Edison Azcona
{{Short description|Dominican Republic footballer (b. 2003)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Family name hatnote|Azcona|Vélez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Edison Azcona
| image = Edison Azcona 2023 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Azcona training with Inter Miami in 2023
| full_name = Edison Alexander Azcona Vélez{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce158/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024: Squad list |page=2 |work=FIFA |date=24 July 2024 |access-date=24 July 2024 }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|11|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = La Romana, Dominican Republic
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Las Vegas Lights
| clubnumber = 10
| youthyears1 = 2017–2018
| youthclubs1 = Boca United FC
| youthyears2 = 2018–2019
| youthclubs2 = Orlando City
| youthyears3 = 2019–2020
| youthclubs3 = Inter Miami
| years1 = 2020–2024
| clubs1 = Inter Miami II
| caps1 = 39
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2021–2024
| clubs2 = Inter Miami
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → El Paso Locomotive (loan)
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2024
| clubs4 = → Las Vegas Lights (loan)
| caps4 = 13
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Las Vegas Lights
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2021–2023
| nationalteam1 = Dominican Republic U20
| nationalcaps1 = 10
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 2021–
| nationalteam2 = Dominican Republic U23
| nationalcaps2 =3
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2024
| nationalteam3 = Dominican Republic Olympic
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2021–
| nationalteam4 = Dominican Republic
| nationalcaps4 = 13
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 24 May 2025
| nationalteam-update = 19 November 2024
}}
Edison Alexander Azcona Vélez (born 21 November 2003) is a Dominican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights and the Dominican Republic national team.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/edison-azcona/585096/|title=Dominican Republic – E. Azcona – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}
Career
=Fort Lauderdale CF=
Azcona made his league debut for the club on 18 July 2020 in a 2–0 defeat to the Greenville Triumph.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/07/19/united-states/usl-league-one/inter-miami-ii/greenville-triumph/3290404/|title=Fort Lauderdale vs. Greenville Triumph – 19 July 2020 – Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com|access-date=18 July 2020}}
In November, 2020, Azcona was named to the USL League One All-League Second Team and was nominated for the USL League One Young Player of the Year award.{{cite web|url=https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/post/2020/11/05/edison-azcona-nominated-usl-league-one-young-player-year|title=Edison Azcona Nominated for USL League One Young Player of the Year|website=intermiamicf.com|date=5 November 2020}}
He scored three goals during his first season with the club, the second of which (a fifth-minute opener against Orlando City B) finished runner-up in the USL League One Fans' Choice Goal of the Year vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1135093|title=FC Tucson's Josh Coan Claims League One's Fans' Choice Goal of the Year|website=uslleagueone.com|date=30 November 2020|access-date=8 January 2021}}
=Inter Miami=
On 26 January 2021, Inter Miami{{cite web|url=https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/post/2021/01/26/inter-miami-cf-signs-academy-products-edison-azcona-and-ian-fray-homegrown-players|title=Inter Miami CF Signs Academy Products Edison Azcona and Ian Fray as Homegrown Players|website=intermiamicf.com|access-date=26 January 2021}} announced Azcona's signing as a homegrown player. On 2 May 2021, Azcona made his MLS debut against Nashville SC and became the first Inter Miami homegrown player to appear in an MLS match.{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/soccer/inter-miami/fl-sp-inter-miami-edison-azcona-20210502-enkm2vivcveg5acat3grlt5n7m-story.html|title=Edison Azcona becomes first Inter Miami homegrown player to appear in MLS match|website=sun-sentinel.com|date=2 May 2021 |access-date=2 May 2021}}
In 2023, Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, with Azcona being part of the squad as a substitute.{{Cite web |last=leaguescup |title=How many Inter Miami CF players became first-time champions following the Leagues Cup 2023 title? {{!}} LeaguesCup.com |url=https://www.leaguescup.com/news/how-many-inter-miami-cf-players-became-first-time-champions-following-the-league |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=leaguescup |language=en}}
==El Paso Locomotive (loan)==
In July 2022, Azcona was loaned to USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC for the remainder of the 2022 season.{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Derick |title=Locomotive Acquires Edison Azcona on Loan from MLS Club Inter Miami CF |url=https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news/2022/07/15/locomotive-acquires-edison-azcona-on-loan-from-mls-club-inter-miami-cf/ |website=EPLocomotiveFC.com |access-date=15 July 2022}}
==Las Vegas Lights (loan)==
On 19 February 2024, Azcona joined USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights for their 2024 season, with Las Vegas holding the option to make the deal permanent on 1 July 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/news/2024/02/19/las-vegas-lights-fc-acquires-dominican-republic-international-edison-azcona-from-inter-miami-cf/|title=Las Vegas Lights FC acquires Dominican Republic international Edison Azcona from Inter Miami CF}} The deal was made permanent on 9 July 2024.{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=Inter Miami transfer Edison Azcona to Las Vegas Lights {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/inter-miami-transfer-edison-azcona-to-las-vegas-lights |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}
=Las Vegas Lights=
On 9 July 2024, Las Vegas exercised their purchase option on Azcona's loan agreement. The permanent transfer was the largest transaction fee in the club's history.{{cite web |title=Las Vegas Lights FC complete historic transaction, executing purchase option on Edison Azcona's loan from Inter Miami CF |url=https://www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/news/2024/07/09/las-vegas-lights-complete-historic-transaction-on-edison-azcona/ |website=LasVegasLightsFC.com |publisher=Las Vegas Lights |access-date=10 July 2024}}
International career
On 28 October 2020, Azcona was called up by the senior Dominican Republic national football team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fedofutbol.do/fedofutbol-anuncia-convocados-para-ventana-fifa-de-noviembre/|title=Fedofútbol anuncia convocados para ventana FIFA de noviembre|website=Dominican Republic Football Federation|language=es|date=28 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020}} He made his international debut on 19 January 2021, as a starter in a 0–1 home friendly loss to Puerto Rico. On 25 January 2021, Azcona also started in the 0–0 home friendly against Serbia.
