Giancarlo Maldonado

Giancarlo Gregorio Maldonado Marrero (Spanish pronunciation: [xjanˈkaɾlo maldoˈnaðo], born 29 June 1982) is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as a striker.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Maldonado and the second or maternal family name is Marrero.
Giancarlo Maldonado
Maldonado in 2008
Personal information
Full name Giancarlo Gregorio Maldonado Marrero
Date of birth (1982-06-29) 29 June 1982
Place of birth Caracas, Venezuela
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Yalmakán (Manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 River Plate UY 12 (3)
2001–2002 Nacional Táchira 21 (8)
2002–2003 Mineros 31 (5)
2003–2006 Maracaibo 35 (27)
2006–2007 O'Higgins 32 (16)
2007–2011 Atlante 106 (51)
2009 → Xerez (loan) 11 (1)
2010 → Chivas USA (loan) 10 (2)
2011–2012 Atlas 16 (2)
2012–2013 Mineros 17 (5)
2012–2013 Deportivo Táchira 18 (4)
2013–2014 Estudiantes de Merida 13 (6)
2013–2014 Deportivo Táchira 16 (3)
2014–2015 Atlante 24 (11)
2015 Real España 9 (0)
2016 Atletico Venezuela 18 (5)
2016–2017 Deportivo Táchira 23 (9)
2017 Alebrijes de Oaxaca 14 (7)
2017–2018 Club San José 17 (1)
2018 Atlante 14 (3)
2018–2019 Deportivo Táchira 27 (3)
2019–2020 Academia Puerto Cabello 16 (1)
2021–2022 Metropolitan FA 0 (0)
International career
2003–2011 Venezuela 65 (22)
Managerial career
2023– Yalmakán
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

River Plate

Maldonado began his footballing career in Uruguay, where he started out in the youth teams of Montevideo club River Plate, going on his first team debut in 1999 but first team opportunities were limited and he twice returned to his home country of Venezuela on loan. First he went on loan to Nacional Táchira, where his father was the manager, for the 2001–2002 season and despite only scoring 8 goals he helped the now defunct club to their only title. The following season Maldonado was on loan at Mineros de Guayana.

Maracaibo

In 2003 Maldonado signed for Unión Atlético Maracaibo where he stayed for three seasons and scored 22 goals. During his time at the club he played 5 games without scoring in the 2004 Copa Libertadores and scored 3 goals in his 6 appearances in the 2006 Copa Libertadores.

O'Higgins

In 2006 Maldonado joined Chilean club O'Higgins where he scored 21 goals in his 42 appearances.

Atlante

Maldonado joined México Primera División side Atlante F.C. in July 2007, scoring on his debut in a friendly against Tecamachalco. He made his league debut for Atlante on 4 August 2007 against Jaguares scoring his side's only goal in a match that finished in a 1–1 draw. His goals for Atlante helped the team win the Apertura 2007 title, their third title and an historic one in their first season since relocating from Mexico City to Cancún, Mexico. Maldonado finished the Apertura 2007 campaign as second top goalscorer with 18 goals. His 18 goals for Atlante and the 8 that he had scored earlier in the year with C.D. O'Higgins earned him the 2007 Golden Boot of the Americas award, sharing the honour with Martín Palermo of Boca Juniors.[1] In the Clausura 2008, Maldonado was again Atlante's top scorer, this time with 7 goals, the reigning champions Atlante were however unable to defend their title, missing out on the playoffs following a 3–2 loss to C.F. Monterrey.

Having won the Apertura 2007 Atlante qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09. Maldonado scored in the knock out stages, helping Atlante to the Final of the competition where they defeated Cruz Azul 2–0 on aggregate.

Xerez

Maldonado was signed for an undisclosed fee by newly promoted Spanish La Liga club Xerez C.D. on 25 August 2009 after impressing for Atlante in the 2009 Peace Cup in Málaga, Spain. He made his league debut for Xerez on 30 August 2009 in a 2–0 loss to RCD Mallorca and left the club on 30 December 2009 to join his former club Atlante F.C.

Chivas

Maldonado was signed by Chivas USA during the summer transfer widow after spending two years with Atlante. He had three goals and one assist in league and Superliga. His contract option was declined after only scoring two goals in 10 appearances in league games.[2]

Atlas

Maldonado was transferred on loan to Club Atlas on 5 December 2011.[3] After long negotiations Maldonado was bought by Atlas on 20 December 2011 but had to give Ricardo Jimenez and Hebert Alferez transfers and some money to Atlante so the transfer could happen.[4]

International career

Having made a name for himself as a promising young attacker playing in the youth ranks of River Plate, the Uruguayan Football Association approached him to play at youth level for the Uruguay national team. Maldonado rejected the offers however and chose instead to play for Venezuela, his county of birth and to help the sport in Venezuela.

"I just felt the need to fight for my country and help their football to grow."[5]

Maldonado, Venezuela's all-time leading goal scorer, made his debut for the national team on 20 August 2003 in a friendly against Haiti which finished 3–2 to Venezuela. He scored his first international goal for Venezuela on 9 February 2005 in a 3–0 win over Estonian national football team. He played for Venezuela in the Copa América 2007, scoring Venezuela's opening goal of the tournament in the 2–2 draw with Bolivia and helping them make it through the first round for the first time ever. Venezuela would later exit the tournament after losing 4–1 to Uruguay.

Maldonado scored the first goal in a historic match where Venezuela beat Brazil 2–0 in a friendly match played in front of 54,045 fans in Boston, USA.[6] The result marked the first time Venezuela had ever recorded a victory against the Brazilians in 17 attempts.

Maldonado also played a key role in Venezuela's 2010 World Cup Qualification campaign, scoring 6 goals in 15 appearances.

Personal life

He is the son of Carlos Maldonado (born 1963) who was also a professional football player. Maldonado was named after 1982 World Cup winning Italian Midfielder Giancarlo Antognoni.[5] His uncle Saúl Maldonado is also professional football manager, and his two cousins Javier and Andres also play professional football in Venezuela.

Career statistics

Club
Accurate as of 14 September 2012
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
River Plate 2001 7171
2002 5252
Total 123123
Nacional Táchira 2001–02 218218
Total 218218
Mineros de Guayana 2002–03 315315
Total 315315
Maracaibo 2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
Total 35273527
O'Higgins 2006 168168
2007 168168
Total 32163216
Atlante 2007–08 262253003125
2008–09 2754162378
2009–10 1510000151
2010–11 1542100175
2011–12 1250000125
Total 95371156211244
Xerez (loan) 2009–10 901100101
Total 901100101
Chivas USA (loan) 2010 1021000112
Total 1021000112
Atlas 2011–12 1620000162
Total 1620000162
Mineros de Guayana 2012–13 63003093
Total 63003093
Career totals 26710313692289111

International goals

Honours

Club
Nacional Táchira
Unión Atlético Maracaibo
Atlante

International

Individual
  • Bota de Oro (1): 2007

References
  1. "Venezolano Maldonado recibe "Bota de Oro" (Spanish)". Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Comunicación y la Información. 24 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  2. "Latest News | Chivas USA". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  3. "Giancarlo Maldonado y Jorge Villalpando, primeros refuerzos del Atlas". www.mediotiempo.com. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. "Mediotiempo - Noticias deportivas y de última hora".
  5. "Maldonado carrying Vinotinto hopes". FIFA. 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  6. "Venezuela beat Brazil, make history". FIFA. 7 June 2008. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  7. Giancarlo Maldonado - International Goals
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