Christian Castillo (footballer)

For the Argentine activist, see Christian Castillo.

Christian Castillo

Personal information
Full name	Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez
Date of birth	August 23, 1984 (1984-08-23)
Place of birth	San Salvador, El Salvador
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Alianza (on loan from Club León)
Number	12
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2006	Telecom
2006–2008	Chalatenango	49	(3)
2008–2009	Alianza	34	(3)
2009	→ Club León (loan)	15	(1)
2009–2011	Club León	0	(0)
2010	→ D.C. United (loan)	10	(1)
2010	→ Alianza (loan)	13	(2)
2011–2012	Alianza	16	(4)
National team‡
2008–	El Salvador	35	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 21, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of September 7, 2010

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

Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez (born August 25, 1984 in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran footballer who is currently a free agent. He also plays internationally for the El Salvador national team.

Club career

Telecom & early career

Castillo began his professional career in 2002 at the age of 18, when he signed with now defunct Segunda División club C.D. Telecom.

Chalatenango

After spending four years with the San Salvador side, Castillo then transferred to C.D. Chalatenango for the 2006 Apertura season.

He made his Primera División debut on August 20, 2006 in a league match against C.D. Águila. Castillo's speed, ball control and exciting dribbling skills quickly made him somewhat of a fan favourite, but unfortunately his first season with his new club saw him play most games off the bench. The following season things got worse for Castillo when he suffered an injury that led to him only being able to play one game the entire tournament. After having to watch most of the entire season from the sidelines, Castillo returned for the following season. This time he was able to prove himself and was consistently part of the clubs starting eleven. This season also saw him score his first Primera División goal; it came on September 30, 2007 in a league match against Nejapa F.C..

Alianza

Controversially, Castillo then transferred to Alianza F.C. for the 2008 Apertura season, after the then C.D. Chalatenango club president Lisandro Pohl left the club and took all the players that he had helped to sign with him. After much dispute, it was decided that Castillo and the other players that Pohl had signed were eligible to transfer and they all officially became Alianza F.C. players.

At Alianza F.C., Castillo continued to impress and most importantly improved his game to become one of the most, if not the most important players at the club. He scored his first goal with his new club on November 26, 2008 in a league match against C.D. Águila. After being released from D.C. United before the end of the 2010 season, Castillo returned to Alianza for the Apertura 2010.

León

On 15 June 2009, Castillo was one of the three Salvadoran footballers signed to Mexican club, Club León on a loan basis, the other two were Rodolfo Zelaya and Julio Enrique Martínez. On 3 December 2009, it was announced that Club León had permanently signed Castillo along with the other two Salvadorans with a three-year contract.

D.C. United

Castillo joined Major League Soccer side D.C. United on loan for the 2010 MLS season. On June 29, 2010, he was released by the club after failing to perform up to the club's hopes. He made a total of 10 league games with the club, and only scored one goal in a U.S. Open Cup match against FC Dallas.

International career

Castillo officially received his first cap on April 23, 2008 in a friendly match against China. He scored his first goal for the national team on August 14, 2008 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago. His second goal came almost eight months later on March 28, 2009 when he scored in a World Cup qualification match against the USA. His third goal came six months later on September 5, once again, against USA with a header above American goalkeeper Tim Howard.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	August 14, 2008	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States	Trinidad and Tobago	0–1	3–1	Friendly
2.	March 28, 2009	Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador	United States	2–0	2–2	World Cup 2010 Qualifying
3.	September 5, 2009	Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States	United States	0–1	2–1	World Cup 2010 Qualifying

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• El Grafico Profile (Spanish)
• Castillo Profile at Club Leon official website (Spanish)
• Cristian Castillo – FIFA competition record
• Christian Castillo (footballer) at National-Football-Teams.com