Diego Benaglio

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Diego Benaglio

Benaglio in 2008
Personal information
Full nameDiego Orlando Benaglio
Date of birth (1983-09-08) 8 September 1983
Place of birthZürich, Switzerland
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current clubVfL Wolfsburg
Number1
Youth career
1993–1997Spreitenbach
1997–1999FC Baden
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1999–2002Grasshopper23(0)
2002–2005VfB Stuttgart0(0)
2003–2005VfB Stuttgart II37(0)
2005–2008Nacional69(0)
2008–VfL Wolfsburg169(0)
National team‡
2001Switzerland U193(0)
2002Switzerland U201(0)
2003–2005Switzerland U2115(0)
2006–Switzerland52(0)
2012Switzerland Olympic4(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 September 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 09:28, 5 October 2013 (UTC)

Diego Orlando Benaglio (born 8 September 1983) is a Swiss footballer who plays for VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, as a goalkeeper.

He spent most of his professional career in Germany, with Stuttgart and Wolfsburg, appearing in more than 200 official games with the latter and winning the 2009 league championship. He also spent three years in Portugal with Nacional.

Benaglio gained more than 50 caps for Switzerland, representing the nation in two World Cups and Euro 2008.

Club career

Early years / Nacional

Born in Zürich, Benaglio started his career with hometown side Grasshopper-Club Zürich. Still in his teens he moved to Germany and joined VfB Stuttgart, but appeared exclusively for the reserves during his three-year spell.

For the 2005–06 season Benaglio moved to Portugal's C.D. Nacional, soon gaining favour over Henrique Hilário and becoming the Madeira side's undisputed first-choice after the veteran left for Chelsea. It was also during his first year that the club qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Wolfsburg

On 22 January 2008, Benaglio returned to Germany, signing for VfL Wolfsburg.[1] He made his club debut eight days later, helping his team advance to the quarter-finals of the German Cup after a penalty shootout win over FC Schalke 04.

In the 2008–09 campaign, Benaglio only missed three matches as Wolfsburg were crowned Bundesliga champions for the first time in the club's history. In the following year he appeared significantly less, due to injury.

On 23 January 2013, Benaglio signed a contract extension with Wolfsburg, keeping him at the club until 2016.[2]

International career

A Swiss international since 2006, Benaglio was called up for the 2006 FIFA World Cup as third-choice, behind Pascal Zuberbühler and Fabio Coltorti. With consistently good club performances in the following years, he was promoted to the starting line-up for UEFA Euro 2008 played on home soil, and became first-choice onwards.

As the national team qualified to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Benaglio played in all three group stage matches in an eventual group stage exit (one goal conceded),[3] including a 1–0 win against Spain who later won the tournament.[4]

Honours

Grasshopper
Wolfsburg

References

  1. ↑ "EURO aim brings Benaglio to Wolfsburg". UEFA.com. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2010. 
  2. ↑ "Benaglio extends with Wolfsburg". Bundesliga. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013. 
  3. ↑ Diego Benaglio – FIFA competition record
  4. ↑ "Swiss happy to accept Spanish 'gift'". FIFA.com. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010. 

External links

VfL Wolfsburg – current squad
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