| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Octavio Jiménez Villa | ||
| Date of birth | April 7, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Morelia | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | Tecos UAG | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2005 | Tecomán | 19 | (0) |
| 2005– | Tecos | 97 | (3) |
| 2008-2009 | → New York Red Bulls (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2011– | → Morelia (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 August 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Diego Octavio Jiménez Villa (born April 7, 1986 in Tepatitlán, Jalisco) is a Mexican football defender. He currently plays for Morelia of the Primera División de México. He is known as "Tepa".
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The Mexican defender began his career with the Estudiantes reserve side, appearing in 29 matches and scoring one goal. He then went to Tecos 2A side, where he anchored the back line during the 2004 Clausura appearing in all 17 matches. His play in 2005 with Tecomán drew the attention of the Tecos UAG first team and Jiménez was quickly called up by Tecos. He debuted with Tecos in the Mexican First Division during the 2005 Apertura and made 11 appearances including seven starts.
After a lengthy pursuit for his signature, Jiménez was loaned to New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer during the July 2008 transfer window by UAG Tecos. After signing it took awhile for Jiménez to establish himself at the club. Suspensions and ineffective play by the teams starting central defenders, opened up an opportunity for Diego. Jiménez started both legs of the clubs improbable 4-1 aggregate victory over defending champion Houston Dynamo in the 2008 MLS Playoffs, leading the backline in negating one of the league's most potent attacks. He then helped New York reach the 2008 MLS Cup by defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0 in Utah.[1]
Jiménez was a starter on Mexico’s Under-21 and Under-20 National Team, including playing in the Touloun Youth Tournament in France in 2006.
| League | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Mexican First Division | 99 | 3 |
| Major League Soccer | 10 | 0 |
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