José Escalante

José Alberto Escalante Rápalo (born 29 May 1995) is a Honduran former footballer who played as a midfielder.

José Escalante
Escalante preparing to head a ball flying above his head during play
Escalante with Cavalry in 2022
Personal information
Full nameJosé Alberto Escalante Rápalo
Date of birth (1995-05-29) 29 May 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthTegucigalpa, Honduras
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Olimpia
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2018Olimpia20(1)
2014Honduras Progreso (loan)0(0)
2016RGVFC Toros (loan)16(3)
2016–2017Houston Dynamo (loan)6(0)
2017RGVFC Toros (loan)21(4)
2018San Antonio FC (loan)21(1)
2019Juticalpa11(0)
2019–2024Cavalry FC84(9)
2020–2021Vida (loan)22(0)
2023Motagua (loan)8(0)
2024Atlético Independiente (loan)
Total209+(18)
International career
2010–2011Honduras U175(0)
2013–2015Honduras U2010(0)
2014Honduras U232(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 April 2019

Club career

Olimpia

Escalante began his career with Olimpia, spending time on loan with Honduran side Honduras Progreso in 2014 and American United Soccer League side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros in 2016.[1][2]On 3 August 2016, Escalante joined Houston Dynamo on loan from Rio Grande Valley until the end of the 2016 season,[3] returning to the Dynamo on 20 January 2017 on a 12-month loan deal from Olympia.[4]

Juticalpa

On 7 January 2019, Escalante returned to Honduras and signed with Juticalpa.[5] That year, he made eleven appearances in the Clausura.[2]

Cavalry FC

On 10 April 2019, Escalante signed with Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[6] That season, he made 22 league appearances, scoring four goals, made six appearances in the Canadian Championship and played in both legs of the Canadian Premier League Finals.[2]

On 12 February 2020, Escalante re-signed with Cavalry for the 2020 season,[7] however he was unable to join the team for the shortened campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing his entry into Canada.[8] On 9 September 2020, Escalante was loaned to Honduran side Vida.[9] In November 2020, Escalante would re-sign with the club for the 2021 season, his third season with the club.[10] In January 2022, Cavalry announced that they had re-signed Escalante for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with an option for 2024.[11]

In June 2023, Escalante would make his 100th appearance for the club, becoming the second player to hit that milestone.

Loans in Honduras

In June 2023, F.C. Motagua had announced that they had signed Escalante, however Cavalry would state that Escalante was still under contract with the club, stating he had taken a leave of absence from the club to be closer to family.[12][13] A few weeks later, Cavalry would announce that Escalante would sign a one year loan with Motagua.[14]

In January 2024, he was loaned to Honduran second tier Honduran Liga Nacional de Ascenso side Atlético Independiente.[15]

In June 2024, he announced his retirement.[16][17]

International career

Escalante first played for the Honduran U-17 team at the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, making five appearances in the tournament, including three starts.[2]

Escalante first played for the Honduran U-20 team at the 2013 Central American Games.[2] The following year, he was called up for the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, an U-21 tournament.[2] He subsequently received another call-up for the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where he made three appearances and helped Honduras qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[2] At the U-20 World Cup, Escalante started in all three games for Honduras.[2]

Career statistics

As of 7 December 2023[18]
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Olimpia2012-13Liga Nacional131000020151
2013–146000000060
2015–161000000010
Club total201000020221
Honduras Progreso (loan)2014–15Liga Nacional00000000
RGVFC Toros (loan)2016United Soccer League16300163
Houston Dynamo (loan)2016Major League Soccer300030
201730001040
Club total6000100070
RGVFC Toros (loan)2017United Soccer League214214
San Antonio FC (loan)201821131242
Juticalpa2018-19Liga Nacional1100000110
Cavalry FC2019Canadian Premier League2242060304
20200000
20212511020281
20222642020304
20231100010120
Club total84950110001009
Vida (loan)2020-21Liga Nacional2200000220
Motagua (loan)2023-24Liga Nacional80000020100
Total20918501314022819

Honours

Calvary

References