Paul Aguilar

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Aguilar and the second or maternal family name is Rojas.
Paul Aguilar
Aguilar with Mexico in 2015
Personal information
Full name Paul Nicolás Aguilar Rojas[1]
Date of birth (1986-03-06) 6 March 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Concordia, Sinaloa, Mexico
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
2002–2004 Pachuca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Pachuca Juniors[3] 25 (2)
2005–2006 → Indios (loan) 36 (2)
2006–2011 Pachuca 134 (11)
2011–2020 América 308 (13)
2021–2022 Juárez 8 (0)
Total 511 (28)
International career
2009–2016 Mexico 55 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 October 2021

Paul Nicolás Aguilar Rojas (born 6 March 1986) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

Aguilar represented Mexico at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2011 and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Copa América Centenario.

Club career

Pachuca

Paul Aguilar began his career with Pachuca in 2002. He started off in Pachuca's affiliate (second division) team, Pachuca Juniors. In 2004, he was loaned to Indios de Ciudad Juárez for two seasons in order to gain more experience. After returning to Pachuca in 2005 and making 27 appearances with the "B team" (Pachuca Juniors), Aguilar made his first-team debut in the 2006 Apertura tournament on 6 August in a match against Cruz Azul, with the match ending in a 2–3 defeat. Paul Aguilar played the entire ninety minutes and scored a goal in the 56th minute of the game. Pachuca won the 2007 Clausura championship after defeating América in the final. Paul Aguilar became a mainstay within the squad and won the confidence of manager Enrique Meza. Aguilar would barely miss a game since earning a starting position at right-back during the 2008 Clausura. Paul Aguilar also participated in the 2008 and 2010 FIFA Club World Cups with Pachuca. His performance with the club earned him a spot in the final 23-man national team squad who would play the 2010 FIFA World Cup. After five years and ten seasons with Pachuca, Paul Aguilar was sold to América for the 2011 Apertura in exchange for Juan Carlos Silva and Enrique Esqueda.[4]

América

Aguilar in 2016

On 23 May 2011, Aguilar officially joined Club América for the Apertura tournament.[5] Aguilar made his debut with América on 31 July in a league match against Toluca, which ended in a 1–1 draw.[6] Upon his arrival Aguilar became a popular player with the club's fans.[7] He scored his first goal with América in the 90th minute against arch-rivals Guadalajara in the Súper Clásico.[citation needed]

On 26 May 2013, Aguilar won his first title with América after defeating Cruz Azul in the Clausura final, playing in both legs.[8]

On 26 March 2014, Aguilar signed a two-year contract extension with América, which will keep him at the club until 2016.[9] Aguilar had previously stated publicly that he would like to end his career at América.[10] Aguilar made his 100th league appearance for América on 30 May in the 4–0 win over Guadalajara.[11][12] Prior to the first-leg of the 2014 Apertura semifinal series against Monterrey, it was reported that Aguilar was separated from the squad by manager Antonio Mohamed due to an alleged dressing-room confrontation between the two.[13]

On 2 December 2020, Aguilar left Club América.[14]

Juárez

On 19 July 2021, Aguilar signed with FC Juárez.[15]

International career

Aguilar with Mexico in 2010

In October 2007, Aguilar received his first senior national team call-up by coach Hugo Sánchez to play a friendly match against Nigeria, however he did no see playing time. In 2009, Aguilar was called up again, this time by coach Javier Aguirre, and made his debut with the national team on 30 September in a friendly match against Colombia. The match ended in a 1–2 defeat, with Aguilar played the entire 90 minutes and scoring Mexico's only goal.

In early 2010, Aguirre called-up Aguilar for a series of international friendlies in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mexico's first game of 2010 was a 5–0 win over Bolivia, in which Paul scored his second goal for Mexico in only his second appearance. He eventually made the final 23-player roster for the World Cup.[16] He started in the tournament's inaugural match against hosts South Africa, but was substituted out for Andrés Guardado in the 55th minute. He did not participate in any of the next three matches.

