Allan Cruz

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Allan Cruz

| image = Allan Cruz in April 2019.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Cruz with FC Cincinnati in 2019

| fullname = Allan Enzo Cruz Leal

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Nicoya, Costa Rica

| height = {{convert|1.64|m|order=flip}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Herediano

| clubnumber = 8

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2013–2016

| clubs1 = Uruguay de Coronado

| caps1 = 24

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2014–2015

| clubs2 = → Generación Saprissa (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2017–2018

| clubs3 = Herediano

| caps3 = 65

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2019–2022

| clubs4 = FC Cincinnati

| caps4 = 69

| goals4 = 9

| years5 = 2022

| clubs5 = FC Cincinnati 2

| caps5 = 1

| goals5 = 1

|years6 = 2023–

|clubs6 = Herediano

|caps6 = 52

|goals6 = 12

| nationalyears1 = 2015

| nationalteam1 = Costa Rica U23

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2018–

| nationalteam2 = Costa Rica

| nationalcaps2 = 24

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| pcupdate = 27 November 2024

| ntupdate = 06 January 2023

}}

Allan Enzo Cruz Leal (born 24 February 1996) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Herediano and the Costa Rica national team.

Club career

=Uruguay de Coronado=

Born in Nicoya, in the province of Guanacaste, Cruz began his career with then Primera División club Uruguay de Coronado.{{cite news |title=FC Cincinnati adds Allan Cruz, Costa Rican national team midfielder |url=https://www.wcpo.com/sports/fc-cincinnati/fc-cincinnati-adds-allan-cruz-costa-rican-national-team-midfielder |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=WCPO |date=18 January 2019}} On 29 August 2015, Cruz made his professional debut for the club in their 2–0 victory against Saprissa.{{cite web |title=Uruguay 2–0 Saprissa |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/30/costa-rica/primera-division/cs-uruguay/deportivo-saprissa/2060769/ |website=Soccerway}} Prior to his debut, Cruz spent a short period on loan with Generación Saprissa.{{cite news |last1=Maupomé |first1=Ana Paulina |title=Allan Cruz, el 'N'Golo Kanté' tico que llegara al FC Cincinnati |url=https://us.as.com/us/2019/01/16/futbol/1547677080_250513.html |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=Diario AS |date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=30 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830004402/https://us.as.com/us/2019/01/16/futbol/1547677080_250513.html |url-status=dead }}

On 7 November, Cruz scored his first competitive goal for Uruguay de Coronado in the 11th minute of a 2–1 defeat against Santos de Guápiles.{{cite web |title=Uruguay 1-2 Santos de Guápiles |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/11/08/costa-rica/primera-division/cs-uruguay/santos-de-guapiles-fc/2060851/ |website=Soccerway}}

=Herediano=

Prior to the 2017–18 season, Cruz joined Herediano.{{cite news |last1=Bogert |first1=Tom |title=Report: FC Cincinnati to sign Costa Rican international Allan Cruz |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/report-fc-cincinnati-sign-costa-rican-international-allan-cruz |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=Major League Soccer |date=17 January 2019}} He made his debut during the club's first game of the season on 29 July 2017 against Guadalupe. He was a starter as Herediano drew the match 0–0.{{cite web |title=Herediano 0–0 Guadalupe |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/07/30/costa-rica/primera-division/cs-herediano/guadalupe/2477792/ |website=Soccerway}} His first goal for the side came on 20 January 2018 against Saprissa in a 1–0 home victory.{{cite web |title=Herediano 1–0 Saprissa |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/01/21/costa-rica/primera-division/cs-herediano/deportivo-saprissa/2601189/ |website=Soccerway}} He ended his first season with Herediano having played in 46 matches and scoring 3 goals.{{soccerway|allan-enzo-cruz-leal/330349}}

On 20 February 2018, Cruz made his CONCACAF Champions League debut in Herediano's 2–2 draw against Tigres UANL.{{cite web |title=Herediano 2-2 Tigres UANL |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/21/nc-america/concacaf-champions-league/cs-herediano/club-tigres-de-la-unl/2702221/ |website=Soccerway}} The next season, Cruz helped Herediano reach the final of the CONCACAF League, scoring in the first leg of the final against Honduran club Motagua in a 2–0 victory.{{cite web |title=Herediano 2–0 Motagua |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/10/26/nc-america/concacaf-league/cs-herediano/cd-motagua/2891515/ |website=Soccerway}} He then started in the second leg on 1 November as Herediano lost 2–1 but won 3–2 on aggregate.

