Antonio Pedroza

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Antonio Pedroza

| image =

| fullname = Antonio Michael Pedroza Whitham

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1991|2|20}}

| birth_place = Chester, England

| height =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2007–2011 | clubs1 = Chiapas | caps1 = 18 | goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2011–2012 | clubs2 = Crystal Palace | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = → Morelia (loan) | caps3 = 8 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2013–2015 | clubs4 = Cruz Azul Hidalgo | caps4 = 19 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2014–2015 | clubs5 = → Herediano (loan) | caps5 = 19 | goals5 = 5

| years6 = 2015 | clubs6 = Cruz Azul | caps6 = 4 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2016 | clubs7 = → Herediano (loan) | caps7 = 21 | goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2016–2017 | clubs8 = Toluca | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2018 | clubs9 = Olmedo | caps9 = 0 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2018–2019 | clubs10 = Herediano | caps10= 21 | goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2019 | clubs11 = Mineros de Zacatecas | caps11= 4 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2021

| clubs12 = Chapulineros de Oaxaca

| caps12 = 0

| goals12 = 0

| club-update =

}}

Antonio Michael Pedroza Whitham (born 20 February 1991) is an English-Mexican professional footballer who plays as a forward.{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/1713013/2020/04/09/antonio-palace-pedroza-crystal/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230417113844/https://theathletic.com/1713013/2020/04/09/antonio-palace-pedroza-crystal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2023-04-17|title='On pay day I spent £2800 of my £3000 salary gambling on the horses'|website=The Athletic }}{{Cite web|url=https://cerocero.com.mx/noticias/que-paso-con-antonio-rooney-pedroza-crystal-palace-cruz-azul-herediano/|title=¿Qué pasó con Antonio 'Rooney' Pedroza? El "niño malcriado" que no despegó|date=16 February 2023 |publisher=cerocero.com.mx}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sopitas.com/deportes/hoy-en-las-antipromesas-antonio-pedroza-el-rooney-que-no-tenia-gol/|title=Antonio Pedroza, el Rooney que no tenía gol|date=16 January 2018 |publisher=sopitas.com}}

Early life

Antonio Pedroza was born in Chester, England to a Mexican father and an English mother. At the age of two years, he was brought to Miguel Auza, a municipality located in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

Prior to starting his career, he spent short trial periods with various clubs in Europe such as Premier League clubs Fulham and Arsenal, as well as Spanish La Liga club Atletico de Madrid.Beattie, Chris (12 July 2011). [http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/why-mexican-football-split-over-tottenham-signing-antonio-pedroza-1750821 "Why Mexican football is split over Tottenham signing Antonio Pedroza"]. Tribal Football. Retrieved 12 July 2011.

Club career

=Mexico=

Pedroza made his league debut with Jaguares on 24 July 2010 against Necaxa, coming in as a substitute after 45 minutes.

=England=

In 2011, there were rumours that Pedroza could potentially join the English club Tottenham Hotspur,[http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Tottenham-news-Mexican-striker-Antonio-Pedroza-Whitham-is-first-signing-of-summer-for-less-than-1million-article753987.html: "Mexican striker Antonio Pedroza Whitman is first signing of summer for less than £1 million"]. Mirror Football. Retrieved 29 June 2011. However, negotiations for Pedroza eventually fell through and he was left without a club because the Mexican draft had expired meaning he could not re-sign with Jaguares for the 2011–12 season.

He eventually joined south London side Crystal Palace for whom he signed a three-year contract.[http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/crystal-palace-step-pedroza-spurs-deal-falls-over-1761841 "Crystal Palace to step in for Pedroza as Spurs deal falls over"]. tribalfootball. Retrieved 17 July 2011. However, he barely saw action with the Eagles' first team in the 2011–12 season.

=Return to Mexico=

Pedroza decided to return to Mexico on a loan with Morelia. After his loan ended he left Palace and England and signed for Liga de Ascenso side Cruz Azul Hidalgo.

In July 2014 he signed with C.S. Herediano of the Costa Rican Primera División on a six-month loan. He was presented to media by the club the next month on 7 August.{{cite news|last1=Corella V.|first1=Randall|title=Herediano presentó al mexicano Antonio Pedroza y a Keven Alemán como nuevos refuerzos|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/herediano-presento-al-mexicano-antonio-pedroza-y-a-keven-aleman-como-nuevos-refuerzos/X63BAUB6HNCXTCRLJXVGCOPJAQ/story/|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=La Nación|date=7 August 2014|language=Spanish}}

=Ecuador=

In January 2018, Pedroza joined C.D. Olmedo of the Ecuadorian second tier.{{cite news|title=Olmedo contrata a delantero nacido en Inglaterra|url=http://www.estadio.ec/articulo/futbol-nacional/olmedo-contrata-delantero-nacido-en-inglaterra|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=Estadio|date=18 January 2018|language=Spanish}}

Career statistics

=Club=

Statistics accurate as of 30 June 2013[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/112489/antonio-pedroza?cc=5901: "Antonio Pedroza stats"]{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. ESPN Soccernet.

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chiapas \|2010–11 \|12	0	0	0	6	3	0	0	18	3
Crystal Palace \|2011–12 \|4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Morelia \|2012–13 \|8	1	3	4	0	0	0	0	11	5
Cruz Azul Hidalgo \|2013–14 \|19	2	6	1	0	0	0	0	25	3
Herediano \|2014 \|19	5	0	0	3	0	0	0	22	5
colspan="2"\|Career total !62\|\|8\|\|10\|\|5\|\|9\|\|3\|\|0\|\|0\|\|82\|\|17