Andres Guardado has left Real Betis to return to Liga MX, signing for Leon de Mexico. The defensive midfielder made 218 appearances for Betis, the most by a non-domestic player. This is also the most games played by a Mexican in Europe, marking the end of a sensational run by the veteran.

Guardado started his career with Atlas in Mexico before starting his European journey. He played for Deportivo La Coruña, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven, and most recently, Real Betis over a 17-year period. And now, the time has come for him to begin his final chapter of professional football.

Andres Guardado signs for Leon de Mexico, ending Real Betis spell

“The Green and White Captain has been key in the sporting growth in recent years. With him, the team has qualified for European competitions four times and also won the Copa del Rey in 2022,” Real Betis said in a statement.

“The Club would like to effusively thank Guardado for his services and wish him all the best in the future.”

Andres Guardado captained the Mexican national team for a long time, registering a record breaking 179 appearances, before retiring in 2023. He guided El Tri into the World Cup on five occasions, establishing himself as a top box to box midfielder in the process.

The player is reportedly moving on due to the lack of game time under Manuel Pellegrini. He intends to play regularly, but it just hasn’t been possible with the kind of talent available in the squad. At 37, it now remains to be seen how many seasons of club football he has left in his legs.