Diego Mateo
Encyclopedia
Diego Mateo Alustiza is an Argentine
footballer who plays for Newell's Old Boys
as a defensive midfielder.
, where he made over 100 overall appearances, scoring four goals in the top division. In 2000 he joined U.S. Lecce
in Italy
, but left the club after appearing in only one fourth of the Serie A
games during the season, with the Apulia
side narrowly avoiding relegation.
In 2001, Mateo moved to Spain
, where he would spend a great portion of his career: first, he was instrumental in helping Racing de Santander
return to La Liga
, scoring four times in 32 matches, and being relatively used in the following two top flight campaigns. In January 2005, he moved again to the second division
, playing for Real Valladolid
.
Mateo returned to Argentina for a spell at San Lorenzo de Almagro, then went again to Spain and its second level, signing with Hércules CF
. He then played two years in his country with Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
but, after the side's relegation in 2009, the 31-year old returned to his first club Newell's.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
footballer who plays for Newell's Old Boys
Newell's Old Boys
Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys is an Argentine sports club based in Rosario. The club was founded on November 3, 1903, and is named after Isaac Newell, one of the pioneers of Argentine football...
as a defensive midfielder.
Football career
Mateo started his professional career in 1996 with Newell's Old BoysNewell's Old Boys
Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys is an Argentine sports club based in Rosario. The club was founded on November 3, 1903, and is named after Isaac Newell, one of the pioneers of Argentine football...
, where he made over 100 overall appearances, scoring four goals in the top division. In 2000 he joined U.S. Lecce
U.S. Lecce
Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, but left the club after appearing in only one fourth of the Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
games during the season, with the Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
side narrowly avoiding relegation.
In 2001, Mateo moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he would spend a great portion of his career: first, he was instrumental in helping Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
return to La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, scoring four times in 32 matches, and being relatively used in the following two top flight campaigns. In January 2005, he moved again to the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, playing for Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
.
Mateo returned to Argentina for a spell at San Lorenzo de Almagro, then went again to Spain and its second level, signing with Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
. He then played two years in his country with Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy
Club Atlético Gimnasia y Esgrima is an Argentine sports club based in San Salvador, Jujuy Province...
but, after the side's relegation in 2009, the 31-year old returned to his first club Newell's.