Cristián Álvarez (footballer)

For other people named Cristian Álvarez, see Cristian Álvarez (disambiguation).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Valenzuela.

Cristián Álvarez

Personal information
Full name	Cristián Andrés Álvarez Valenzuela
Date of birth	20 January 1980 (1980-01-20)
Place of birth	Curicó, Chile
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Universidad Católica
Number	4
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999-2005	Universidad Católica	173	(24)
2005-2006	River Plate	21	(0)
2007	Universidad Católica	16	(1)
2007-2010	Beitar Jerusalem	54	(5)
2009-2010	→ Jaguares de Chiapas (loan)	20	(0)
2011-2012	Universitario	15	(2)
2011	→ Universidad Católica (loan)	9	(0)
2012-	Universidad Católica	0	(0)
National team‡
2000-2008	Chile	22	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 December 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 November 2006

Cristián Andrés Álvarez Valenzuela (born 20 January 1980 in Curicó) is a Chilean football defender, who currently plays for Universidad Católica of the Primera División in Chile.

Career

He started his pro career in Universidad Católica in 1999 against O'Higgins. His first match with River Plate was on 7 August 2005 in the 2-0 victory against Tiro Federal. In 2007 moved Alvarez to Beitar Jerusalem. In a match against Maccabi Netanya Alvarez scored a goal from 35 meters which is nominated to be goals of the year. After two years in Israel with Beitar Jerusalem left on 19 August 2009 his club and signed for Jaguares de Chiapas for one season.

International career

He competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney representing Chile and won the bronze medal. His debut with the Chilean national team was in 2000 against Ecuador during qualifications for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He has 22 caps for his country.

Honours

Club

• Universidad Católica
  • Primera División de Chile: 2002 (A)
  • Copa Chile: 2011
• Beitar Jerusalem
  • Israeli Premier League: 2007-08
  • Israeli Cup: 2008, 2009

National team

• Chile
  • Olympic Games: in Sydney (2000)

External links

• Biography at River Plate official website
• Cristián Álvarez (footballer) at National-Football-Teams.com