Christian Díaz

Christian Lionel Díaz (born 12 May 1976) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a left back. He is the current manager of Bolivian club Jorge Wilstermann.

Not to be confused with Cristian Díaz.
For the Mexican footballer, see Christian Díaz (Mexican footballer).

Christian Díaz
Personal information
Full name Christian Lionel Díaz
Date of birth (1976-05-12) 12 May 1976
Place of birth Florencio Varela, Argentina
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
 Wilstermann (manager)
Youth career
Olimpo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2000 Independiente 119 (4)
2000–2001 Udinese 32 (1)
2001–2002 Mallorca 8 (0)
2002–2003 Levante 39 (0)
2003 Albacete 6 (0)
2004 Ciudad Murcia 17 (0)
2005 Almería 4 (0)
2005–2006 Olimpo 18 (1)
2006–2007 Huracán 39 (0)
2007–2009 Arsenal Sarandí 47 (0)
Total 329 (6)
Managerial career
2012 Independiente
2013 Deportes Iquique
2015 San Martín Porres
2016 Olimpo
2017 Quilmes
2018–2019 Santa Tecla
2019–2021 Wilstermann
2021 Royal Pari
2021–2022 The Strongest
2023– Wilstermann
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Florencio Varela Partido, Buenos Aires, Díaz started his career with Club Atlético Independiente in 1995. In his first season as a professional, he helped El Diablo Rojo win the South American Supercup in an eventual 2–1 aggregate triumph against Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (he did not take part in the final, however).[1] He appeared in more than 150 official games with the club during his five-year spell.

In 2000, Díaz moved to Italy and joined Udinese Calcio, only missing three Serie A matches as the team finished in 12th position. In the following four years he played in Spain, representing RCD Mallorca, Levante UD, Albacete Balompié, Ciudad de Murcia and UD Almería, having little overall impact and only totalling 14 La Liga appearances for the first and the third sides.[2]

Díaz returned to his country in 2005, successively representing Club Olimpo,[3] Club Atlético Huracán and Arsenal de Sarandí, winning two major titles with the latter team including the 2007 Copa Sudamericana. He retired from football in 2009, at the age of 33.

Coaching career

Díaz began working as a manager in March 2012, after succeeding Ramón Díaz at the helm of Independiente.[4] As an interim, he led the team to a 5–4 away win against Boca Juniors in the same month, ending the opposition's 33-match unbeaten run in national competitions;[5] during his tenure at the Estadio Libertadores de América, he also managed an unprecedented four consecutive home victories as well as a 4–1 defeat of Racing Club de Avellaneda in a local derby, but the club was also relegated to the Primera B Nacional even though he left into the season to be replaced by Américo Gallego.[6]

Subsequently, Díaz had abroad stints at Deportes Iquique (Chile) and Club Deportivo Universidad de San Martín de Porres (Peru): he led the former team to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores for the first time ever,[7] and was appointed at the latter on 17 December 2014.[8]

Díaz returned to his country and its top level in February 2016, joining Olimpo.[9] In spite of the side finishing in last place they avoided relegation on the coefficient rule, and he left his post on 4 December.[10]

On 5 April 2017, Díaz signed for Quilmes Atlético Club,[11] this time not being able to prevent relegation to division two.[12] In late June of the following year, he was appointed at Santa Tecla F.C. from the Salvadoran Primera División.[13]

Honours

Player

Udinese

Independiente

Arsenal Sarandí

References
  1. Bobrowsky, Josef. "Supercopa Libertadores 1995 – Full Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. Valencia, Gonzalo (12 September 2015). "Díaz: "El fútbol ha cambiado y Perú está en esa búsqueda"" [Díaz: "Football has changed and Peru is in that search"]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  3. Peyssé, Sergio Daniel (31 January 2006). ""El único culpable de mi lesión fue el destino"" [Only fate was to blame for my injury]. La Nueva Provincia (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  4. "Va con tres cambios" [He goes with three changes]. Olé (in Spanish). 16 March 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  5. "Independiente venció a Boca y le quitó el invicto en la Bombonera" [Independiente beat Boca and ended their unbeaten run at la Bombonera] (in Spanish). Continental. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  6. Estévez, Martín (7 July 2013). "El descenso de Independiente: 6/6/6" [Independiente's relegation: 6/6/6]. El Gráfico (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  7. "¡Iquique hace historia!: Clasificó a la Copa Libertadores en dramática definición por penales" [Iquique make history!: Qualified to Copa Libertadores in dramatic penalty decision]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 30 January 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  8. "Universidad San Martín: Cristian Leonel Díaz es nuevo técnico" [Universidad San Martín: Cristian Leonel Díaz is the new manager]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 17 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  9. "Cristian Díaz dirigió su primera práctica en Olimpo y Osella asume en Newell's" [Cristian Díaz was in charge of first session at Olimpo and Osella takes over at Newell's]. Diario Jornada (in Spanish). 23 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  10. "Cristian Díaz ya no es más el entrenador de Olimpo" [Cristian Díaz is no longer manager of Olimpo] (in Spanish). Torneos y Competencias. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  11. "Cristian Díaz será el nuevo DT de Quilmes" [Cristian Díaz will be Quilmes' new HC]. Diario Jornada (in Spanish). 5 April 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  12. "Cristian Díaz: Quilmes descendió en Argentina y excluyó a siete jugadores" [Cristian Díaz: Quilmes relegated in Argentina and released seven players] (in Spanish). América TV. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  13. Mena, Justin (23 June 2018). "Santa Tecla presentó a su nuevo DT" [Santa Tecla presented their new HC]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  14. "Udinese 4–2 Sigma (Aggregate: 6–4)". UEFA. 22 August 2000. Archived from the original on 23 June 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
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