Diego Alonso

Diego Alonso

Personal information
Full name	Diego Martín Alonso López
Date of birth	April 16, 1975 (1975-04-16)
Place of birth	Montevideo, Uruguay
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
1993–1995	Bella Vista
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1999	Bella Vista	38	(19)
1999–2000	Gimnasia La Plata	32	(17)
2000–2001	Valencia	20	(2)
2001–2002	Atlético Madrid	38	(22)
2002–2003	Racing Santander	22	(1)
2003–2004	Málaga	23	(6)
2004–2005	UNAM Pumas	27	(12)
2005–2006	Murcia	24	(2)
2006	Nacional Montevideo	7	(3)
2007	Shanghai Shenhua	13	(7)
2008–2009	Gimnasia La Plata	36	(5)
2009–2011	Peñarol	47	(17)
National team
1999–2004	Uruguay	8	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 1 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

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

Diego Martín Alonso López (born 16 April 1975) is a retired Uruguayan footballer. He played as a striker.

Club career

Alonso was born in Montevideo, the country's capital. He made his professional debuts with C.A. Bella Vista, where he remained four seasons, helping the club to the second division title in 1997.

After a brief spell in Argentina for Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata (he would also represent the side towards the end of his career, from 2007–09), Alonso moved to Spain, where he represented five clubs in as many years: Valencia CF, Atlético de Madrid (where he scored 22 goals in 2001–02's second division, helping the Colchoneros return to the top flight, and forming an efficient offensive partnership with countryman Fernando Correa, who added 13), Racing de Santander, Málaga CF and Real Murcia, where he did not have a good scoring record overall. In between his fourth and fifth club, he played one year in Mexico, with UNAM Pumas.

In 2006, 31-year old Alonso returned to his country, joining hometown giants Club Nacional de Football; however, shortly after, he moved abroad again, signing with Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua FC. After two slow seasons with Gimnasia, the veteran switched to Club Atlético Peñarol.

International career

Alonso made eight appearances for the Uruguay national team, during five years. His debut came on 17 June 1999, in a 3–2 friendly win over Paraguay, in Ciudad del Este.

He was chosen for the nation's squad for that year's Copa América, and scored on his quarterfinal penalty shootout attempt (5–3 win) for the eventual runners-up, also against Paraguay, the hosts.

Honours

Club

• Bella Vista:
  • Second Division: 1997

• Atlético Madrid:
  • Second Division: 2001–02

• UNAM Pumas:
  • Mexican League: Apertura 2004

• Shanghai:
  • A3 Champions Cup: 2007

• Peñarol:
  • Uruguayan League: 2009–10
  • Libertadores Cup: Runner-up 2011

National Team

• Copa América: Runner-up 1999

Individual

• Zarra Trophy (Second Division): 2001–02

Personal

Alonso is cousin-brother to Iván Alonso, who also played several years in Spain, namely with Deportivo Alavés.

External links

• Argentine League statistics (Spanish)
• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Diego Alonso at National-Football-Teams.com