Diego Alves

Diego Alves

Alves lining up for Brazil in 2014
Personal information
Full name Diego Alves Carreira
Date of birth (1985-06-24) 24 June 1985
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Flamengo
Number 1
Youth career
2001–2003 Botafogo-SP
2004 Atlético Mineiro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Atlético Mineiro 38 (0)
2007–2011 Almería 123 (0)
2011–2017 Valencia 146 (0)
2017– Flamengo 3 (0)
National team‡
2008 Brazil U23 2 (0)
2011– Brazil 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 August 2017.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 June 2017

Diego Alves Carreira (born 24 June 1985), known as Diego Alves, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and the Brazil national team as a goalkeeper.

Having begun his career at Atlético Mineiro, he spent most of his career in Spain in the service of Almería and Valencia, making 269 La Liga appearances both teams combined during exactly one decade.

Alves was part of the Brazilian squad which won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, and made his senior international debut in 2011. He represented the latter at the Copa América Centenario.

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.[2]

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 (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); in April 2010, his agent stated a move away from the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos was being considered.[3][4]

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.[5] In mid-May 2011, after his team's top flight relegation, Valencia chairman Manuel Llorente confirmed the signing of the player.[6]

Valencia

Alves as a Valencia player in 2011

Alves made his official debut for the Che on 13 September 2011, in a 0–0 away draw against K.R.C. Genk for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[7] He backed-up Vicente Guaita in the league, however, until Guaita picked up a serious hand injury.[8][9]

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.[10]

In July 2014, Alves signed a new five-year deal with Valencia that kept him at the Mestalla Stadium until 2019.[11] In the last game of the season, that also marked his 100th league appearance for the club, away against former side Almería, he tore his knee ligament in the 72nd minute, later undergoing surgery and being sidelined until November.[12]

Flamengo

On 17 July 2017, ten years after leaving for Europe, Alves joined Clube de Regatas do Flamengo until 2020.[13][14]

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.[15] He also played four days later, against Egypt (same score).[16]

Alves was selected by coach Dunga for the 2015 Copa América in Chile, but withdrew due to a knee injury to be replaced by Neto.[17]

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.[18] Widely regarded as a specialist in the matter, he once stated that a penalty is "a psychological battle between the goalkeeper and the taker".[19]

On 9 May 2015, after denying Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, Alves became the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in the history of the Spanish top flight with 16 out of 37, equalling Andoni Zubizarreta who saved 16 from 102.[20] He surpassed the latter on 25 September 2016 during a 2–1 away win over CD Leganés,[21] following it up with two saves the next weekend – including a spectacular block from Antoine Griezmann shot – but in a 0–2 home loss to Atlético Madrid;[22] upon his departure from Valencia in 2017, he had saved 23 spot kicks.[23]

Career statistics

Club

As of 15 May 2016[24][25]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[lower-roman 1] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlético Mineiro 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 2401020—270
2013–14 2701070—350
2014–15 37000——370
2015–16 1300000—130
Total 113080210—1420
Career totals 27401502101603260
  1. ↑ Matches played in Brazilian State Leagues

International

As of 13 June 2017
National team Year Apps Goals
Brazil 2011 20
2012 50
2014 20
2017 10
Career total 100

Honours

Club

Atlético Mineiro

International

Brazil

References

  1. ↑ "Diego Alves". Valencia CF. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Almería take pride after Madrid fall; UEFA.com, 4 February 2008
  3. ↑ Diego Alves open to move away from Almeria – Agent; Goal.com, 22 April 2010
  4. ↑ AC Milan tracking Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves; Goal.com 22 April 2010
  5. ↑ Barcelona net away record; ESPN Soccernet, 20 November 2010
  6. ↑ Manuel Llorente confirma el fichaje de Diego Alves (Manuel Llorente confirms signing of Diego Alves); Super Deporte, 19 May 2011 (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ Genk and Valencia draw a blank; UEFA.com, 13 September 2011
  8. ↑ "La mano vuelve a frenar a Guaita" [Hand stops Guaita again] (in Spanish). Super Deporte. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Guaita sólo para emergencias" [Guaita for emergences only]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Soldado spot kick salvages Valencia draw". UEFA.com. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Valencia keeper Alves signs new deal". ESPN FC. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "Diego Alves tears knee ligament". Inside Spanish Football. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Mais um: "ao vivo", Diego Alves se apresenta como novo goleiro do Flamengo" [Another one: "live", Diego Alves presented as new goalkeeper of Flamengo] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Diego Alves é do Flamengo" [Diego Alves belongs to Flamengo] (in Portuguese). CR Flamengo. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Gabon 0–2 Brazil: Sandro and Hernanes lead Selecao to success in Libreville". Goal.com. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Egypt 0–2 Brazil: Jonas double ruins Bob Bradley's Pharaoh debut". Goal.com. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "Diego Alves ruled out of Copa America with serious knee injury". beIN Sports. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Diego Alves takes his penalty record to ’15 saved from 35′ after Sevilla win". Inside Spanish Football. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "Diego Alves, the penalty warrior". VCF Play. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Diego Alves hace historia al pararle el penalti a Cristiano Ronaldo" [Diego Alves makes history after saving Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty]. Sport (in Spanish). 9 May 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  21. ↑ "Atletico Madrid battle past Deportivo, Nani on target in Valencia victory". ESPN FC. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  22. ↑ "Diego Alves saves two more penalties but Valencia lose to Atletico Madrid". ESPN FC. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Official: Diego Alves leaves Valencia". Football España. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  24. ↑ Diego Alves at ESPN FC
  25. ↑ "Diego Alves". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
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