Cristian Gonzáles

Cristian Gérard Alfaro Gonzáles (born 30 August 1976) is a Uruguayan-born Indonesian professional footballer who played as a striker. He has been 4 times Liga Indonesia top scorer and has scored 249 goals in the Liga Indonesia. In his early career he played along with Álvaro Recoba in the Uruguay U20.[2] As of 3 November 2010, he officially holds an Indonesian passport and has become the first naturalized player to be called up to the Indonesian national team.

Cristian Gonzáles
Personal information
Full name Cristian Gérard Alfaro Gonzáles
Date of birth (1976-08-30) 30 August 1976
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1999 Sud América 13 (1)
1997 → Huracán Corrientes (loan) 3 (0)
2000–2002 Deportivo Maldonado 22 (1)
2003–2004 PSM Makassar 56 (32)
2005–2008 Persik Kediri 95 (102)
2009–2011 Persib Bandung 64 (41)
2011–2012 Putra Samarinda 32 (18)
2013–2017 Arema 119 (59)
2018 Madura United 1 (0)
2018–2019 PSS Sleman 19 (15)
2019–2020 PSIM Yogyakarta 17 (9)
National team‡
1994–1996 Uruguay U20 25 (15)
2010–2015 Indonesia 29 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 October 2019[1]
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 December 2015

Career in South America

Sud América

In 1995, he joined the Uruguayan club Sud América. During the 28 months there, he played only once, scoring no goals.

Huracán Corrientes

He was loaned to Huracán Corrientes where he played three times without scoring a goal.

Back to Sud América

After being loaned to Huracán Corrientes, he went back to Sud America in the starting lineup. He played 12 times and scored one goal.

Deportivo Maldonado

In 2000, on expiry of his contract, he moved to Deportivo Maldonado on a free transfer. He played 22 times and scored one goal.

Career in Indonesia

PSM Makassar

He started playing in Indonesia in 2003, joining PSM Makassar. In that season he scored 27 goals. PSM won the Liga Indonesia in that season. He was fined Rp20 million for hitting one of the officials from Persita Tangerang and was suspended.

Persik Kediri

Free from suspension, he joined and led Persik Kediri to become champions of Liga Indonesia in 2006. In 2008, he was sentenced to suspension by the PSSI for unsportsmanlike behaviour. A financial crisis at Persik Kediri led Persik management to rationalize salaries. Gonzáles was one of the few players who was against the decision and looked for another club.

Persib Bandung

On 30 January 2009, Persib Bandung management announced that they had recruited Gonzáles with remission from PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid. Gonzáles was contracted as a loan from Persik Kediri and was paid 60 million rupiahs per month by Persib Bandung.

He debuted as a starter in the Super League for Persib against Persipura Jayapura in a 1–1 draw thanks to a goal he scored. In 2008, he played 16 times in the League and scored 14 goals, making Gonzáles a top scorer in the Super League.

After his contract at Persik Kediri expired, he was immediately hired by Persib Bandung. In the 2009–10 pre-season, he scored a goal for Persib in the East Java Government Cup. In the 2009–10 season, he scored 51 goals.

Persisam Putra Samarinda

In September 2011, he joined Persisam.

Arema FC

After his contract at Persisam Samarinda expired. He joined Arema Cronus and wore number 10.

International career

Although Gonzales began his career in Indonesia as an Uruguayan, he became an Indonesian national on 3 November 2010 after a six-year wait, including not going home to his father's funeral.[3] He is the first naturalised football player in Indonesia and the first to join the Indonesia national football team. His debut with the national team was on 21 November 2010, in a friendly game against Timor-Leste, where he scored twice in a 6–0 win.[4]

International goals
Score and Result list Indonesia'a goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
1.21 November 2010Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium, Palembang, Indonesia Timor-Leste
3–0
6–0
Friendly
2.
4–0
3.24 November 2010Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium, Palembang, Indonesia Chinese Taipei
1–0
2–0
Friendly
4.1 December 2010Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Tanah Abang, Indonesia Malaysia
2–1
5–1
2010 AFF Championship
5.16 December 2010Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia Philippines
0–1
0–1
6.19 December 2010Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia Philippines
1–0
1–0
7.28 July 2011Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia Turkmenistan
1–0
4–3
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.
2–0
9.22 August 2011Manahan Stadium, Surakarta, Indonesia Palestine
2–1
4–1
Friendly
10.11 October 2011Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia Qatar
1–1
2–3
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification[lower-alpha 1]
11.
2–2
—21 June 2014Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo, Indonesia Pakistan
1–0
4–0
Unofficial friendly
12.30 March 2015Gelora Delta Stadium, Sidoarjo, Indonesia Myanmar
2–0
2–1
Friendly
  1. Different qualification round as to goals 7 and 8.

Personal life

Gonzáles was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. He married his wife, Eva Nurida Siregar, in 1995 and has 4 children. On 9 October 2003, he converted to Islam and chose Mustafa Habibi as his Islamic name. He gained an Indonesian passport in 2010. Gonzáles also appeared in Indonesian soap operas and television commercials.

Controversies

Gonzáles is known for his temper, and has been reprimanded by the PSSI on a number of occasions.[5][6]

Trivia

He is one of the most lethal strikers in the history of the Indonesian football competition. His ability to kick, head, score, and in positioning and game vision are renowned, and he has a strong physique.

When playing in Uruguay, he was an attacking midfielder. He was not at his best before finally moving to Indonesia and joining PSM Makassar as a striker. Since then he has proved his quality as a powerful striker.

Cristian Gonzales is a popular figure among Indonesians and has starred in commercials speaking Bahasa Indonesia.

In 2006, he was the most expensive player in the Liga Indonesia according to the data from the Indonesian Football Association at Rp 1.2 billion[7]

On 21 November 2010 Cristian Gonzales debuted as a member of Indonesia's national football team in a game against Timor Leste scoring two goals, and has now joined Indonesia's core national football team in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.

Honours

Club
Persik Kediri
  • Liga Indonesia: 2006
Arema
PSS Sleman

International
Indonesia

Individual
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References
  1. "Indonesia - C. Gonzáles". id.soccerway.com.
  2. "Persib News - Goal.com".
  3. "Gonzales Siap Bela Merah Putih". 6 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  4. Media, Kompas Cyber. ""El Loco" Dua Gol, Indonesia Bantai Timor Leste 6-0 - Kompas.com".
  5. Media, Kompas Cyber. "Christian Gonzales Diizinkan Bela Persib - Kompas.com".
  6. "BLI Izinkan Gonzales Bela Persib - Goal.com". 6 February 2009.
  7. BOLA 1652th Edition, 2006.
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