Damián Díaz

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Díaz.
Damián Díaz
Personal information
Full name Damián Rodrigo Díaz
Date of birth (1986-05-01) 1 May 1986
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Barcelona Sporting Club
Number 10
Youth career
1998–2003 Juan XXIII
2003–2006 Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Rosario Central 38 (6)
2008–2009 Boca Juniors 4 (0)
2009–2010 Universidad Católica 32 (14)
2010–2011 Colón 36 (6)
2011–2013 Barcelona 68 (21)
2013–2015 Al Wahda 41 (20)
2016 Barcelona 17 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 March 2015.


Damián Rodrigo Díaz Montero (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈmian roˈðriɣo ˈðiaθ], born 1 May 1986) is an Argentine footballer that currently plays for Ecuador's Barcelona as an attacking midfielder. He is well known for his technique, passing and ability to link up with his teammates as a playmaker.

Club career

Rosario Central

Díaz began his career at hometown Juan XXIII for then joined the Rosario Central youth ranks. However, after having success at the football academy he signed his first professional contract with The Canallas as a 20-year-old, to finally in 2007, being promoted to the first adult team by then coach Carlos Ischia, who saw in him a lot of talent.

On 8 April, Díaz made his league debut with Rosario in a 2–1 away loss against Godoy Cruz, scoring his side's goal in the 91st minute at Mendoza. However, Díaz scored his second consecutive goal in his second professional game during a 3–0 home victory over Nueva Chicago at Gigante de Arroyito, scoring the second goal of his team on 58th minute.

After a successful 2007–08 season completing 4 goals in 25 games, Díaz was transferred to Boca Juniors, following his coach Carlos Ischia footsteps, who also left the club for Buenos Aires-based team.

Boca Juniors

After being appointed Boca, Díaz made his official debut in a 4–0 Copa Sudamericana win over last Copa Libertadores champions LDU Quito on 23 September 2008 as a 83rd minute substitution. At La Bombonera team he won the Torneo Apertura (being that his first professional title), which he failed to play it, because he was under the "shadow" of Juan Román Riquelme as the team's playmaker into Ischia's scheme.

In January 2009, he refused go on loan to Greek side Aris Thessaloniki after being taken off the team by Ischia during December of last year, so that he joined the pre-season and played the Torneo de Verano (an Argentine friendly tournament), where played a well role into the starting lineup and made that Ischia shortly after change his decision. On 1 March, Díaz made his league debut during Clausura's fourth week 3–1 home win over Huracán as a starter, being substituted on 46th minute by Nico Gaitán. However he began to lose importance with Ischia in the team and didn't have a well season again, playing a total of nine games during the year's first half between the league tournament, Copa Libertadores and friendlies (four, two and three games respectively).

Universidad Católica

On 3 July 2009, Universidad Católica signed Díaz on loan was awarded the number 15 shirt. Díaz arrived as part of Gary Medel's transfer operation to his former club Boca Juniors in a loan barter without purchase option.

2009 Season

Díaz made his Chilean Primera División début on 27 July 2009, in a 2–0 win over Deportes La Serena at San Carlos de Apoquindo.[1] He scored his first two goals for the club on 23 August, both in a single match against Cobreloa, in where Católica won 2–0 thanks to the goals of Díaz.[2] One month later, he scored his first hat-trick in his career in Católica's 7-0 thrashing of Curicó Unido,[3] should be noted that one of his three goals was olympic.[4] Díaz also scored in the following week against Audax Italiano, match that was won 4–0 by Católica.[5] In that season, Damián was fully consolidated in the position of playmaker at the scheme of Católica's coach, Marco Antonio Figueroa. He was also paired in attack with Juan José Morales and Milovan Mirosevic. The team reached the final against Colo-Colo, but lost 6–4 on aggregate. Following his debut season in the Chilean Primera División, Díaz emerged as one of the league's finest playmakers.

2010 Season

Díaz began the 2010 season in fine form, scoring the first goal in Católica's 4–0 thrashing of Santiago Morning.[6] In that season, he was playing of great form, but had too much lack of scoring. On 27 March, Díaz scored his second goal in the tournament against Santiago Wanderers in a 4–2 win, which ended a run of 239 minutes of football without a goal. On 14 April, Kitu scored his first goal in the Copa Libertadores, in a 2–0 home win over Flamengo. Due to his successful at Chile, the club of his country Colón de Santa Fe showed interest on him and also came up the possibility of return to Boca Juniors, one of the big teams of Argentina and South America. Despite of the possibility of play in Argentina, one of the best leagues in the world, Díaz was consistent and extended his scoring streak against Ñublense in a game that was won by Católica 4–2, and he was named the man of the match.

