How marriage helps Carlos Álvarez and Renae Cuéllar achieve their goals

Cuéllar, who plays for Tijuana in Mexico’s top flight, is often told she should be home with her family but says there are huge benefits in having a spouse who understands your industry

It is hard to find a family that lives and breathes football as much as that of Carlos Álvarez and his wife, Renae Cuéllar. Both play professionally: Álvarez with Landon Donovan’s newly formed San Diego Loyal, in the United Soccer League, the tier below MLS, and Cuéllar for Tijuana in the thriving Mexican top flight and for Mexico.

But the football roots run deeper. Álvarez’s father, who played in the Mexican second division, made sure there was always a football at the feet of Carlos and his five other children. By the age of four Álvarez was “playing-playing, like 11 v 11”. He became the first member of his family to graduate from university, then was selected as the second overall pick in the SuperDraft, by Chivas USA, in 2013.