Cristián Álvarez (footballer, born 1980)

Cristián Álvarez
	Álvarez with Universidad Católica 2018
Personal information
Full name	Cristián Andrés Álvarez Valenzuela
Date of birth	20 January 1980 (age 42)
Place of birth	Curicó, Chile
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team
1999–2005	Universidad Católica
2005–2006	River Plate
2007	Universidad Católica
2007–2010	Beitar Jerusalem
2009–2010	→ Chiapas (loan)
2011–2012	Universitario
2011–2018	Universidad Católica
Total
National team
2000–2014	Chile
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 December 2018

Cristián Andrés Álvarez Valenzuela (born 20 January 1980) is a retired Chilean footballer, who played as a defender.

Career[]

Universidad Catolica[]

He arrived in 1993 to prove to Universidad Católica next to his brother Ivan, after the pickers of the UC saw him play in a championship in his native Curicó. He spent three years traveling to Santiago to train and play for the Crusaders, it was not until 1996 that he finally moved to live in Santiago.

For 1997 made his debut in the Professional Squad, he played 31 minutes with just 17 years in the 4–0 win against Colo Colo (in that duel lined up youths due to a footballers' strike).

Arriving 1999 is officially made with an official jersey on the cross team honor planter. He participated in only 10 official matches until the Chilean national championship of the year 2000, where he played 23 matches with 2 converted goals, together with 21 matches played in 2001.

The year 2002 obtained the titularity in the crossed squad, being champion of the Torneo de Apertura, and playing 43 parties with 2 goals. In that same tournament he put his name at the top of the Crusade history. It was a day on 12 October, while playing the 145th edition of the university classic against University of Chile and after an injury of goalkeeper Jonathan Walker. The coach Juvenal Olmos did not have more changes, this was how CristÃn Álvarez was who offered to get under the 3 sticks. 71 'minutes had passed. When with jersey and gloves provided, Crístian manages to stop the finishing of the blue scorer Pedro González. Leaving the party 1: 1 in addition had to complete the party like arquero.

From 2003, until his transfer to the Argentine soccer in the middle of 2005, he disputed 78 meetings and scored 19 goals, in spite of being right lateral.

International career[]

His first match with River Plate was on 7 August 2005 in the 2–0 victory against Tiro Federal. In 2007 moved Alvarez to Beitar Jerusalem. In a match against Maccabi Netanya Alvarez scored a goal from 35 meters which is nominated to be goals of the year. After two years in Israel with Beitar Jerusalem left on 19 August 2009 his club and signed for Chiapas for one season.

back to Universidad Catolica[]

In 2011, Cristian returned to his home club, Universidad Católica,^[1] Where he shared the captaincy of the team with his lifelong friend Milovan Mirosevic.

Cristian Was the captain in 2016, historical year of Universidad Catolica, where they achieved the first bicampeonato in the history of the club, in addition to winning the Super Cup against the archrival Universidad de Chile.

In May 2017, Christian renewed for 6 months more with the club, announcing his retirement in the month of December.^[2]

In November 2018, Christian play his last game in San Carlos de Apoquindo, saying goodbye to the public that cheered his name^[3]

International career[]

He competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney representing Chile and won the bronze medal. His debut with the Chilean national team was in 2000 against Ecuador during qualifications for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He has 23 caps for his country.