page_title: Esteban Alvarado
section_title: AZ Alkmaar
hierarchical_section_title: Esteban Alvarado / Club career / AZ Alkmaar
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Deze foto van Esteban heb ik gemaakt na afloop van de training van AZ Alkmaar op 17 april 2011
context_page_description: Esteban Alvarado Brown is a Costa Rican football goalkeeper who plays for Liga FPD club C.S. Herediano.
context_section_description: In December 2009, AZ Alkmaar signed the Costa Rican goalkeeper from Deportivo Saprissa, the youngster moved to the Netherlands in July 2010. The move was later confirmed when Alvarado signed a five-year contract with the club, keeping him until 2015.
  Following his signing for AZ, Alvarado remained a backup goalkeeper for AZ behind Joey Didulica and Sergio Romero. But after Romeo's injury from his international duty, Alvarado made his AZ debut on 12 February 2011 against PSV Eindhoven, where it turned out to be disastrous when he conceded four goals, in a 4–0 loss. After the match, Alvarado said, quoting: "Only Superman could have saved me." From that on, Alvarado continued to be the first choice goalkeeper temporary, where he made six appearance for the club in the 2010–11 season, including a clean-sheet in a match against Heerenveen on 19 February 2011. Alvarado also find himself left out the squad against Feyenoord when he returned late to Netherlands from Costa Rica.
  Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Alvardo was given number thirty-four shirt. Alvarado became a first choice goalkeeper for AZ after Sergio Romero's departure to Sampdoria and Joey Didulica's unexpected retirement. Alvarado made his first AZ appearance of 2011–12 season when he played, in a 2–0 win over Baumit Jablonec on 28 July 2011, which AZ went through after a 1–1 draw against them in the second leg. Alvarado made his league debut of the 2011–12 season, where he helped AZ beat PSV 3–1 in the opening game of the season. His performance soon led supporters voting for Alvarado awarded the club's player of the month November. On 21 December 2011, Alvarado was sent off by Bas Nijhuis in a KNVB Cup match against Ajax after an Ajax supporter tried to attacking and injury him. A 19-year-old Ajax fan identified as Wesley van W had been drinking and entered the pitch after 36 minutes of play. He ran towards the AZ goalkeeper and attempted to kick him but slipped to the ground. Alvarado then kicked the attacker twice and was sent off for violent conduct. This prompted AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek to order his players to the dressing rooms in protest. The game was consequently abandoned. The KNVB subsequently rescinded the red card, and Ajax banned Wesley van W from all of their home matches for life. He was also sentenced to six months in prison, with two months suspended. He would also have to undergo treatment for an alcohol problem and report to police during all Eredivisie and Dutch national team matches which Pitch Invader can watch only live on television for the following two years and so on. The KNVB ordered the match replayed in its entirety behind closed doors. On 19 January 2012, the match was replayed with Alvarado in goal. AZ beat Ajax 3–2 to progress through the quarter final. Alvarado was the ever present goalkeeper, making thirty-four appearance and earning fifteen clean sheets in the 2011–12 season. Alvarado was also named Goal.com's Eredivisie Team of the Season.
  In the 2012–13 season, Alvarado was given number one shirt. Alvarado made his first appearance of the 2012–13 season, in a 2–2 draw against Ajax in the opening game of the season. In both games against Anzhi Makhackala in the play-offs, Alvarado was in goal, as they proved to be too strong and failed to win either legs losing 1–0 and 5–0 respectively. Later in the 2012–13 season, Alvarado was the ever present goalkeeper, making thirty-four appearance in 3060 minutes, as well as, earning five clean sheets. Despite this, Alvarado was in goal for the KNVB Cup final, as AZ beat PSV 2–1, making this as Alvarado's first achievement at AZ Alkmaar.
  In the 2013–14 season, Alvarado hinted he may leave the club in effort for new challenges. Despite this, Alvarado made his first appearance of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Ajax in the Johan Cruijff Schaal. Two weeks later on 11 August 2013, Alvarado help the club gained their revenge against Ajax when AZ beat them 3–2. Alvarado also help the club gained their against Anzhi Makhackala when AZ beat 1–0 on aggregate. Alvarado was the ever present goalke
caption: Alvarado during his time at AZ in 2011.
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