Since Pacific FC defeated Forge FC in the 2021 CPL Final, a number of key players have departed Vancouver Island.
Despite that, Pacific have found ways to remain competitive, making the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and twice appearing in the Canadian Championship semi-final.
There is one player and profile, however, that Pacific has never been able to replace -- a centre-forward like Alejandro Díaz. Midway through the 2022 campaign, having already scored 13 goals which ultimately led the league that season, Díaz departed the Island for Norwegian side Sogndal.
A lot of players have lined up in the centre of attack for the Tridents since. There have been the false 9s like Kamron Habibullah and Adonijah Reid, highly-touted international signings Reon Moore, Djenairo Daniels and Emanuel Montejano. Even players with proven track records of scoring in the CPL like Easton Ongaro.
None of them have been able to fill the golden boots of Díaz. In fact, with captain Josh Heard the closest, scoring 11 times, no player has scored 13 times in the past four Pacific FC campaigns combined.
Three seasons later, Pacific FC might have finally found the perfect replacement for Alejandro Díaz...with the signing of Alejandro Díaz.
The club announced on Wednesday that the 29-year-old forward is returning for the rest of the 2025 season on loan from Vancouver FC. The Tridents will be hoping that he can finally be the spark that has been missing from their attack.
“Alejandro has proven he is a top striker at this level and was a real part of our family at Pacific before his move to Europe,” said Pacific FC head coach James Merriman. “We welcome him back to our team. We know exactly who he is on and off the field and are very much looking forward to working together again.”
Alejandro Díaz signing with Pacific (Photo: Sheldon Mack / Pacific FC)
Pacific FC are a club with a clear need for goals. Since the start of the 2024 CPL season, no club has scored fewer than the Tridents' 42 in 43 matches. Just 20 of those goals have come from open play.
Díaz spent parts of the past three campaigns across the Salish Sea with Vancouver FC for whom he scored 14 goals in all competitions.
So far this season, Díaz has uncharacteristically struggled in front of goal, scoring just twice in twelve matches between CPL action and the Canadian Championship. But back at Starlight Stadium, where he has been his most prolific, Pacific are banking on Díaz to return to his old ways.
In particular, Díaz's one-touch finishing ability and the consistency with which he is able to get to dangerous central areas is vital for a team that have lacked that threat since his departure. With Vancouver FC, especially this year, Díaz lacked the sort of defined role as a clear number nine, as well as the sort of service crucial to his past success.
He should get more of that on the Island, particularly from an old friend, Marco Bustos. The winger, with whom Díaz won a CPL title in 2021 has been one of the top creators in the CPL this season, but has lacked a target in the box, particularly from open play. On countless occasions this season, Bustos has whipped a ball into a dangerous area only to see nobody get on the end of it, or convert the opportunity.
Bustos leads the CPL in chances created with 35, and passes played into the box, 126, but has just three assists so far this season. Having a player who makes the clever sort of runs that Díaz does should also open up more space for Bustos to create chances for himself.
A quick look at the charts below show how many of Bustos' balls into the central area of the box were unsuccessful (grey), while the xG chart from last season next to it demonstrates how good Díaz has been at creating goals and chances from the centre of the box.
Add in the recent emergence of Yann Toualy as a player who can beat opponents on the dribble and create space that way, plus players like Dario Zanatta and Josh Heard who will now have a central focal point Pacific have always had a fairly dangerous group of wide players, and this year is no different, but not always a target in the middle to finish off their chances.
His familiarity with wide players like Heard, Bustos and Kadin Chung should help build instant chemistry as well.
Díaz will also bring a solid aerial threat, something which Pacific do possess on set pieces from central defender Aly Ndom, but not so much from open play for obvious reasons. In so many ways, the Mexican fits perfectly into the Tridents' attacking puzzle.
Wednesday's announcement seems like a pretty ideal homecoming, both for the player and the club. Díaz's abilities should play an important role in re-igniting Pacific's attack, while the club's system is a perfect fit to re-ignite the player.
"This is home, this is where it all started,” said Díaz. “I am happy and excited to come back to the island to play for Pacific and I look forward to playing my first game back at Starlight in front of our fans.”
Pacific FC currently sit nine points outside of the fifth and final playoff spot with 13 games remaining. But soon the tip of their dangerous attacking trident will look a lot sharper, as Díaz is officially eligible to play for Pacific once again when the transfer window opens on July 24.