Aguilar was a part of the winning squad at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, however he only saw playing time in the semi-final match against Honduras. Aguilar also participated in the 2011 Copa America held in Argentina, playing in all three group matches as a right-back. In 2012, he saw no activity with the national team.

Aguilar would not receive another call-up until late 2013, this time by new coach Miguel Herrera for the two World Cup intercontinental playoff matches against New Zealand. Aguilar would go on to score Mexico's first goal in the 5–1 win over New Zealand at the Estadio Azteca on 13 November. The playoff ended in a combined 9–3 win for Mexico, thus qualifying them to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Aguilar would be included in the final 23-man squad for the World Cup. During the 2014 World Cup, he started at right-back for Mexico in all four matches.

During the 2015 CONCACAF Cup, a one-off tournament meant to serve a qualifier to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Aguilar scored a game-winning volley in overtime for Mexico in the 3–2 result.[17]

In the run-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, national coach Juan Carlos Osorio decided not to call-up Aguilar following alleged criticism from the player towards Osorio's tactics.[18]

Career statistics

International

As of match played 19 June 2016[19]
National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico 2009 1 1
2010 11 1
2011 7 0
2013 4 1
2014 15 0
2015 11 2
2016 6 0
Total 55 5

International goals

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.[20]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 30 September 2009 Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United States  Colombia 1–2 1–2 Friendly
2. 24 February 2010 Candlestick Park, San Francisco, United States  Bolivia 5–0 5–0 Friendly
3. 13 November 2013 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  New Zealand 1–0 5–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4. 15 July 2015 Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, United States  Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 4–4 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
5. 10 October 2015 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States  United States 3–2 3–2 2015 CONCACAF Cup

Honours

Pachuca

América

Mexico

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 Presented By TOYOTA — List Of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008.
  2. ^ "Paul Aguilar profile". clubamerica.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. ^ Paul Nicolás Aguilar Rojas - Ficha Jugador
  4. ^ "Paul Aguilar reforzará al América" [Paul Aguilar will reinforce América] (in Spanish). 23 May 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Paul Aguilar llega al América" [Paul Aguilar arrives to America] (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  6. ^ Kevin McCauley (31 July 2011). "Club America Vs. Toluca: Final Score, Super Aguilas Disappoint In 1-1 Draw". SB Nation. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Las 'travesuras' de Paul Aguilar en el entrenamiento" (in Spanish). 15 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  8. ^ "¡América es Campéon de la Liga MX!" [América is the champion of Liga MX!]. Club América. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Paul Aguilar firma por dos años man con el América" (in Spanish). Radio Fórmula. 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Paul Aguilar quiere retirarse en el América" (in Spanish). Diario Récord. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Paul Aguilar por el centenario en el clásico". Club América. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Crónica: Chivas 0-4 América" (in Spanish). Club América. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  13. ^ "America coach Mohamed separates Aguilar from squad". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  14. ^ "América se despide de Paul Aguilar" (in Spanish). El Universal. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  15. ^ "¡Paul Aguilar es refuerzo de los Bravos de Juárez!" (in Spanish). FC Juárez. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  16. ^ "FIFA". Archived from the original on 11 December 2010.
  17. ^ Kevin McCauley (11 October 2015). "Paul Aguilar scores incredible 118th-minute winning goal for Mexico against USMNT". SB Nation. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  18. ^ Jose Antonio Castro (21 March 2018). "Paul Aguilar criticó los métodos de Osorio en el Tri" [Paul Aguilar criticized the methods of Osorio in El Tri] (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  19. ^ Paul Aguilar at National-Football-Teams.com
  20. ^ "Paul Aguilar". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  21. ^ "Second Annual Premios Univision Deportes Features All-Star Night with Top Athletes and Entertainment". 21 December 2015.
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