Darío Verón

Darío Verón

Personal information
Full name	Darío Anastacio Verón Maldonado
Date of birth	26 July 1979 (1979-07-26)
Place of birth	San Ignacio, Paraguay
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	UNAM Pumas
Number	4
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2003	12 de Octubre	?	(?)
2001	→ Guaraní (loan)	?	(?)
2003	Cobreloa	20	(4)
2003–	UNAM Pumas	306	(15)
National team‡
2001–	Paraguay	50	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 July 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2010

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

Darío Anastacio Verón Maldonado (born 26 July 1979 in San Ignacio, Paraguay) is a Paraguayan football player that plays for UNAM Pumas in the Mexican First Division.

Verón joined Pumas in 2003, on a transfer from the Chilean club Cobreloa. Verón previously played for Club Guaraní and Club 12 de Octubre, clubs from his native country. A commanding central defender, Verón has also scored more than a dozen goals for UNAM because of his strength in the air. His nickname is "Hechicero" (The Wizard). He has become the most experienced defensive player in the Pumas lineup after Joaquín Beltrán moved to Necaxa and Sergio Bernal announced his retirement.

He has also earned some 50 caps for Paraguay, including the Copa America tournaments of 2001, 2007, and 2011, as well as the 2010 World Cup. Verón was a key part of the rigid defense that carried Paraguay to the final of the 2011 Copa America in Argentina, where he formed a sturdy central core alongside Paulo Da Silva. On occasion, he has also featured for Paraguay at right fullback.

Honours

Cobreloa

• Chilean Primera División (1): 2003 Apertura

UNAM Pumas

• Mexican Primera División (4): 2004 Clausura, 2004 Apertura, 2009 Clausura, 2011 Clausura
• Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu: (1) 2004
• Campeón de Campeones (1): 2004

External links

• Darío Verón stats at Medio Tiempo.com (Spanish)
• Darío Verón at National-Football-Teams.com