Diego Martínez (footballer, born 1981)

Diego Alfonso Martínez Balderas (born February 15, 1981 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a former football defender.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Martínez and the second or maternal family name is Balderas.
Diego Martínez
Personal information
Full name Diego Alfonso Martínez Balderas
Date of birth (1981-02-15) 15 February 1981
Place of birth Mexico City, México
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Right-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2006 Club Necaxa 147 (17)
2006–2012 Guadalajara 62 (3)
2007 → Morelia (loan) 21 (0)
2008 → U.A.N.L. (loan) 19 (0)
2009 → C.F. Monterrey (loan) 15 (0)
2010 → San Luis (loan) 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Veracruz (loan) ? (0)
2011 → La Piedad (loan) 0 (0)
2013 Querétaro 0 (0)
National team‡
2003–2009 Mexico 12 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 March 2015
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 January 2009

Biography

Martínez made his debut in the Invierno 2001 season with Necaxa. 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 was sent out on loan with various teams such as Morelia, Tigres, C.F. Monterrey, San Luis, Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, and most recently CF La Piedad, until July 2012, when he received a second shot with Chivas, which included Diego in the squad for the next Apertura tournament. He was then released from his contract and he signed with Querétaro. He was only featured in the Copa MX. After his release of yet another team, Martínez chose to retire. In 2014, he joined an organization named Glorias del Deporte, aimed to get kids to play football and get away from drugs. He is one of the head coaches, and the organization travels all over Mexico.

International career

Martínez has played in several national Mexican youth teams, and was captain of the Mexican National U-23 Team during the 2004 Olympic Trials. He received his first summons for the senior Mexico national team in 2003. Martínez was called upon by former Mexico national team coach Ricardo Antonio Lavolpe on several occasions in search for the team that would play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
1.March 10, 2004Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico Ecuador2–1WinFriendly
2.March 31, 2004Carson, California, United States Costa Rica2–0WinFriendly
3.October 26, 2005Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Uruguay3–1WinFriendly

International caps

As of 28 January 2009

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