Christian Castillo
Encyclopedia
Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez (born August 25, 1984 in San Salvador
) is a Salvadoran
footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Alianza
of the Primera División. He also plays internationally for the El Salvador national team
.
club C.D. Telecom.
side, Castillo then transferred to C.D. Chalatenango
for the 2006 Apertura season
.
He made his Primera División
debut on August 20, 2006 in a league match against C.D. Águila
. Castillo's speed, ball control and exciting dribbling skills quickly made him somewhat of a fan favourite, but unfortunately his first season with his new club saw him play most games off the bench. The following season things got worse for Castillo when he suffered an injury that led to him only being able to play one game the entire tournament. After having to watch most of the entire season from the sidelines, Castillo returned for the following season. This time he was able to prove himself and was consistently part of the clubs starting eleven. This season also saw him score his first Primera División
goal; it came on September 30, 2007 in a league match against Nejapa F.C.
.
for the 2008 Apertura season, after the then C.D. Chalatenango
club president Lisandro Pohl left the club and took all the players that he had helped to sign with him. After much dispute, it was decided that Castillo and the other players that Pohl had signed were eligible to transfer and they all officially became Alianza F.C.
players.
At Alianza F.C.
, Castillo continued to impress and most importantly improved his game to become one of the most, if not the most important players at the club. He scored his first goal with his new club on November 26, 2008 in a league match against C.D. Águila
. After being released from D.C. United
before the end of the 2010 season, Castillo returned to Alianza for the Apertura 2010
.
on a loan basis, the other two were Rodolfo Zelaya
and Julio Enrique Martínez
. On 3 December 2009, it was announced that
Club León
had permanently signed Castillo along with the other two Salvadorans with a three-year contract.
side D.C. United
on loan for the 2010 MLS season. On June 29, 2010, he was released by the club after failing to perform up to the club's hopes. He made a total of 10 league games with the club, and only scored one goal in a U.S. Open Cup
match against FC Dallas
.
. He scored his first goal for the national team on August 14, 2008 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago
. His second goal came almost eight months later on March 28, 2009 when he scored in a World Cup qualification
match against the USA
. His third goal came six months later on September 5, once again, against USA with a header above American goalkeeper Tim Howard
.
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
) is a Salvadoran
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Alianza
Alianza F.C.
Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador...
of the Primera División. He also plays internationally for the El Salvador national team
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
.
Telecom & early career
Castillo began his professional career in 2002 at the age of 18, when he signed with now defunct Segunda DivisiónSegunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño
The Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño is the second level of the El Salvador League System of football. Teams have a chance to gain promotion to the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional. The champions of the Apertura and Clausura play the direct promotion playoff every year. The winner of...
club C.D. Telecom.
Chalatenango
After spending four years with the San SalvadorSan Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
side, Castillo then transferred to C.D. Chalatenango
C.D. Chalatenango
Club Deportivo Chalatenango is a Salvadoran football club. The team is based out of Chalatenango, El Salvador and plays in the Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño, which is the country's second tier league.Their mascot is the Scorpion.-History:...
for the 2006 Apertura season
Primera División de Fútbol Profesional - Apertura 2006
The Primera División de Fútbol Profesional Apertura 2006 season started on August 12, 2006 and concluded on December 17.-Apertura 2006 Teams :-Apertura 2006 Standings:Green indicates Semifinal Berth...
.
He made his Primera División
Primera División de Fútbol Profesional
The Primera División of the ' , more commonly known as La Liga Mayor or La Primera, is the top professional football league in El Salvador. It was established in 1969 and as of 2011 has 10 clubs...
debut on August 20, 2006 in a league match against C.D. Águila
C.D. Águila
Club Deportivo Águila is a Salvadoran football club based in San Miguel. They currently play in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional, and are one of the most prestigious teams in the country along with long-time rivals Club Deportivo FAS...
