Martín Ligüera
Encyclopedia
Martín Ligüera, full name Martín Ricardo Ligüera López (born 9 November 1980 in Montevideo
) is a Uruguay
an footballer
. He currently plays for Unión Española
of Chile
as an attacking midfielder.
. However it was his play with Fénix
in which he scored 33 goals in 53 first division matches, which started to draw him interest from European clubs. While at Fénix
his play helped convert the small Montevideo side into the revelation of the Uruguayan First division. They qualified for the 2003 Copa Libertadores, in which they had a famous 6-1 victory over Mexican side Cruz Azul with Ligüera tallying 3 goals.
Ligüera's contract was purchased by La Liga
side Mallorca
. His stay at the club was short-lived due to foreign player restrictions. Ligüera played one game in La Liga
for Mallorca
, against Sevilla FC
, on 21 September 2003. He also scored in the Copa del Rey
, and appeared in three UEFA Cup
matches for Mallorca, starting in two of those matches. In January 2004, due to the arrival of Andrija Delibasic
, he was loaned out to Grasshopper-Club Zürich
in order give the non-EU seat.
After the 2004 campaign, Ligüera returned to Uruguay and Nacional
to help lead the club to a league title. His play once began to draw the interest of other South American clubs, resulting in stints with San Luis in Mexico and Peruvian powerhouse Alianza Lima
. While at Alianza, Martin helped the club win a Peruvian League title and participated in the Copa Libertadores.
In 2009, he signed for Club Olimpia of Paraguay.
full international, he also played at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He has represented his country 17 times, scoring 7 times, including a hat-trick on August 15, 2003 in a 5-2 victory over Iran.
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
) is a Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He currently plays for Unión Española
Unión Española
Club Unión Española S.A.D.P is a professional Chilean football based in Independencia, Santiago de Chile. Founded by a Spanish immigrants on 18 May 1897, Unión Española have participated in the top-tier of Chilean football for all of their existence but two seasons in the late '90s .Unión Española...
of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
as an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Ligüera made his first division debut in 1997 for Uruguayan power NacionalClub Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
. However it was his play with Fénix
Centro Atlético Fénix
Centro Atlético Fénix are a sports club from Montevideo in Uruguay. They currently play in the Uruguayan 1st Division. Fénix is one of the most popular and traditional teams of Uruguay's 2nd Division, along with Racing Club de Montevideo, who are their all-time rivals.-History:The club were founded...
in which he scored 33 goals in 53 first division matches, which started to draw him interest from European clubs. While at Fénix
Centro Atlético Fénix
Centro Atlético Fénix are a sports club from Montevideo in Uruguay. They currently play in the Uruguayan 1st Division. Fénix is one of the most popular and traditional teams of Uruguay's 2nd Division, along with Racing Club de Montevideo, who are their all-time rivals.-History:The club were founded...
his play helped convert the small Montevideo side into the revelation of the Uruguayan First division. They qualified for the 2003 Copa Libertadores, in which they had a famous 6-1 victory over Mexican side Cruz Azul with Ligüera tallying 3 goals.
Ligüera's contract was purchased by 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...
side Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
. His stay at the club was short-lived due to foreign player restrictions. Ligüera played one game in 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...
for Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, against Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, on 21 September 2003. He also scored in the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, and appeared in three UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
matches for Mallorca, starting in two of those matches. In January 2004, due to the arrival of Andrija Delibasic
Andrija Delibašic
Andrija Delibašić is a Montenegrin footballer who plays for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, as a striker.-Club career:...
, he was loaned out to Grasshopper-Club Zürich
Grasshopper-Club Zürich
Grasshopper Club Zürich commonly referred to as simply GC, GCZ, or Grasshopper is a Swiss multisports club based in Zürich. The oldest and best known section of Grasshopper Club Zürich is its football team...
in order give the non-EU seat.
After the 2004 campaign, Ligüera returned to Uruguay and Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
to help lead the club to a league title. His play once began to draw the interest of other South American clubs, resulting in stints with San Luis in Mexico and Peruvian powerhouse Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
. While at Alianza, Martin helped the club win a Peruvian League title and participated in the Copa Libertadores.
In 2009, he signed for Club Olimpia of Paraguay.
National team
A UruguayUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
full international, he also played at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
. He has represented his country 17 times, scoring 7 times, including a hat-trick on August 15, 2003 in a 5-2 victory over Iran.