Cristian Álvarez (footballer, born 1985)

For other people named Cristian Álvarez, see Cristian Álvarez (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Azad.

Cristian Álvarez

Álvarez in action for Espanyol in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Cristian Darío Álvarez Azad
Date of birth	(1985-11-13) 13 November 1985
Place of birth	General Lagos, Argentina
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Zaragoza
Number	1
Youth career
2001–2005	Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	Rosario Central	62	(0)
2008–2013	Espanyol	55	(0)
2013–2016	San Lorenzo	10	(0)
2014–2015	→ Rayo Vallecano (loan)	17	(0)
2015–2016	→ Cerro Porteño (loan)	22	(0)
2017–	Zaragoza	231	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:37, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

Cristian Darío Álvarez Azad (born 13 November 1985) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Zaragoza as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Rosario

Born in General Lagos, Santa Fe, Álvarez came through the youth ranks at hometown club Rosario Central, making his first-team debut in a Copa Libertadores game against Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño on 23 February 2006, a 0–2 home defeat. He went on to fully establish himself as first , playing two seasons in the Primera División.

Espanyol

In late May 2008, Álvarez joined Spanish team RCD Espanyol, signing a five-year contract. He spent most of his spell with the Catalans restricted to Copa del Rey matches, being barred in La Liga by Cameroonian Carlos Kameni; his longest run in the latter competition came during the 2009–10 season as the starter had been selected to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and he played four matches, conceding as many goals in two wins, one draw and one loss.

Álvarez was promoted to first choice for the start of the 2011–12 campaign by manager Mauricio Pochettino, with Kameni also still in Espanyol's roster.

San Lorenzo

In the summer of 2013, he joined San Lorenzo de Almagro. He started his time there as a starter, but because of an injury and the good performances of his replacement, Sebastián Torrico, he was relegated to the bench. However, he was able to win the champion of the 2013 Torneo Inicial, playing 3 matches. In his second season at the club, he participated in several matches in the domestic tournament, mainly towards the season's end, when the team used a lot of substitutes because their main objective was the Copa Libertadores.

Rayo Vallecano

In the middle of 2014, he was loaned to Rayo Vallecano, where he would compete in the First Division of Spain. He played for only one season at Rayo.

Cerro Porteno

He arrived at the Paraguayan club on loan for one year with an option to buy in June. With the club, he played the Clausura 2015 Copa MX tournament, the Apertura 2016 Copa MX Tournament and the 2016 Copa Libertadores.

Zaragoza

After staying a year without a club, on August 3, 2017 he signed for Real Zaragoza as the club were in a quest to gain promotion to the First Division. He initially signed for one season with an option to extend for two more years. The automatic renewal of his contract became effective upon exceeding 25 games played.

On August 20, 2020, the club announced the extension of his contract for two more seasons, until June 2023.

On April 30, 2021, he scored a headed goal from a free kick in the 97th minute in a match against Lugo.

Honours

San Lorenzo

• Argentine Primera División: 2013 Inicial
• Copa Libertadores: 2014

External links

• Cristian Álvarez at BDFA (in Spanish)
• Argentine League statistics (in Spanish)
• Cristian Álvarez at BDFutbol
• Cristian Álvarez at Soccerway