Claudio Maldonado

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Personal information
Claudio Maldonado
Full name	Claudio Andrés del Tránsito Maldonado Rivera
Date of birth	January 3, 1980
Place of birth	Curicó, Chile
Height	5'8 (174 cm)
Nickname	Chester
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Santos
Number	8
Youth clubs
1997-1998	Colo-Colo
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1998-1999 2000-2002 2003-2005 2006-present	Colo-Colo São Paulo FC Cruzeiro Santos	28 (2) 33 (0) 89 (4) 43 (0)
National team²
2000-present	Chile	36 (1)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 October 2006. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 28 October 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Men's Football
Olympic medal record
Bronze	2000 Sydney	Team

Claudio Andrés Del Tránsito Maldonado Rivera, or just Claudio Maldonado, (born on January 3, 1980 in Curicó, Chile) is a Chilean football player. Currently Maldonado plays for Santos in Brazil.

[edit] Colo-Colo

He began his career with Chilean club Colo-Colo. He had been a fan of the team since he was a small boy. In 2000 he was sold to Brazilian team São Paulo FC. Colo-Colo was forced to sale the player because at the time they were in great economic problems. The selling of Maldonado for $2.1 million and the through sale of a few other players, Colo-Colo was able to get themselves out of debt. In his short stay with Colo-Colo he did accomplish a boy hood ambition of his, which was to win a championship with the black and white.

[edit] Brazil

In his first season with São Paulo FC, the club won the Brazilian championship. He spent three seasons with São Paulo FC making 35 appearances with the team.

In May of 2003, Wanderley Luxemburgo, then coach of Cruzeiro, bought Maldonado services. At the time of the purchase, Maldonado's then girlfriend was Luxemburgo's daughter. Nevertheless while with Cruzeiro, Maldonado experienced the most success of his career. In 2003 he was part of the only team in the history of Brazilian soccer to win the triple crown.

For the 2006 season, Maldonado was reunited with former Cruzeiro's coach Luxemburgo. However at the end of the Brazilian season he is scheduled to have ankle surgery which will cause him to be miss up to two months. Maldonado will likely get back on the field in 2007.

[edit] International

Maldonado was selected to represent his country, Chile, at the 2000 Summer Olympics as a part of the Sub-23 team that went on the win the bronze medal. Maldonado made his international debut on February 12, 2000, in a match versus Bulgaria. Since than Maldonado has appeared in 34 games with the adult squad and has netted one goal. For 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, Maldonado was a regular with the first team.