In December 2018, Cruz helped Herediano win the 2018 Apertura.{{cite news |last1=Boehm |first1=Charles |title=Official: FC Cincinnati sign Costa Rican midfielder Allan Cruz |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/official-fc-cincinnati-sign-costa-rican-midfielder-allan-cruz |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=Major League Soccer |date=18 January 2019}} He started for the club in the second leg of the final against Saprissa as Herediano drew the match 2–2 and won on aggregate 5–4.{{cite web |title=Saprissa 2–2 Herediano |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/12/23/costa-rica/primera-division/deportivo-saprissa/cs-herediano/2948354/ |website=Soccerway}}

=FC Cincinnati=

On 18 January 2019, it was announced that Cruz had signed with Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati prior to their inaugural season. He made his debut for the club on 10 March 2019, starting in their 1–1 away draw against Atlanta United.{{cite web |title=Atlanta United 1–1 FC Cincinnati |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/03/10/united-states/mls/atlanta-united/fc-cincinnati/2959822/ |website=Soccerway}} Cruz then scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati in their next match against the Portland Timbers. His 61st-minute goal was the second in a 3–0 victory at Nippert Stadium.{{cite news |last1=Zúñiga |first1=Alejandro |title=Costa Ricans star as FC Cincinnati wins first MLS match |url=https://ticotimes.net/2019/03/17/costa-ricans-star-as-fc-cincinnati-wins-first-mls-match |access-date=30 August 2021 |work=Tico Times |date=17 March 2021}} Cruz ended his first season with FC Cincinnati with 7 goals in 22 matches.

On 1 March 2020, Cruz scored FC Cincinnati's first goal of the 2020 season against the New York Red Bulls, however the club lost the match 3–2.{{cite web |title=New York Red Bulls 3–2 FC Cincinnati |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/03/01/united-states/mls/new-york-red-bulls/fc-cincinnati/3195750/ |website=Soccerway}}

On October 24, 2022, it was announced that Cruz was departing FC Cincinnati following the end of the 2022 season.{{Cite tweet |last=Pfahler |first=Laurel |user=LaurelPfahler |number=1584641028228718592 |date=October 24, 2022 |title=A bit of #FCCincy news as an emotional Allan Cruz confirmed his time with the club is ending after four years. He was emotional about departing but wanted to share his gratitude for the opportunities he received in Cincinnati. #AllForCincy |language=en |access-date=October 24, 2022 }}

=Herediano=

In 2023, Cruz signed once again for Herediano.{{cite web|url= https://ncrnoticias.com/deportes/oficial-allan-cruz-regresa-al-club-sport-herediano/|website=ncrnoticias|title=Allan Cruz returns to Club Sport Herediano|date=23 June 2023|accessdate=26 July 2023}}

International career

In September 2018, Cruz was called into the Costa Rica squad which would take on South Korea and Japan in international friendlies.{{cite news |title=New lineup falls short, South Korea beats La Sele 2-0 |url=https://ticotimes.net/2018/09/07/new-lineup-falls-short-south-korea-beats-la-sele-2-0 |access-date=29 August 2019 |work=Tico Times |date=7 September 2018}} He started for Costa Rica as they lost 2–0 on 7 September 2018. On 20 November 2018, Cruz scored his first ever goal for his country in their 3–2 victory over Peru at the Estadio de la UNSA.{{cite web |title=Peru 2–3 Costa Rica |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/11/21/world/friendlies/peru/costa-rica/2926494/ |website=Soccerway}}

On 5 June 2019, Cruz was included in Gustavo Matosas' squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.{{cite news |last1=Escobar |first1=Gina |title=Matosas escogió el equipo que enfrentará la Copa Oro |url=https://www.fedefutbol.com/2019/06/05/matosas-escogio-el-equipo-que-enfrentara-la-copa-oro/ |access-date=29 August 2019 |work=Fede Futbol |date=5 June 2019}} He scored Costa Rica's third goal in their opening 3–0 victory against Nicaragua.{{cite web |title=Costa Rica 3–0 Nicaragua |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/06/17/nc-america/concacaf-gold-cup/costa-rica/nicaragua/3007211/ |website=Soccerway}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|National cup !colspan=2\|Continental !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=1\|Uruguay de Coronado \|2015–16 \|Primera División	24	1	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	21	1
rowspan=3\|Herediano \|2017–18 \|Primera División	46	3	colspan=2\|—	2	0	48	3
2018–19 \|Primera División	19	4	colspan=2\|—	8	1	27	5
colspan=2\|Total !65\|\|7\|\|0\|\|0\|\|10\|\|1\|\|75\|\|8
rowspan=4\|FC Cincinnati \|2019 \|Major League Soccer	22	7	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	22	7
2019 \|Major League Soccer	15	1	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	15	1
2020 \|Major League Soccer	13	1	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	13	1
colspan=2\|Total !50\|\|9\|\|0\|\|0\|\|10\|\|1\|\|50\|\|9
colspan=3\|Career total !129\|\|17\|\|0\|\|0\|\|10\|\|1\|\|139\|\|18

= International =

{{updated|match played 25 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Allan Cruz – National-Football-Teams |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/71731/Allan_Cruz.html |website=national-football-teams.com}}

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan=1\|Costa Rica \|2018	6	1
2019	11	1
2021	7	0
colspan=2\|Total\|\|24\|\|2