Esteban Alvarado

1.1. Youth Career

Alvarado began his footballing journey in Costa Rica, developing his skills within the country's youth academy system. He started his academy career at Santos de Guápiles before progressing to C.D. Saprissa, one of Costa Rica's most prominent football clubs, where he honed his abilities as a goalkeeper. During his youth, Alvarado was also known to have played as a striker before ultimately transitioning to the goalkeeper position at the age of 14. He formed a close friendship with fellow Costa Rican footballer Joel Campbell, having played together since childhood.

1.2. Early Professional Debut

Alvarado made his professional debut for C.D. Saprissa on November 29, 2009, in a 3-1 victory against Municipal Liberia. This marked the beginning of his senior career. In the 2009-10 season, he made four appearances for the club, contributing to Saprissa's success in winning the league title.

2.1. AZ Alkmaar

In December 2009, AZ Alkmaar, a club in the Dutch Eredivisie, secured Alvarado's signing from Deportivo Saprissa. He officially moved to the Netherlands in July 2010, signing a five-year contract that would keep him at the club until 2015. Initially, Alvarado served as a backup goalkeeper behind Joey Didulica and Sergio Romero.

His AZ debut came on February 12, 2011, against PSV Eindhoven, which resulted in a challenging 4-0 loss where he conceded four goals. Following the match, Alvarado famously remarked, "Only Superman could have saved me." Despite this difficult start, he temporarily became the first-choice goalkeeper, making six appearances in the 2010-11 season, including a notable clean sheet against SC Heerenveen on February 19, 2011. However, he was later excluded from the squad for a match against Feyenoord after returning late to the Netherlands from Costa Rica.

Ahead of the 2011-12 season, Alvarado was given the number 34 shirt. He firmly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for AZ following Sergio Romero's departure to U.C. Sampdoria and Joey Didulica's unexpected retirement. His first appearance of the 2011-12 season was in a 2-0 victory over FK Baumit Jablonec on July 28, 2011, in a European competition. He also helped AZ secure a 3-1 win against PSV in the opening league game of the season. His strong performances led to him being voted the club's player of the month for November.

On December 21, 2011, Alvarado was involved in a highly controversial incident during a KNVB Cup match against AFC Ajax. A 19-year-old Ajax fan, later identified as Wesley van W, who had been drinking, ran onto the pitch after 36 minutes of play and attempted to attack Alvarado. The fan slipped, and Alvarado responded by kicking the attacker twice. Referee Bas Nijhuis issued a red card to Alvarado for violent conduct. In protest, AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek immediately ordered his players to leave the pitch, leading to the abandonment of the game. Ajax coach Frank de Boer publicly supported Alvarado, stating that he could understand the goalkeeper's actions as self-defense. The KNVB subsequently rescinded Alvarado's red card, acknowledging the unique circumstances. Ajax banned the pitch invader, Wesley van W, from all their home matches for life, and he was sentenced to six months in prison (with two months suspended), along with mandated alcohol treatment and police reporting during Eredivisie and Dutch national team matches. The KNVB ordered the match to be replayed in its entirety behind closed doors. On January 19, 2012, Alvarado played in the replayed match, where AZ defeated Ajax 3-2, progressing to the quarter-finals. Alvarado remained an ever-present figure in goal for the 2011-12 season, making 34 appearances and keeping 15 clean sheets. His performance earned him a spot in Goal.com's Eredivisie Team of the Season.

For the 2012-13 season, Alvarado was assigned the number 1 shirt. He made his first appearance of the season in a 2-2 draw against Ajax. He was in goal for both play-off matches against FC Anzhi Makhachkala, which AZ lost 1-0 and 5-0 respectively. Throughout the 2012-13 season, Alvarado was a consistent presence, making 34 league appearances and securing five clean sheets. He also played a crucial role in AZ's KNVB Cup final victory over PSV (2-1), marking his first major trophy with the club.

In the 2013-14 season, Alvarado hinted at a potential departure for new challenges, stating it might be his last year at AZ. Despite this, he featured in the Johan Cruijff Schaal against Ajax, which AZ lost 3-2. Two weeks later, he helped AZ defeat Ajax 3-2 in a league fixture. He also contributed to AZ's progression past Anzhi Makhachkala in European competition, winning 1-0 on aggregate. Alvarado remained the ever-present goalkeeper, making 34 appearances, including play-off matches, though AZ lost to FC Groningen 3-0 on aggregate.

During the 2014-15 season, Alvarado continued as AZ's first-choice goalkeeper until he sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for several months. He also suffered from the flu during his recovery period. Alvarado made his return to the first team on November 2, 2014, in a 3-3 draw against S.B.V. Excelsior. He remained the first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season, making 26 appearances, which was his lowest appearance count during his AZ career. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2014-15 season, Alvarado was expected to leave, with Sergio Rochet signed as his successor. His final appearance for AZ was against Excelsior in the last game of the season, helping the club finish third in the league. Throughout his tenure, Alvarado was a significant fan favorite at AZ Alkmaar.

2.2. Trabzonspor

After leaving AZ Alkmaar, Alvarado joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer in early August 2015, signing a contract until 2017. The move to the Turkish club was officially confirmed on August 6, 2015. His contract with Trabzonspor was eventually terminated on December 20, 2018. Following his departure, Alvarado agreed to join Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense; however, the transfer was not completed due to unresolved licensing issues with Trabzonspor, which prompted a caution from FIFA for the Turkish club to resolve the matter.