. Castillo's speed, ball control and exciting dribbling skills quickly made him somewhat of a fan favourite, but unfortunately his first season with his new club saw him play most games off the bench. The following season things got worse for Castillo when he suffered an injury that led to him only being able to play one game the entire tournament. After having to watch most of the entire season from the sidelines, Castillo returned for the following season. This time he was able to prove himself and was consistently part of the clubs starting eleven. This season also saw him score his first Primera División
Primera División de Fútbol Profesional
The Primera División of the ' , more commonly known as La Liga Mayor or La Primera, is the top professional football league in El Salvador. It was established in 1969 and as of 2011 has 10 clubs...
goal; it came on September 30, 2007 in a league match against Nejapa F.C.
Nejapa F.C.
Sponsors:* Front Milan *Caja de Crédito de Quezaltepeque*Tigo*MK medicamentos* CANAL 12 de Televisión*MidesKit Information:Nejapa F.C...
.
Alianza
Controversially, Castillo then transferred to Alianza F.C.Alianza F.C.
Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador...
for the 2008 Apertura season, after the then C.D. Chalatenango
C.D. Chalatenango
Club Deportivo Chalatenango is a Salvadoran football club. The team is based out of Chalatenango, El Salvador and plays in the Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño, which is the country's second tier league.Their mascot is the Scorpion.-History:...
club president Lisandro Pohl left the club and took all the players that he had helped to sign with him. After much dispute, it was decided that Castillo and the other players that Pohl had signed were eligible to transfer and they all officially became Alianza F.C.
Alianza F.C.
Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador...
players.
At Alianza F.C.
Alianza F.C.
Alianza Fútbol Club, also known simply as Alianza, is a football club based in San Salvador, El Salvador. Alianza is one of the most popular and successful clubs in El Salvador...
, Castillo continued to impress and most importantly improved his game to become one of the most, if not the most important players at the club. He scored his first goal with his new club on November 26, 2008 in a league match against C.D. Águila
C.D. Águila
Club Deportivo Águila is a Salvadoran football club based in San Miguel. They currently play in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional, and are one of the most prestigious teams in the country along with long-time rivals Club Deportivo FAS...
. After being released from D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
before the end of the 2010 season, Castillo returned to Alianza for the Apertura 2010
Primera División de Fútbol Profesional - Apertura 2010
The Apertura 2010 season was the 25th edition of El Salvador's Primera Division since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Isidro Metapán, being the defending champions, kept the title as they won the final against Alianza on penalties. The season begun on July 31 and concluded on...
.
León
On 15 June 2009, Castillo was one of the three Salvadoran footballers signed to Mexican club, Club LeónClub León
Club León, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They currently play in the Liga De Ascenso formerly known as "Primera A", the second tier of football in Mexico since their relegation from the Primera Division in 2002.León has won...
on a loan basis, the other two were Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
and Julio Enrique Martínez
Julio Enrique Martínez
Julio Enrique Martínez Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Alianza in the Salvadoran Premier Division.He also plays internationally for the El Salvador national team.-León:...
. On 3 December 2009, it was announced that
Club León
Club León
Club León, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They currently play in the Liga De Ascenso formerly known as "Primera A", the second tier of football in Mexico since their relegation from the Primera Division in 2002.León has won...
had permanently signed Castillo along with the other two Salvadorans with a three-year contract.
D.C. United
Castillo joined Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
side D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
on loan for the 2010 MLS season. On June 29, 2010, he was released by the club after failing to perform up to the club's hopes. He made a total of 10 league games with the club, and only scored one goal in a U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
match against FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
.
International career
Castillo officially received his first cap on April 23, 2008 in a friendly match against ChinaChina national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
. He scored his first goal for the national team on August 14, 2008 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
. His second goal came almost eight months later on March 28, 2009 when he scored in a World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
match against the USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. His third goal came six months later on September 5, once again, against USA with a header above American goalkeeper Tim Howard
Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team....
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | August 14, 2008 | RFK Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United.... , Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
0–1 | 3–1 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 2. | March 28, 2009 | Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio Cuscatlán Monumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000... , San Salvador San Salvador The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador... , El Salvador El Salvador El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America... |
2–0 | 2–2 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified... |
|
| 3. | September 5, 2009 | Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy Sandy, Utah Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah.... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
0–1 | 2–1 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified... |