Esteban Alvarado

Saprissa

Born in Siquirres, Costa Rica, Alvarado started his academy career at Santos de Guápiles before moving to Saprissa. Alvarado made his Saprissa debut, in a 3–1 win over Municipal Liberia on 29 November 2009. With his move to AZ Alkmaar finalised and expected to move in the summer, Alvarado made four appearances for the club and helped the club win the league.

AZ Alkmaar

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 appearances 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…

At the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament. He made his national team début in an August 2010 friendly match against Paraguay. On 12 March 2012, it was announced that Alvarado was barred from the national team for five months after leaving the team before a friendly match against Spain without communicating the staff. In March 2014, he ruled out a selection for the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to an apparent strife with national team manager Jorge Luis Pinto. But in May 2014, Alvarado was named in a provisional 26-man squad in the FIFA World Cup By the end of May, Alvarado was not named in the 23 men squad, presumed to be a continuous strife with national team manager Pinto. Following Pinto's departure as manager of Costa, Alvarado returned to the national football team, under new management of Paulo Wanchope. In the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Alvarado was included in the squad and replaced Keylor Navas as a first choice goalkeeper following his injury.

Club

As of 21 May 2025

International

As of match played 22 January 2025

Born in Costa Rica, Alvarado is of Jamaican descent. In June 2011, Alvarado was accused by his girlfriend, Marcela Juárez Castillo, of domestic violence. However, two months later, charges against Alvarado were later dropped. While growing up in Costa Rica, Alvarado made good friends with Joel Campbell, having played together in childhood. Alvarado also revealed that he played as striker before switching position to become goalkeeper at fourteen.