Daniel Lajud

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lajud and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.

In this Lebanese name, the father's name is José Naim and the family name is Kuri.

Daniel Lajud Martínez (Arabic: دانيال لحود مارتينيز; born 22 January 1999), also known as Daniel Kuri^[a] (Arabic: دانيل الخوري), is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Greek club Panetolikos and the Lebanon national team.

Daniel Lajud

Personal information
Full name	Daniel José Naim Kuri[1]
Birth name	Daniel Lajud Martínez[2]
Date of birth	(1999-01-22) 22 January 1999 (age 25)[2]
Place of birth	Veracruz, México
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Position(s)	Winger, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Panetolikos
Number	11
Youth career
2014–2018	Monterrey
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2022	Monterrey	1	(1)
2019	→ Querétaro (loan)	3	(0)
2019	→ Puebla (loan)	1	(0)
2020–2021	→ Tampico Madero (loan)	38	(6)
2021–2022	→ Raya2 (loan)	25	(2)
2022–2024	Atlante	75	(21)
2024–	Panetolikos	13	(0)
International career‡
2022–	Lebanon	13	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 December 2024

Coming through the youth system, Lajud began his senior career with Monterrey, scoring on his Liga MX debut in 2018. He was sent on loan to fellow Liga MX clubs Querétaro and Puebla in 2019, before moving to Liga de Expansión MX side Tampico Madero in 2020, with whom he won the Guardianes 2020. After a one-season spell at Raya2, Monterrey's reserve team, Lajud left Monterrey for Atlante in 2022, winning the Apertura 2022 and Clausura 2024.

Born in Mexico, Lajud is of Lebanese descent through his father and was called up to the Lebanon national team in 2022. He represented Lebanon in the 2023 Asian Cup.

Club career

Monterrey and loans

Lajud joined Monterrey's youth academy in 2014, progressing through their under-15, under-17 and under-20 teams.^[4] He registered to Monterrey's senior team in the Clausura 2018 Copa MX,^[4] making his competitive debut on 20 February 2018, in a 2–1 win against Dorados.^[5] Lajud made his league debut in the Liga MX on 20 October 2018 in a 2–1 win against Toluca; he was substituted in during the 72nd minute and scored the winning goal in the 84th minute.^[6]

In January 2019, Lajud was sent on loan to Querétaro in the Liga de Expansión MX, and then to Puebla six months later.^[5] In January 2020, Lajud moved to Tampico Madero on loan,^[5] with whom he won the Guardianes 2020.^[7] During the 2021–22 season, Lajud played for Raya2, Monterrey's reserve team in the Liga de Expansión MX.^[8] He was released by Monterrey in summer 2022.^[8]

Atlante

On 28 June 2022, Lajud joined Atlante.^[9] He made his debut two days later as a starter in a 3–0 home win against Atlético La Paz; after the end of the match, Lajud proposed to his girlfriend.^[10] On 13 July, Lajud scored his first goal for Atlante in a 3–1 win against Cancún.^[11] He scored consecutive braces in a 5–0 win against Tlaxcala and a 2–2 draw against Cimarrones de Sonora, on 5 and 8 September, respectively.^[12][13] After defeating Celaya in the final, Layun helped Atlante win the Apertura 2022.^[14]

In the first matchday of the Clausura 2023, Lajud scored a brace against Alebrijes de Oaxaca in a 4–0 win on 5 January 2023.^[15] He scored another brace on 31 January, helping his side win 3–0 against Mineros de Zacatecas.^[16] Atlante eventually finished semi-finalists of the Clausura 2023.^[17] Lajud scored 13 goals in 39 games during the 2022–23 season.^[18]

In the 2023–24 season, Lajud scored eight goals in 36 games,^[18] helping Atlante finish runners-up in the Apertura 2023^[19] and champions of the Clausura 2024.^[20]

Panetolikos

On 2 August 2024, Lajud signed a two-year contract with Super League Greece club Panetolikos.^[21]

