The first to do so was Pervis Estupiñán, who won the Europa League title with Villarreal of Spain.
One more year that ends and, consequently, the balance sheets and debates about what happened during twelve months are given way. One of them is the success achieved by Ecuadorians who play abroad. And it is that five of them reached a championship in international football during 2021, according to the portal of ESPN.
The first of them to celebrate was the left back Pervis Estupiñán. Born in the lower League of Quito and with a past in Osasuna, he managed to become the second Ecuadorian to be champion of the Europa League. On May 26, he lifted the cup with Spanish Villarreal after beating Manchester United in the final; the tricolor executed a penalty from the shootout and sent the ball into the nets. The first Ecuadorian to achieve this milestone was Antonio Valencia, in 2017 with Manchester United.
Then it was Bryan Angulo’s turn. The forward managed to be champion of the Clausura-2021 tournament of the MX League with Cruz Azul, a cast that had 23 years without achieving glory. He also won the Champion of Champions trophy.
In Mexico, soccer also smiled at Aníbal Chalá, who returned to the Atlas after a dissipated stint in French soccer that was marked by injuries and few minutes of play. The tricolor was crowned champion of the Apertura-2021 after his team beat León on penalties, a box where Ángel Mena, who was also looking for the title, plays.
It is the turn of Alan Franco, the most awarded. Although he has been losing space in the starting role of Atlético Mineiro, he is still considered and in 2021 he won three cups: the state tournament, the Brazil Cup and the Brasileirao.
Finally, Juan Luis Anangonó appears on the list. The Ecuadorian became champion of the Concacaf League with Comunicaciones de Guatemala. The gunner was key in the achievement of the trophy as he scored two goals in the final. Anangonó can still be champion of the Guatemalan league since his team is in the semifinals of the Apertura-2021 tournament, which will have a champion on January 2. (D)
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