LIGA MX
América defender Miguel Layún announces retirement from soccer: how many trophies has he won?
The former Mexico international could finish in style with another Liga MX title, with Las Águilas flying high in the Apertura 2023 tournament.
The time has come for Miguel Layún to say goodbye to professional soccer. The Club América defender has announced that he will retire from playing upon the conclusion of Liga MX’s 2023 Apertura tournament, which Las Águilas will be one of the favourites to win given their excellent form in the league phase. The right-back, who won 71 caps for Mexico between 2013 and 2020, started his pro career with the now dissolved Veracruz in 2006 and played for a total of eight different teams in Mexico, Italy, England Portugal and Spain.
Layún the first Mexican to play in Serie A
Layún revealed his intention to retire via a video posted on social media, in which he can be seen reminiscing about some of the biggest moments of his 17-year career. In it, he reflects on how he made his breakthrough, his experiences playing for different clubs, the honours he won and becoming the first Mexican to ever played in Serie A in Italy.
Chicharito and Casillas pay tribute to Layún
“The time has come to end one of the most wonderful and incredible periods of my life”, reads the accompanying text on the only post on Layún’s official Instagram account. In the four-minute clip, the 35-year-old pays a lengthy tribute to teammates past and present, many of whom, including Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and Iker Casillas, have sent their best wishes.
Layún’s first (and last?) success with Club América
After beginning his career with three seasons at Veracruz, Layún made the switch to Atalanta in 2009 but only played twice in the Italian top flight. A return to Mexico with América followed and proved fruitful, with Las Águilas winning the Clausura 2013 and Apertura 2014 tournaments.
But the defender clearly still felt as if he had unfinished business in Europe and moved to English side Watford in 2014, helping them win promotion to the Premier League. After just three matches in England’s top division, he signed for Porto, where he won one league title, and had short spells with LaLiga clubs Sevilla and Villarreal.
Layun’s trophy-laden spell at Monterrey
In January 2019, Layún returned to Mexico with Monterrey, where he won the Apertura 2019 tournament, as well the 2019-20 Copa MX and two CONCACAF Champions Leagues. He eventually re-signed for América in the summer of 2021 and will be desperate to go out in style by winning a fourth Liga MX title and a ninth trophy of his career.
Gold Cup glory with Mexico
Layún won one of those eight trophies with Mexico, for whom he made his international debut against Canada at the Gold Cup in 2013. The full-back represented his country at both the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, as well as the Copa América Centenario in 2016 and the 2017 Confederations Cup.
His highlight in a green jersey, however, came at the 2015 Gold Cup, which El Tri won by defeating Jamaica in the final in Philadelphia.