Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez | ||
Date of birth | August 23, 1984 | ||
Place of birth | San Salvador, El Salvador | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Alianza (on loan from Club León) |
||
Number | 12 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
2002–2006 | Telecom | ||
2006–2008 | Chalatenango | 49 | (3) |
2008–2009 | Alianza | 34 | (3) |
2009 | → Club León (loan) | 15 | (1) |
2009–2011 | Club León | 0 | (0) |
2010 | → D.C. United (loan) | 10 | (1) |
2010 | → Alianza (loan) | 13 | (2) |
2011– | Alianza | 16 | (4) |
National team‡ | |||
2008– | El Salvador | 35 | (3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 21, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez (born August 25, 1984 in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Alianza of the Primera División. He also plays internationally for the El Salvador national team.
Contents |
Castillo began his professional career in 2002 at the age of 18, when he signed with now defunct Segunda División club C.D. Telecom.
After spending four years with the San Salvador side, Castillo then transferred to C.D. Chalatenango for the 2006 Apertura season.
He made his Primera División debut on August 20, 2006 in a league match against C.D. Águila. Castillo's speed, ball control and exciting dribbling skills quickly made him somewhat of a fan favourite, but unfortunately his first season with his new club saw him play most games off the bench. The following season things got worse for Castillo when he suffered an injury that led to him only being able to play one game the entire tournament. After having to watch most of the entire season from the sidelines, Castillo returned for the following season. This time he was able to prove himself and was consistently part of the clubs starting eleven. This season also saw him score his first Primera División goal; it came on September 30, 2007 in a league match against Nejapa F.C..
Controversially, Castillo then transferred to Alianza F.C. for the 2008 Apertura season, after the then C.D. Chalatenango club president Lisandro Pohl left the club and took all the players that he had helped to sign with him. After much dispute, it was decided that Castillo and the other players that Pohl had signed were eligible to transfer and they all officially became Alianza F.C. players.
At Alianza F.C., Castillo continued to impress and most importantly improved his game to become one of the most, if not the most important players at the club. He scored his first goal with his new club on November 26, 2008 in a league match against C.D. Águila. After being released from D.C. United before the end of the 2010 season, Castillo returned to Alianza for the Apertura 2010.
On 15 June 2009, Castillo was one of the three Salvadoran footballers signed to Mexican club, Club León on a loan basis, the other two were Rodolfo Zelaya and Julio Enrique Martínez.[1] On 3 December 2009, it was announced that Club León had permanently signed Castillo along with the other two Salvadorans with a three-year contract.[2]
Castillo joined Major League Soccer side D.C. United on loan for the 2010 MLS season.[3] On June 29, 2010, he was released by the club after failing to perform up to the club's hopes. He made a total of 10 league games with the club, and only scored one goal in a U.S. Open Cup match against FC Dallas.[4]
Castillo officially received his first cap on April 23, 2008 in a friendly match against China. He scored his first goal for the national team on August 14, 2008 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago. His second goal came almost eight months later on March 28, 2009 when he scored in a World Cup qualification match against the USA. His third goal came six months later on September 5, once again, against USA with a header above American goalkeeper Tim Howard.
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | August 14, 2008 | RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States | Trinidad and Tobago | 0–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
2. | March 28, 2009 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | United States | 2–0 | 2–2 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying |
3. | September 5, 2009 | Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States | United States | 0–1 | 2–1 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying |
|