Defender Diego Lugano was one of those who made the football world speak again respectfully about Uruguayan football. Before winning the America’s Cup 2011 and the semifinals of the 2010 world championships, the very first world champions and Olympic champions have not been seen for a long time at the decisive stages of major tournaments.
From Canelones to Sao Paulo
A descendant of Italian immigrants began to play (the name of our hero in this sense is not accidental: Lugano is an Italian-speaking canton in Switzerland) in the hometown of Canelones in the team “Liberty” (“Libertad”). He did not do this for long, because the Uruguayan Nacional quickly took under its wing a talented young man. After him, Diego Lugano's entire career went completely foreign. In the Brazilian São Paulo, he became the "God", almost the same in Turkey. Unfortunately, after the scandal with contractual matches, Fenerbahçe had to leave, and the club career rolled downhill. But the success of the national team of Uruguay was an excellent compensation. Last year, Lugano ended his career as a player, but his name entered the history of Uruguayan, Brazilian and South American football in gold letters.
Dossier
Diego Alfredo Lugano Moreno (Uruguay). Lugano.
Soccer player
The nickname is God (Dios).
Born November 2, 1980 in Canelones.
Anthropometry: 188 cm, 90 kg.
Role: Defender.
Seasons, games, goals:
- 1998-2002 - Nacional (Montevideo, Uruguay) - 98 games, 19 goals.
- 2002 - Plaza Colonia (Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay) - 15 games, 4 goals.
- 2003-06, 2016-17 - São Paulo (Brazil) - 131 games, 10 goals.
- 2006-11 - Fenerbahçe (Istanbul, Turkey) - 158 games, 26 goals.
- 2011-12 - “Paris Saint-Germain” (Paris, France) - 21 games, 1 ball.
- 2012-13 - Malaga (Spain) - 11 games.
- 2013-14 - West Bromwich Albion (England) - 12 games, 1 goal.
- 2015 - Heken (Sweden) - 11 games.
- 2015 - Cerro Porteno (Asuncion, Paraguay) - 16 games, 6 goals.
Achievements:
- Gold of Uruguay 2000, 2001.
- São Paulo State Gold (Brazil) 2005.
- Champion of Brazil 2006.
- Champion of Turkey 2007, 2011.
- Winner of the Turkish Super Cup 2007.
- Winner of the 2005 Libertadores Cup.
- Club World Champion 2005.
- 2011 South American Champion.
- In the national team of the stars of the Brazilian championship 2004, 2005.
- In the symbolic team of the southern part of the American continent 2004, 2005.
- South America's best quarterback 2005.
- The best football player of Uruguay 2006.
- In the symbolic team of the America's Cup 2011.
- Member of the world championships 2010, 2014.
- Member of the America's Cup 2007.
- Member of the Confederations Cup 2013.
Characteristic
He was distinguished by extreme rigidity and intransigence on the field, in a provocative game between defenders and forwards he felt like a fish in water, he perfectly chose a position during defense, often took the ball one-on-one from an opponent, and if necessary he could play an exemplary role as a cleaner. He had leadership qualities, the ability to make partners to fight, including his own example. Negative qualities: being carried away by the struggle and being quick-tempered by nature, crossed the line permitted by the rules. That's why during his career he collected a considerable collection of yellow and red cards.
Personal life
Lugano has two sons - Nicholas, Thiago, and daughter Bianca. Married to Uruguayan Carina Roncio.