International career

On 19 September 2022,^[22] he obtained a Lebanese passport in order to play for the Lebanon national team.^[8] Lajud was first called up by coach Aleksandar Ilić ahead of Lebanon's friendly fixture against Kuwait in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 19 November 2022.^[23] He made his debut as a starter, with the match ending in a 2–0 defeat.^[24]

In December 2023, Lajud was included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.^[25]

Style of play

Mainly a left winger,^[26] Lajud can also play as an attacking midfielder.^[5] He is known for his speed and powerful mid-range shooting.^[5]

Personal life

Lajud is of Lebanese descent through his father.^[8][27] Lajud's brother, Rodrigo, is also a footballer.^[28]

On 30 June 2022, he proposed to his girlfriend at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Atlante's home stadium, following his club debut.^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 May 2024^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Copa MX		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Monterrey	2017–18	Liga MX	0	0	2	0	2	0
	2018–19	Liga MX	1	1	8	4	9	5
	2019–20	Liga MX	—		—		0	0
	2020–21	Liga MX	—		—		0	0
	2021–22	Liga MX	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		1	1	10	4	11	5
Querétaro (loan)	2018–19	Liga MX	3	0	4	1	7	1
Puebla (loan)	2019–20	Liga MX	1	0	3	0	4	0
Tampico Madero (loan)	2020–21	Liga de Expansión MX	38	6	—		38	6
Raya2 (loan)	2021–22	Liga de Expansión MX	25	2	—		25	2
Atlante	2022–23	Liga de Expansión MX	39	13	—		39	13
	2023–24	Liga de Expansión MX	36	8	—		36	8
	Total		75	21	0	0	75	21
Career total			143	30	17	5	160	35

International

As of match played 16 December 2024^[29]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Lebanon	2022	2	0
	2023	3	0
	2024	8	0
Total		13	0

