FORMER PROFESSIONAL PLAYER SPECIAL GUEST
We have the honor to be able to host a very special guest.
Former Chivas of Guadalajara and Mexico National team, Patricio "Pato" Araujo.
Pato Araujo is the first Mexican to lift a FIFA U17 World Cup as Captain for the Mexico U17 National team on 2005 at the U17 World Cup in Peru.
Pato Araujo played with Mexico U15, U17, U20, U23 and some games with the full national team. During his time with Mexico national teams he played along Carlos Vela (Arsenal, Real Sociedad, LAFC), Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy), Giovani Dos Santos (Barcelona, Tottenham, Villareal, LA Galaxy), Hector Moreno (AZ, Espanyol de Barcelona, PSV, Roma), Efrain Juarez (Celtic, Zaragoza, Vanocuver Whitecaps), Guillermo Ochoa (America, Ajaccio, Salernitana), Pablo Barrera (UNAM, West Ham, Zaragoza, Cruz Azul) and others.
He started his professional career in 2005 at 17 years old with Club Chivas of Guadalajara where he won the Liga MX Championship on 2006 as starter for the team with just 18 years old.
With Chivas he also won the Interliga trophy in 2009, runner up Copa Libertadores in 2010, runner up Copa MX in 2015.
Some of his teammates at Chivas during the 2016 Championship season were Osvaldo Sanchez, Talavera, Masa Rodriguez, Hector Reynoso, Jony Magallon, Diego Martinez, Omar Esparza, Manuel Sol, Xavi Baez, Chato Rodriguez, Gonzo Pineda, Venado Medina, Ramoncito Morales, Tilon Chavez, Chore Mejia, Marco Fabian, Bofo Bautista, Sergio Santana, Omar Bravo and Chichario Hernandez.
Pato with Chivas had the opportunity to play at the international level against top teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and the best players of the world like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Lewandowski, Marcelo, Di Maria, Iniesta, Villa, Rodney and many others.
Hunting for the ball against the GOAT’s, Messi
Battle for the ball against Barcelona’s, Messi.
Getting a foul from Real Madrid’s, Cristiano Ronaldo
Check video of Pato Araujo versus Cristiano Ronaldo heated exchange
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0WpPguIMRk
Defending against Real Madrid’s, Kaka
With former Barcelona, AC Milan, Ronaldinho
Shielding the ball from Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski
Away from Real Madrid Marcelo’s pressure
Blocking Barcelona’s Iniesta’s shot
Chasing Barcelona’s Guaje Villa
Against Manchester United and former teammate, Chicharito Hernandez
Against Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck
Here with Mexico against Argentina’s DiMaria
During his Professional career, Pato had some of the best coaches from Mexico like Chucho Ramirez, Chepo de la Torre, Hugo Sanchez, Javier Aguirre, Benjamin Galindo, Guero Real, Efrain Flores, Ojitos Meza to name a few.
He is retired from the Professional level, he still play exhibition games all over Mexico and USA with his former Chiva’s teammates. He has been 4 seasons in the TV reality show Exatlon Mexico where he was runner up in 2018 and Champion in 2020. He also does soccer clinics and scouting looking for young talented players with the potential to play professional.
Pato Araujo became LFL Ambassador in 2021. He has helped our LFL program promoting it, linking with organizations and clubs in Mexico. With his help, we hope to send players with high level of playing and good attitude to tryouts with Mexican professional teams.
In 2021 we hosted him along with his wife Zudikey “Zudi” Rodriguez. Zudi is a former sprinter and hurdler that represented Mexico in competitions around the World including PanAmerican games, North America and Caribbean games, Ibero-American games, World Championship and the Olympics in Beijing 2008.
She holds the Mexicans record on 400 meters hurdles, participated in the TV reality show Exatlon Mexico and currently is a motivational speaker, TV and social media influencer and fitness coach. Zudi also has the military rank of Sargent from the Mexican army.
Pato, Zudi and I (Jorge) will be doing some clinics in Michigan, Chicago, South Bend and Indianapolis in the upcoming days. Pato and Zudi will join our LFL training next week.
We are happy to host them once again, this is a great opportunity for our players to learn, be seen and inspired from former top Mexican athletes.
More details to come.