Álex Aguinaga

Álex Darío Aguinaga Garzón (, born 9 July 1969) is an Ecuadorian former professional football player and manager. A midfielder during his playing career, he is one of the all-time cap leaders for Ecuador with 109 matches, scoring 23 goals. Aguinaga is known as one of the best Ecuadorian men's footballers of all time. On the club level, Aguinaga has played for Deportivo Quito, Necaxa, Cruz Azul and LDU Quito.

Club career

Necaxa

Aguinaga spent the majority of his club career at Necaxa, which he joined in 1989, winning three championships with the club. In 1999 Aguinaga was crucial for Necaxa's first CONCACAF Champions Cup title. Necaxa would go on to participate in the first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup where in the group stage Aguinaga scored against Vasco da Gama, but missed a penalty against Manchester United. He scored in the penalty shootout against Real Madrid in the third place match.

He also holds a Mexican passport. His grandfather is of Spanish descent.

LDU Quito After winning a league title in Ecuador, Aguinaga decided to retire from football.

International career Aguinaga earned his first cap for Ecuador on 5 March 1987. In the same match, he scored his first goal for the team. Over the year, he would form an integral part of the national team. He would captain the team for a number of years and assisted in the goal by Iván Kaviedes that assured Ecuador's first qualification to the FIFA World Cup in 2002, in which he played. This was the only World Cup where Aguinaga participated.

Managerial career Aguinaga's managerial career began in late 2010 as an assistant to Manuel Lapuente at Mexican club América. He left the club in early 2011 when Lapuente was sacked. In March of the same year, he was named to his first full-time managerial post as the new manager of Guayaquil-based club Barcelona following the sacking of Rubén Darío Insúa. In late May of the same year, he resigned from his position to not interfere and influence the club's presidential elections the following month. He has not ruled out a return after the election.

In September 2014, Aguinaga became the manager of Correcaminos UAT, which plays in the Ascenso MX second professional level league of the Mexican football league system.

Personal life Aguinaga's daughter is an actress and has appeared in several Mexican series and telenovelas such as Carita de Ángel and La rosa de Guadalupe.

Career statistics Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aguinaga goal.

Honors

Necaxa Primera División: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1998 Invierno CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup: 1994 Mexican Cup: 1995 Campeón de Campeones: 1995 CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1999 FIFA Club World Cup third place: 2000

LDU Quito Serie A: 2005 Apertura

Ecuador Canada Cup: 1999

Individual Ideal team of South America: 1989 Number 7 retired by Club Necaxa as a recognition to his contribution to the club.