2.3. Return to Costa Rican League

Following his stint with Trabzonspor and the complications with his transfer to Alajuelense, Alvarado returned to play in the Costa Rican League. He joined CS Herediano in 2019, where he played for the 2019-20 and part of the 2020-21 seasons, making 51 appearances and contributing to Herediano's Liga FPD Apertura 2019 title win. Later in the 2020-21 season, he moved to Limón F.C. for a brief period, making 20 appearances. Alvarado then had a second spell with CS Herediano, playing for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, where he made 30 appearances. He eventually returned to his original professional club, Deportivo Saprissa, for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

3.1. Youth National Team

Alvarado played a significant role for the Costa Rica U-20 national team. Notably, he participated in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. His exceptional performances during the tournament earned him the prestigious Golden Glove Award, recognizing him as the best goalkeeper of the competition. He made seven appearances for the Costa Rica U-20 squad.

3.2. Senior National Team

Alvarado made his senior national team debut for Costa Rica in a friendly match against Paraguay on August 11, 2010. His international career has also included some disciplinary challenges. On March 12, 2012, he was barred from the national team for five months after leaving the team before a friendly match against Spain without properly communicating with the coaching staff.

In March 2014, Alvarado indicated he would not be available for selection for the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to an apparent disagreement and difficult relationship with then-national team manager Jorge Luis Pinto. Despite this, he was named in a provisional 26-man squad for the World Cup in May 2014. However, by the end of May, he was not included in the final 23-man squad, a decision widely attributed to his ongoing disagreements with manager Pinto, who reportedly viewed Alvarado as a "strong medicine" due to his temperament.

Following Jorge Luis Pinto's departure as national team manager, Alvarado returned to the national football team under the new management of Paulo Wanchope in March 2015. He was subsequently included in the squad for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he took over as the first-choice goalkeeper, replacing an injured Keylor Navas. More recently, on November 4, 2022, Alvarado was selected as one of the goalkeepers in Costa Rica's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He has made 25 international appearances for the senior national team between 2010 and 2022, and as of recent reports, he serves as the second-choice goalkeeper behind Keylor Navas.

4.1. Controversial Incidents

In June 2011, Alvarado was accused by his former girlfriend, Marcela Juárez Castillo, of domestic violence. Reports from various sources indicated allegations that included assault and attempted murder. However, two months later, in August 2011, the charges against Alvarado were subsequently dropped. This incident also reportedly influenced his exclusion from the Costa Rica national team squad for the 2011 Copa América.

5.1. Club

5.2. International

7.1. Positive Assessment

Alvarado's positive contributions to football are highlighted by his numerous achievements and recognition. At the youth level, he received widespread acclaim for his performance at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, earning the Golden Glove Award as the tournament's best goalkeeper. This individual honor underscored his potential and skill from an early age.

During his time at AZ Alkmaar, Alvarado became a key figure and a fan favorite. His consistent performances, including 15 clean sheets in the 2011-12 season, led to him being named Goal.com's Eredivisie Team of the Season and earning the club's player of the month award in November 2011. He played a crucial role in AZ's KNVB Cup victory in 2012-13, securing a major trophy for the Dutch club. His ability to perform under pressure was evident in the replayed KNVB Cup match against Ajax, where he led AZ to a victory after the initial game was abandoned due to a pitch invasion incident, demonstrating resilience and leadership. His actions in that incident, where he defended himself against an aggressor, garnered widespread support from the football community, including from Ajax's coach, and led to the reversal of his red card.

Domestically in Costa Rica, Alvarado also contributed to league titles with Deportivo Saprissa in 2010 and CS Herediano in 2019, further solidifying his reputation as a successful player in his home country. His selection for the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad also demonstrated his continued relevance at the highest international level, even as a second-choice goalkeeper.

7.2. Criticism and Controversies

Despite his on-field success, Alvarado's career has been punctuated by several controversies and disciplinary issues. Early in his tenure at AZ Alkmaar, he was temporarily left out of the squad for a match after returning late from Costa Rica, indicating initial struggles with professional discipline. More significantly, his international career was impacted by similar issues; in March 2012, he was barred from the national team for five months for leaving before a friendly match against Spain without proper communication, highlighting a pattern of perceived unprofessionalism.

His relationship with then-Costa Rica national team manager Jorge Luis Pinto was notoriously strained, leading to his exclusion from the final 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, despite being named in the provisional roster. Pinto reportedly viewed Alvarado as a "strong medicine," suggesting concerns about his temperament or influence on the team dynamic. This conflict effectively sidelined Alvarado from a major international tournament, which was a significant setback in his career.

Furthermore, Alvarado has faced personal legal challenges that have drawn public scrutiny. In June 2011, he was accused by his former girlfriend of domestic violence, with reports detailing allegations including assault and attempted murder. While the charges were later dropped in August 2011, the accusation itself led to his non-selection for the 2011 Copa América and created a notable blemish on his public image. These incidents, while legally resolved in his favor or subject to disciplinary action, have contributed to a mixed public perception, showcasing a player of immense talent whose career has also been marked by off-field complexities.