Cristian Álvarez (footballer, born 1985)

Cristian Álvarez
	Álvarez in action for Espanyol in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Cristian Darío Álvarez Azad
Date of birth	13 November 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth	General Lagos, Argentina
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Zaragoza
Number	1
Youth career
2001–2005	Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years	Team
2005–2008	Rosario Central
2008–2013	Espanyol
2013–2016	San Lorenzo
2014–2015	→ Rayo Vallecano (loan)
2015–2016	→ Cerro Porteño (loan)
2017–	Real Zaragoza
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 2019

Template:Spanish name

Cristian Darío Álvarez Azad (born 13 November 1985) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Zaragoza as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in General Lagos, Santa Fe, Álvarez came through the youth ranks at hometown club Rosario Central, making his first-team debut in a Copa Libertadores game against Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño on 23 February 2006, a 0–2 home loss. He went on to fully establish himself as first-choice, playing two seasons in the Primera División.

In late May 2008, Álvarez joined Spanish team RCD Espanyol, signing a five-year contract.^[1] He spent most of his spell with the Catalans restricted to Copa del Rey matches, being barred in La Liga by Cameroonian Carlos Kameni: his longest run in the latter competition came during the 2009–10 season as the starter had been selected to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and he played four matches, conceding as many goals in two wins, one draw and one loss.^[2]

Álvarez was promoted to first-choice for the start of the 2011–12 campaign by manager Mauricio Pochettino, with Kameni also still in Espanyol's roster.^[3]

Honours

San Lorenzo

References

^ Cristian Álvarez: "No me considero un suplente" (Cristian Álvarez: "I don't see myself as a backup"); Marca, 27 May 2008 (in Spanish)
^ Kameni vuelve al once y Tamudo sigue fuera (Kameni returns to the XI and Tamudo is still out); Diario AS, 4 February 2010 (in Spanish)
^ Kameni: De titular a ni ser suplente (Kameni: From starter to not even a backup); Mundo Deportivo, 11 January 2012 (in Spanish)

External links

Cristian Álvarez at BDFA (in Spanish)
Argentine League statistics (in Spanish)
Cristian Álvarez at BDFutbol
Cristian Álvarez at Soccerway

[1] Cristian Álvarez: "No me considero un suplente" (Cristian Álvarez: "I don't see myself as a backup"); Marca, 27 May 2008 (in Spanish)

[2] Kameni vuelve al once y Tamudo sigue fuera (Kameni returns to the XI and Tamudo is still out); Diario AS, 4 February 2010 (in Spanish)

[3] Kameni: De titular a ni ser suplente (Kameni: From starter to not even a backup); Mundo Deportivo, 11 January 2012 (in Spanish)

[1]

[2]

[3]