Martín Astudillo

Martín Astudillo
Personal information
Full name Martín Mauricio Astudillo
Date of birth October 11, 1977 (1977-10-11) (age 34)
Place of birth Mendoza, Argentina
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Rosario Central
Number 18
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– Rosario Central 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 July 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).

Martín Mauricio Astudillo (born 11 October 1977 in Mendoza) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Rosario Central 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

Astudillo started his career in the Argentine second division, with Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba of Mendoza Province, in 1995. In 1997 he was signed by Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy of the Primera División, and two years later moved to Deportivo Alavés, in La Liga.

An instant first-choice, Astudillo netted four league goals in his first season, and was instrumental in the Basque side's UEFA Cup runner-up spot in 2001. In the next league campaign, he only missed one match and scored on five occasions, as Alavés finished 7th.

Astudillo remained loyal to the Basque squad throughout his entire Spanish stint, playing in the first and second levels, as Alavés were twice relegated from the former category (in 2003–04's second division, 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.

During the season, Astudillo was instrumental in helping the Navarrese barely escape relegation, as he also netted the game's only goal at RCD Espanyol, on 13 April 2008.

In August 2009, after Alavés suffered relegation to the third division, Astudillo bought out the remainder of his contract and returned to his country after 10 years, joining Rosario Central. He appeared in more than 400 overall official matches for Alavés, the most.

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