Alejandro Miguel Portal Oliva (born 21 October 1995) is a Cuban professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario.

Alejandro Portal
Portal with HFX Wanderers in 2021
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Miguel Portal Oliva
Date of birth (1995-10-21) 21 October 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Quivicán, Cuba
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Simcoe County Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Mayabeque
2016–2017 Isla de La Juventud 27 (4)
2017–2018 Cienfuegos 19 (0)
2018 Pinar del Río
2019 La Habana
2021 Vaughan Azzurri 1 (0)
2021 HFX Wanderers 10 (0)
2022 Vaughan Azzurri 16 (1)
2023– Simcoe County Rovers 39 (0)
International career
2015 Cuba U20 2 (0)
2015–2019 Cuba 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 September 2021

Early life

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Portal was born in the town of Quivicán, located south of Havana.[1]

Club career

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Portal began his career with second-division Torneo de Ascenso side Mayabeque in 2013.[1] In 2015, he moved up to the Campeonato Nacional with Isla de La Juventud, making 27 appearances and scoring four goals over two seasons.[1] In 2017, he joined Cienfuegos, making nineteen appearances over two seasons.[1] He spent 2018 and 2019 with Pinar del Río and La Habana, respectively.[1]

In 2020, he began training with League1 Ontario side Vaughan Azzurri and made his debut as a substitute against Darby on 20 August 2021.[2]

On 9 September 2021, Portal signed his first professional contract with Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers.[3][4] He made his debut on 18 September against York United FC.[5] He departed the club at the end of the season.[6]

In 2022, he returned to playing for Vaughan Azzurri.[7]

In February 2023, he signed with the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario.[8][9]

International career

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Portal made his debut for the Cuba national team in a 2015 friendly against Nicaragua.[1] He returned to the team four years later for a friendly against Bermuda in 2019.[1] He was later selected for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad, where he appeared in all three matches for Cuba.[1]

After Cuba's 6–0 loss to Canada during CONCACAF Nations League qualifying in September, he defected into Canada along with Andy Baquero.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Alejandro Portal at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ "Alejandro Portal 2021 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  3. ^ Lawrence, Dylan (9 September 2021). "Halifax Wanderers signs Cuban Canadian Midfielder Alejandro Portal". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. ^ Jacques, John (September 9, 2021). "Wanderers Add Cuban International Alejandro Portal". Northern Tribune.
  5. ^ Briggins, Jonathan (November 3, 2021). "Alejandro Portal: Late Addition Brings Heart and International Experience". HFX Wanderers FC.
  6. ^ Jacques, John (November 22, 2021). "Halifax Wanderers Announce Six Player Departures". Northern Tribune.
  7. ^ "Alejandro Portal Oliva 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  8. ^ Jacques, John (February 14, 2023). "Simcoe County Rovers Add Former Cuban Internationals Benitez And Portal". Northern Tribune.
  9. ^ "Alejandro Portal 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  10. ^ Rodriguez, Alicia (9 September 2019). "Report: Five Cuba national team players defect during Nations League". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  11. ^ Jacques, John (April 24, 2024). "Former Cuba Internationals Set To Face Toronto FC In Stadium Where 'New Life' Began". Northern Tribune.
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