Diego Alves

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Alves and the second or paternal family name is Carreira.
Diego Alves

Alves playing for Brazil in 2014
Personal information
Full nameDiego Alves Carreira
Date of birth24 June 1985
Place of birthRio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Valencia
Number1
Youth career
2001–2003Botafogo-SP
2004Atlético-MG
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2007Atlético-MG38(0)
2007–2011Almería123(0)
2011–Valencia95(0)
National team‡
2008Brazil U232(0)
2011–Brazil8(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2014

Diego Alves Carreira (born 24 June 1985), known as Alves, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Valencia CF as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Atlético Mineiro / Almería

Alves was born in Rio de Janeiro. Having started professionally at Clube Atlético Mineiro he moved to UD Almería on 24 July 2007, as the Andalusians had just achieved a first ever promotion to La Liga. Initially the backup to another newly signed, David Cobeño, he eventually became the undisputed starter, helping the club overachieve for a final eighth place in the league with notable performances against, among others, Real Madrid.[1]

After Cobeño left for Rayo Vallecano in August 2008, Alves remained first-choice during 2008–09, but suffered an injury in the final stretch of the season. Fully recovered for the start of the following campaign he played in all the matches and minutes (safe for 30 minutes against Valencia CF, after he had been sent off, and the last round against Sevilla FC, as Almería was already saved from relegation); even before the campaign had ended, speculation was ripe regarding his future.[2][3]

On 20 November 2010 Alves was in goal as Almería lost 0–8 at home against FC Barcelona, a defeat which cost manager Juan Manuel Lillo his post.[4] In mid-May 2011, after Almería's top flight relegation, Valencia chairman Manuel Llorente confirmed the signing of the player.[5]

Valencia

Alves made his official debut for Los Che on 13 September 2011, in a 0–0 away draw against K.R.C. Genk for the season's UEFA Champions League.[6] He backed-up Vicente Guaita in the league, however, until Guaita picked up a serious hand injury.[7][8]

Alves as Valencia player

Alves also appeared in the second Champions League group stage match, at home to Chelsea, where he had a series of superb saves, including a string of three in two minutes – two point-blank against Ramires and Fernando Torres, and a third when Valencia man Víctor Ruiz accidentally diverted the ensuing corner towards his own goal – in an eventual 1–1 draw.[9]

In July 2014 Alves signed a new five year deal with Valencia, keeping him at the club until 2019.[10]

International career

Alves was chosen to represent Brazil at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as backup to Renan. He did not receive any playing time, as the national team went on to win a bronze medal.

Alves made his debut for the full side on 10 November 2011, in a 2–0 friendly win with Gabon.[11] He also played four days later, against Egypt (same score).[12]

Honours

Club

Atlético Mineiro

Country

Club statistics

As of 5 April 2015[13][14]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[lower-roman 1] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlético-MG 2005 1000—2030
2006 24000—00240
2007 13070—140340
Total 38070—160610
Almería 2007–08 22000——220
2008–09 31000——310
2009–10 37000——370
2010–11 33000——330
Total 123000——1230
Valencia 2011–12 12060120—300
2012–13 2501020—280
2013–14 2601070—340
2014–15 28000——280
Total 91080210—1200
Career totals 25201502101603040
  1. ↑ Matches played in Brazilian State Leagues

Expert penalty stopper

Alves made his 15th penalty save against Sevilla FC on 25 January 2015, which took his record to 42.85% of all attempts faced.[15] Widely regarded as a specialist in the matter, he once stated that a penalty is “a psychological battle between the goalkeeper and the taker”.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Almería take pride after Madrid fall; UEFA.com, 4 February 2008
  2. ↑ Diego Alves open to move away from Almeria – Agent; Goal.com, 22 April 2010
  3. ↑ AC Milan tracking Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves; Goal.com 22 April 2010
  4. ↑ Barcelona net away record; ESPN Soccernet, 20 November 2010
  5. ↑ Manuel Llorente confirma el fichaje de Diego Alves (Manuel Llorente confirms signing of Diego Alves); Super Deporte, 19 May 2011 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ Genk and Valencia draw a blank; UEFA.com, 13 September 2011
  7. ↑ "La mano vuelve a frenar a Guaita" [Hand stops Guaita again] (in Spanish). Super Deporte. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Guaita sólo para emergencias" [Guaita for emergences only] (in Spanish). Marca. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Soldado spot kick salvages Valencia draw". UEFA.com. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Valencia keeper Alves signs new deal". ESPN FC. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Gabon 0–2 Brazil: Sandro and Hernanes lead Selecao to success in Libreville". Goal.com. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Egypt 0–2 Brazil: Jonas double ruins Bob Bradley's Pharaoh debut". Goal.com. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Diego Alves at ESPN FC
  14. ↑ "Diego Alves". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "Diego Alves takes his penalty record to ’15 saved from 35′ after Sevilla win". Inside Spanish Football. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Diego Alves, the penalty warrior". VCF Play. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

External links