Honours

Tampico Madero

• Liga de Expansión MX: Guardianes 2020

Atlante

• Liga de Expansión MX: Apertura 2022, Clausura 2024

See also

• List of Lebanon international footballers born outside Lebanon

Notes

1. In Lebanon, his full name is Daniel José Naim Kuri (Arabic: دانيل جوسيه نعيم الخوري).^[1][3]

References

1. "Daniel Lajud". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
2. "Daniel Lajud Martínez". Ligabancomer.mx. Liga MX. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
3. "AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qatar Squad Lists" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
4. "Daniel Lajud se convierte en nuevo jugador celeste" [Daniel Lajud becomes a new celeste player]. Reporte Noreste (in Spanish). 5 January 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
5. Jiménez, Joaquín (10 May 2018). "Fuerzas Básicas parte importante del Club de Futbol Monterrey" [Grassroots an important part of Club de Futbol Monterrey]. C.F. Monterrey (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
6. "Daniel Lajud tuvo el debut que soñaba desde niño y rompió en llanto" [Daniel Lajud made the debut he dreamed of as a child and broke down in tears]. Mediotiempo (in Spanish). 21 October 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
7. Salmerón, Uriel (20 December 2020). "Atlante – Tampico Madero (2–3): resumen del partido y goles" [Atlante – Tampico Madero (2–3): match summary and goals]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2022.
8. "Daniel Lajud, canterano de Rayados, jugará para la Selección de Líbano" [Daniel Lajud, a youth product of Monterrey, will play for the Lebanon national team]. RÉCORD (in Spanish). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
9. Atlante F.C. [@Atlante] (28 June 2022). "De Veracruz, Veracruz, procedente de Raya2 Expansión, llega a incorporarse como Medio Ofensivo a los #PotrosdeHierro, Daniel Lajud Martínez" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
10. "Celebra Atlante triunfo y propuesta de matrimonio" [He celebrates Atlante's triumph and marriage proposal]. Plano Deportivo (in Spanish). 30 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
11. Hernández, Adrián (13 July 2022). "Atlante mantiene la paternidad sobre Cancún" [Atlante maintains paternity over Cancun]. VAVEL (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2022.
12. Cano, Gerardo (5 September 2022). "Coyotes de Tlaxcala sufre pesadilla en casa; pierde 5–0 ante Atlante" [Coyotes de Tlaxcala suffer from a nightmare at home; loses 5-0 to Atlanta]. Intolerancia Tlaxcala (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
13. "Cimarrones rescata empate en su visita al Atlante" [Cimarrones rescues draw away to Atlante]. Yahoo Deportes (in Spanish). El Universal. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
14. "¡El Potro relincha! Atlante es campeón de la Liga Expansión MX" [The Colt neighs! Atlante is champion of the Liga Expansión MX]. ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
15. Figueroa, Juan Manuel (5 January 2023). "¡Arranque de campeonato! Atlante golea 4–0 a los Alebrijes de Oaxaca" [Championship start! Atlante beats Alebrijes de Oaxaca 4–0]. Mediotiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2023.
16. "¡Atlante retoma el paso! Con doblete de Lajud y 'fair play' del Hobbit venció a Mineros" [Atlante picks up the pace! With a brace from Lajud and 'fair play' from the Hobbit, they beat Mineros]. Mediotiempo (in Spanish). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
17. Guerrero, Ruben (13 May 2023). "Tapatío elimina al Campeón y se instala en la Gran Final" [Tapatío defeats the Champions and qualifies for the Grand Final]. Liga BBVA Expansión MX (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
18. Daniel Lajud at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
19. Quiroga, Antonio (4 December 2023). "Cancún derrota al Atlante para ser campeón de la Liga de Expansión MX" [Cancún defeats Atlante to become champion of the Liga de Expansión MX]. TUDN (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
20. Olivarez Ramírez, Alfredo (12 May 2024). "¡Campeones! Atlante se corona en la Liga de Expansión al vencer a Leones Negros" [Champions! Atlante is crowned in the Liga de Expansión by beating Leones Negros]. RÉCORD (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
21. "Bienvenido". Panetolikos F.C. (in Greek). 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
22. Daniel Lajud [@d.lajud] (19 September 2022). "I'm ready / أنا جاهز" – via Instagram.
23. بعثة المنتخب الأول إلى معسكر دبي تحضيراً للقاء الكويت ودياً [The delegation of the first team to the Dubai camp in preparation for the friendly match with Kuwait]. Lebanese Football Association (in Arabic). 14 November 2022. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
24. لبنان خسر وديًّا امام الكويت، ومعتوق خاض مباراته رقم 100 مع المنتخب [Lebanon lost a friendly against Kuwait, and Maatouk played his 100th match with the national team]. Lebanese Football Association (in Arabic). 19 November 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
25. "منتخب لبنان يعلن تشكيلته إلى كأس آسيا" [The Lebanon national team announces its squad for the Asian Cup] (in Arabic). Lebanese Football Association. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
26. Araujo, Matias E. (2 January 2024). "Quién es Daniel Lajud, el mexicano que jugará la Copa Asiática de Naciones" [Who is Daniel Lajud, the Mexican who will play at the AFC Asian Cup]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
27. Bashir, Alaa (21 October 2018). لحود يسجل هدفه الاولى في المكسيك [Lajud scores his first goal in Mexico]. Football Lebanon (in Arabic). Retrieved 18 June 2022.
28. Mora, Julio (16 January 2019). "Festeja Daniel Lajud, primer gol de su hermano con los Tiburones Rojos Sub-15" [Daniel Lajud celebrates his brother's first goal with the Tiburones Rojos's U-15s]. El Dictamen (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
29. "Daniel Lajud". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 27 March 2023.

External links

• Daniel Lajud at National-Football-Teams.com
• Daniel Lajud at Liga MX at the Wayback Machine (archived 31 March 2019)
• Daniel Lajud at Fichajes.com (in Spanish)
• Daniel Lajud at Kooora.com (in Arabic) (archived in English at Goalzz.com)