Finally, during the break of the league (because it was a long tournament of one year and was played the 2010 FIFA World Cup at South Africa) everything seemed be that Diaz would remain at Católica, but then the player reached an agreement with the club that attempted to sign him Colón and left the club.

Colón

On 11 June 2010, Colón de Santa Fe signed him for one year, on loan from Boca Juniors.

Barcelona Sporting Club

2011 Season

On 11 June 2011, Diaz signed with the Ecuadorian Barcelona. His debut came in July 23, 2011 in a 2–2 away draw against Espoli. In just his third match for Barcelona, Diaz scored his first goal for the club, the only winning goal, in a home win against CD Olmedo on August 8. His next goal came in a 3–0 home win against Imbabura FC. Diaz' 3rd goal for Barcelona was on September 25, in a 2–1 home win over Deportivo Cuenca. He then scored a double on October 16, in a thrilling 3–0 away win over Independiente Jose Teran. His final goal of the season came in Ecuador's Super Clasico, in a 2–0 home win over Emelec on November 19. He finished the league having played 20 matches, scoring 6 goals and assisted 3 more.

2012 Season

In 2012 Barcelona signed Diaz to a 4-year contract, when Diaz was being observed by clubs like Cruz Azul and Fluminense . Diaz has helped Barcelona in their road to win Barcelona 14th Ecuadorian Serie A title.[7] Damian Diaz' first match for the 2012 season was a 3–1 home win over Deportivo Cuenca on February 5. His first goal of the season came several months later, but was an absolute gem, an over-head goal from a cross nearly 40 yards out, was the second goal in a thrilling 3-0 home win over Tecnico Universitario. On July 8, Damian Diaz, though in a losing 1–0 match against Deportivo Cuenca, it ultimately led to Barcelona ending up finalists for the 2012 League championship final match.

On August 5, his next goal-scoring feat would come in a thrilling 2–2 away draw against LDU Quito, where he scored both goals, both similar goals, dribbling by 2–3 defenders to score in the back of the net. His next goal was from 25 yards out, in a 2–1 away win against Emelec. On September 19, Diaz scored a truly magnificent goal, an over-head goal which turned to be the winning goal in a thrilling 4–3 home Copa Sudamericana 2012 match against Cobreloa. His next goal came in a 4–1 home win over Deportivo Cuenca on October 21. In a vital Ecuadorian Super Clasico home match held on November 4, Diaz scored 2 goals in a thrilling 5–0 win over city rivals Emelec. On November 28, Diaz became 2012 Serie A champion after SD Quito defeated Emelec 2-0, which helped Barcelona secure their first Ecuadorian league title since 1997, their 14th title in their history.

2013 Season

His first match of the season was a 1–1 away draw against Deportivo Quevedo on January 26. His first goal of the season was on Barcelona's Copa Libertadores 2013 debut, a 2–2 away draw against Nacional of Uruguay, he scored the opening goal from long-range. Next he scored in a historically humiliating defeat to Independiente Jose Teran, scoring the 2–1 lead for Barcelona, then Independiente turn the game around in the final 10 minutes, defeating Barcelona 5–2. On March 6, Diaz scored against the Mexican club Toluca in a Copa Libertadores match, drawing 1–1. On April 28, Damian scored twice against Ecuadorian giants LDU Quito, in a triumphant 3–0 home win.

Al Wahda

2013 Season

He moved to the Abu Dhabi club AlWahda.

Honours

Club

Boca Juniors
Universidad Católica
Barcelona SC

References

  1. ↑ "Damián Díaz y su debut en U. Católica: "Lo importante es que ganó el equipo"". Cooperativa.cl. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  2. ↑ "U. Católica doblegó a Cobreloa en Calama gracias a la "magia" de Damián Díaz". Cooperativa.cl. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "Argentino Damian Díaz lleva a la cima a la Universidad Católica de Chile". Terra.com. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Argentino U. Católica vapuleó a Curicó Unido con gran actuación de Damián Díaz". Cooperativa.cl. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "U. Católica volvió a dar una clase de buen fútbol y quedó como exclusivo líder del Clausura". Cooperativa.cl. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Universidad Católica golea 4-0 y hunde a Santiago Morning". Emol.cl. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Damián Díaz, nuevo jugador de Barcelona S.C.". Barcelona SC. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
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