Leonel Álvarez
Leonel Álvarez (right) with former Medellín mayor, Sergio Fajardo (left)
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta | ||
| Date of birth | 30 July 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Remedios, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
He has no club (manager) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1986 | Independiente Medellín | 189 | (3) |
| 1987–1989 | Atlético Nacional | 42 | (0) |
| 1990 | América de Cali | 0 | (0) |
| 1990–1992 | Real Valladolid | 35 | (0) |
| 1992–1995 | América de Cali | 115 | (5) |
| 1996 | Dallas Burn | 22 | (3) |
| 1997 | Veracruz | 20 | (2) |
| 1998–1999 | Dallas Burn | 48 | (0) |
| 1999–2001 | New England Revolution | 58 | (2) |
| 2002 | Deportivo Pereira | 25 | (1) |
| 2003–2004 | Deportes Quindío | 16 | (0) |
| Total | 570 | (16) | |
| National team | |||
| 1985–1997 | Colombia | 101 | (1) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2008–2010 | Independiente Medellín | ||
| 2011 | Colombia | ||
| 2012 | Itagüí | ||
| 2013–2014 | Deportivo Cali | ||
| 2015– | Independiente Medellín | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
|||
Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta (born 30 July 1965 in Remedios, Colombia) is a former Colombian football defensive midfielder and he is not managing any club right now. He played 101 times for the Colombia national team between 1985 and 1995, making him the 3rd most capped player in Colombian international football. He was also the head coach of Colombia national football team [1]. Alvarez is the only coach to become champion twice with his beloved DIM.
On the pitch, Leonel was known for his intense physical defense, which made him very popular among the Colombian fans.
Álvarez began his career with Independiente Medellín in 1983. In 1989 he was part of the Atlético Nacional team that won the Copa Libertadores in 1989. He won a Colombian league title with América de Cali in 1990 and another in 1995.
He has also played for Veracruz of Mexico and Real Valladolid of Spain.
Álvarez signed with Major League Soccer before the league's inaugural 1996 season, and was allocated to the Dallas Burn. In his first year with the team, Álvarez was clearly one of the league's best players, as he scored three goals and five assists for the team from a defensive midfield position, and was named to the MLS Best XI. Unfortunately for the Burn, Álvarez moved to Mexico for the 1997 season, where he played for Veracruz. He did not return until 1998, when he quickly recovered his starting position; Álvarez would be an extremely important player in the Burn's central midfield for the next two years, but near the end of 1999, was traded to the New England Revolution for Ariel Graziani. Álvarez would play for the Revolution through 2001, always an important starter, before the team decided not to renew his contract for the 2002 season.
...
Wikipedia