The Peruvian international signed for NYCFC this past winter, impressing Patrick Vieira in preseason and earning a spot in the starting XI to open the season...
... It was a spot he would never let go. Callens played every single minute of the 2017 regular season, helping City earn their best-ever finish and a first-round playoff bye.
"It's like I was born loving soccer. If I saw a ball, I wanted to kick it. My dad told me that when I was young, all I said was 'goal, goal!'" - Alexander Callens
Callens showed an eye for scoring as well as defending. In addition to anchoring NYCFC's back line to their best defensive season yet, the Peru notched two goals.
Following the Decision Day result against the Columbus Crew that closed out a season during which he played every moment, Callens had this to say:
"It's a beautiful moment. A magical moment for me and for the team because we've worked hard to get here." - Alexander Callens, 2017 NYCFC Defensive MVP