Diego Martínez
Encyclopedia
Diego Alfonso Martínez Balderas (born February 15, 1981 in Mexico City
, Mexico
) is a football defender
. He plays for CF La Piedad, on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara in the Primera Division de Mexico
.
. His ability to attack made him a fan favorite and quickly earned him a starting position. He signed with Chivas in 2006, where he immediately became an important part of the team.
Martínez usually played in the right wingback
position with Chivas, providing the team with crosses and through passes in the attack. However, he excelled more in his defending duties.
Martínez lost favor with Chivas and has been out on loan with Morelia, Tigres, CF Monterrey, San Luis, Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, and most recently on CF La Piedad.
during the 2004 Olympic Trials. He received his first summons for the senior Mexican National Football Team
in 2003. Martínez was called upon by former Mexico
coach Ricardo Antonio Lavolpe on several occasions in search for the team that would play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
.
| 1. || March 10, 2004 || Tuxtla Gutierrez
, Mexico
|| || 2–1 || Win || Friendly
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 2. || March 31, 2004 || Carson
, United States || || 2–0 || Win || Friendly
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 3. || October 26, 2005 || Guadalajara
, Mexico
|| || 3–1 || Win ||Friendly
|}
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) is a football defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He plays for CF La Piedad, on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara in the Primera Division de Mexico
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
.
Biography
Martínez made his debut in the Invierno 2001 season with NecaxaNecaxa
Necaxa is a Mexican football club and is based in the city of Aguascalientes. it plays in the Estadio Victoria. Necaxa is ranked seventh overall and 1st in ranking in Mexican football within the IFFHS Central and North America's Clubs of the Century in the CONCACAF behind CD Saprissa San Juan de...
. His ability to attack made him a fan favorite and quickly earned him a starting position. He signed with Chivas in 2006, where he immediately became an important part of the team.
Martínez usually played in the right wingback
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
position with Chivas, providing the team with crosses and through passes in the attack. However, he excelled more in his defending duties.
Martínez lost favor with Chivas and has been out on loan with Morelia, Tigres, CF Monterrey, San Luis, Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, and most recently on CF La Piedad.
International career
Martínez has played in several national Mexican youth teams, and was captain of the Mexican U-23 TeamMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
during the 2004 Olympic Trials. He received his first summons for the senior Mexican National Football Team
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in 2003. Martínez was called upon by former Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
coach Ricardo Antonio Lavolpe on several occasions in search for the team that would play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
International goals
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF| 1. || March 10, 2004 || Tuxtla Gutierrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is considered to be the state’s most modern city, with most of its public buildings dating from the 20th century. One exception to this is the San Marcos Cathedral which began as a Dominican parish church built in...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
|| || 2–1 || Win || 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...
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 2. || March 31, 2004 || Carson
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, United States || || 2–0 || Win || Friendly
|- bgcolor=#DFE7FF
| 3. || October 26, 2005 || Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
|| || 3–1 || Win ||Friendly
|}