In March 2021, Azcona was named to the Dominican Republic squad for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fedofutbol.do/definida-la-lista-de-jugadores-para-el-preolimpico-de-concacaf/|title=Definida la lista de jugadores para el preolímpico de concacaf}} He scored the only goal of the tournament for his country as they bowed out in the group stage.
In November 2021, he was named to the U-20 side for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying tournament in Santo Domingo.{{cite web|url=https://www.fedofutbol.do/arranca-el-sueno-mundialista-para-la-sedofutbol-sub-20/|title=Arranca el sueño mundialista para la Sedofútbol Sub-20|date=November 4, 2021}} In the opening match of the tournament, Azcona scored the final goal in a 6–0 victory over Anguilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/sub-20-hombres/article/republica-dominicana-y-granada-entre-los-ganadores-en-el-inicio-del-sub-20/|date=November 6, 2021|title=República Dominicana y Granada entre los ganadores en el inicio del Sub 20}} In the final match against Saint Lucia, Azcona scored the goal that gave the Dominican Republic a 2–2 draw with Saint Lucia and a spot in next year's 2022 Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/under-20s-men/article/dominican-republic-reach-2022-cmu20-with-dramatic-comeback/|date=November 14, 2021|title=Dominican Republic reach 2022 CMU20 with dramatic comeback}} Azcona's decisive goal in the 90+4 minute, allowed the Dominican Republic to accumulate 10 points and finish as Group B's leader, giving the host country the ticket to the next round.{{cite web|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/selecciones/nota/_/id/9517018/edison-azcona-sedofutbol-descuento-clasificacion-premundial-sub20-santa-lucia-concacaf|date=November 13, 2021|title=Azcona salva a Sedofutbol en el descuento ante Santa Lucía}}
In 2023, Azcona got called up for the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League, against Nicaragua and Montserrat.{{Cite web |last=intermiamicf |title=Called Up: Edison Azcona Called Up by Dominican Republic {{!}} Inter Miami CF |url=https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/called-up-edison-azcona-called-up-by-dominican-republic-x2002 |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=intermiamicf |language=en}}
Personal
Born in the Dominican Republic, Azcona moved to the United States with his family the day before his fourth birthday, originally going to Tennessee before the family settled in Florida when Edison was eight. He has a black belt in taekwondo.{{Cite web |title=Azcona on Olympic pinnacle, Vegas glitz and playing with Messi |url=https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/olympicgames/paris2024/articles/edison-azcona-interview-dominican-republic |website=FIFA}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://futboldominicano.net/player/edison-azcona/ Edison Azcona en Fútbol Dominicano. Net]
- [http://imcf.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12080140&player=871800809 Edison Azcona] at US Soccer Development Academy
- {{Soccerway|id=edison-azcona/585096}}
{{Las Vegas Lights FC squad}}
{{Dominican Republic men's football squad 2024 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azcona, Edison}}
Category:Sportspeople from La Romana, Dominican Republic
Category:Dominican Republic men's footballers
Category:21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen
Category:Dominican Republic men's international footballers
Category:Dominican Republic emigrants to the United States
Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Inter Miami CF II players
Category:Inter Miami CF players
Category:USL League One players
Category:Homegrown Players (MLS)
Category:Dominican Republic expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Dominican Republic expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Dominican Republic men's under-20 international footballers
Category:El Paso Locomotive FC players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:Footballers at the 2023 Pan American Games
Category:Las Vegas Lights FC players
Category:Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics