, in a match against Mazatlán in which she initiated the game.[2]

During the Clausura 2022, Velasco became Atlas starting goalkeeper near the end of the tournament after Atlas captain and first-choice goalkeeper, Ana Gabriela Paz, got injured.[3]

Club América (2022–present)

After not renewing her contract with Atlas, Velasco signed with Club América on 26 December 2022.[4][5] She made her debut with América on 16 January 2023, in a 7–0 victory for América over Puebla.[1]

Velasco obtained her first Liga MX Femenil title on 5 June 2023, when América defeated Pachuca in the final of the Clausura 2023 tournament.[6]

Although used mostly as a reserved goalkeeper, Velasco became the first-choice goalkeeper for América during the Clausura 2024 tournament, helping her team reached the final of the tournament.[7]

International career

Velasco has been part of the Mexico women's national football team youth program since the U-15 level.[8]

Since 2023, she has been part of the of Mexico women's national under-20 football team, participating with the team in the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. During this competition, Velasco helped Mexico win the tournament and a spot in the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup by starting in 4 out of 5 games, including the final against the U.S., in which she saved a penalty.[9] Due to her performance throughout the tournament, CONCACAF awarded Velasco the best goalkeeper award.[10]

Velasco received her first call-up to the senior Mexico women's national team from manager Pedro López on 28 March 2024, for friendly matches against Colombia and Australia.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 October 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup [a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlas 2020–21 Liga MX Femenil 0 0 — 0 0
2021–22 7 0 7 0
2022–23 1 0 1 0
Total 8 0 — 8 0
Club América 2022–23 Liga MX Femenil 8 3 — 8 0
2023–24 31 0 1 0 32 0
2024–25 2 0 — 2 0
Total 41 0 1 0 42 0
Career total 49 0 1 0 50 0
  1. ^ Includes Campeón de Campeonas

Honours

Club

América

International

Mexico U-20

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c "Itzel Velasco". Liga MX Femenil (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  2. ^ Monroy, Juan Carlos (2 November 2021). "Buena Academia". Once Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  3. ^ Figueroa, Cornelio (16 April 2022). "Itzel Velasco asegura que las Rojinegras estan listas para el cierre del torneo". Debate (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  4. ^ Mediotiempo, Editorial (26 December 2022). "América Femenil presenta a Itzel Velasco como su nueva portera". Mediotiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Atlas". atlasfc.com.mx. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b Terán, Juan Manuel (6 June 2023). "América vence a Pachuca y son campeonas del Clausura 2023 de Liga MX Femenil". TUDN (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  7. ^ "El GESTO de Rebeca Bernal con Itzel Velasco tras ganarle la Final de Liga MX Femenil; le anotó 2 penales". Fox Sports (in Spanish). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Itzel Velasco, ejemplo de perseverancia y trabajo". miseleccion.mx (in Spanish). 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b Osornio, Alan (5 June 2023). "¡Atajada que vale un título! Itzel Velasco detiene un penalti en la final del Premundial sub 20 femenil de la Concacaf". Claro Sports (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Mexicanas Soto y Velasco ganan los máximos honores en el CWU20". Concacaf (in Spanish). 4 June 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  11. ^ Salazar, Fernando (28 March 2024). "Selección Mexicana femenil da a conocer su lista de convocadas para el MexTourW por Estados Unidos". as (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2024.