Martín Astudillo
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Martín Mauricio Astudillo | ||
| Date of birth | 11 October 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Mendoza, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1997 | Godoy Cruz | 55 | (3) |
| 1997–1999 | Gimnasia Jujuy | 67 | (2) |
| 1999–2009 | Alavés | 311 | (19) |
| 2008 | → Osasuna (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2009–2010 | Rosario Central | 11 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Martín Mauricio Astudillo (born 11 October 1977) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He played during one full decade in Spain with Alavés, appearing in 149 games in La Liga and 162 in Segunda División.
Football career
Born in Mendoza, Astudillo started his career in the Argentine second division, with Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba of Mendoza Province. In 1997 he was signed by Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy of the top level, and two years later moved to Deportivo Alavés in Spain.
An instant first-choice, Astudillo scored four league goals in his first season, and was instrumental in the Basque side's runner-up run in the UEFA Cup the next year. In the following campaign he only missed one match and netted on five occasions, helping his team finish seventh in La Liga.
Astudillo remained loyal to Alavés throughout the vast majority of his Spanish stint, playing in divisions one and two as Alavés were twice relegated from the former category (in 2003–04, he collected a season-worst 19 yellow cards). However, in January 2008, he rejoined the top flight, signing on loan with CA Osasuna who had lost another central midfielder, Javad Nekounam, severely injured in preseason.[1]
During the season Astudillo was instrumental in helping the Navarrese barely escape relegation, as he also scored the game's only goal at RCD Espanyol on 13 April 2008.[2] In August 2009, after Alavés suffered relegation to the third division, he bought out the remainder of his contract and returned to his country after ten years, joining Rosario Central;[3] he appeared in a best ever 346 official matches for his main club.
References
- ^ Astudillo: "Ha sido importante recobrar la ilusión por jugar en Primera" (Astudillo: "To regain the illusion for playing in Primera was important"); Diario de Navarra, 1 February 2008 Template:Es icon
- ^ Espanyol 0–1 Osasuna; ESPN Soccernet, 13 April 2008
- ^ Astudillo se desvincula del Alavés para fichar por el Rosario de Argentina (Astudillo cuts ties with Alavés to sign for Rosario in Argentina); Marca, 31 July 2009 Template:Es icon
External links
- 1977 births
- Living people
- People from Mendoza, Argentina
- Argentine footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Primera División Argentina players
- Godoy Cruz footballers
- Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy footballers
- Rosario Central footballers
- La Liga players
- Segunda División footballers
- Deportivo Alavés footballers
- CA Osasuna players
- Argentine expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Argentine expatriates in Spain