Alexander Callens

Alexander Martín Callens Asín (born 4 May 1992) is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Super League Greece club AEK Athens and the Peru national team.

Club career

Sport Boys

Born in Callao, Callens played youth football with Sport Boys. He made his professional debut on 18 April 2010 in a 3–1 loss at León de Huánuco in the Peruvian Primera División, and scored his first goal on 19 June in another away defeat, 2–1 against Inti Gas Deportes.

Spain

Callens signed a two-year contract with Real Sociedad from Spain in August 2011, being assigned to the reserves. He went on to spend several Segunda División B seasons with the latter.

On 4 December 2014, Callens made his debut with the first team, featuring the entire second half of the 0–0 draw at Real Oviedo in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. On 6 June 2015, he was released.

On 10 August 2015, Callens joined Segunda División side CD Numancia on a one-year deal. He scored his first goal in the league the following 16 January, in a 2–0 away win over Albacete Balompié.

New York City

On 23 January 2017, Callens terminated his contract and joined New York City FC shortly after. He scored his first goal in the Major League Soccer on 3 June, helping the hosts to beat Philadelphia Union 2–1.

Callens converted his attempt in the penalty shootout victory against the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup 2021 on 11 December, closing the 4–2 score at Providence Park. On 14 September 2022, he scored from open play to open an eventual 2–0 defeat of Atlas F.C. in the Campeones Cup.

Girona

Callens returned to Spain in the 2023 January transfer window, on a two-and-a-half-year deal at Girona FC. He played his first match in La Liga on 10 February, coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for Bernardo Espinosa in an eventual 2–0 away loss to Cádiz CF.

On 8 September 2023, Callens was loaned to Super League Greece club AEK Athens FC.

International career

Callens won his first cap for Peru on 17 April 2013, replacing Orlando Contreras in the 74th minute of a 0–0 friendly draw with Mexico held in San Francisco. He scored his first goal for his country on 9 September 2014 in another exhibition game, opening the 2–0 win over Qatar.

Callens was part of the squads at the 2019 and 2021 Copa América tournaments, making five appearances in the latter for the fourth-placed team.

Personal life

In June 2018, Callens earned a U.S. green card which qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 May 2024

International

As of match played on 29 June 2024

As of match played on 9 September 2014

Scores and results list Peru's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Callens goal.

Honours

New York City FC

• MLS Cup: 2021
• Campeones Cup: 2022

References

External links

• Alexander Callens at BDFutbol
• Alexander Callens at Futbolme (in Spanish)
• Alexander Callens at National-Football-Teams.com
• Alexander Callens – FIFA competition record (archived)