Cristián Álvarez

Cristián Andrés Álvarez Valenzuela (born 20 January 1980) is a Chilean former footballer, who played as a defender.

Club career Universidad Catolica As a child, Álvarez and his twin brother, Iván, played at Escuela de Fútbol Municipal de Curicó (Municipal Football Academy of Curicó), later named Juventud 2000, founded by their father Luis Hernán. He arrived in 1993 to prove to Universidad Católica next to his twin brother Iván, after the pickers of the UC saw him play in a championship in his native Curicó. He spent three years traveling to Santiago to train and play for the Crusaders, it was not until 1996 that he finally moved to live in Santiago.

For 1997 made his debut in the Professional Squad, he played 31 minutes with just 17 years in the 4–0 win against Colo-Colo (in that duel lined up youths due to a footballers' strike). he played 78 games and scored 19 goals, despite being a right-back.

International career His first match with River Plate was on 7 August 2005 in the 2–0 victory against Tiro Federal. In 2007 moved Alvarez to Beitar Jerusalem. In a match against Maccabi Netanya Alvarez scored a goal from 35 meters which is nominated to be goals of the year. After two years in Israel with Beitar Jerusalem left on 19 August 2009 his club and signed for Chiapas for one season.

back to Universidad Catolica

In 2011, Álvarez returned to his home club, Universidad Católica, Where he shared the captaincy of the team with his lifelong friend Milovan Mirosevic.

Cristian Was the captain in 2016, historical year of Universidad Catolica, where they achieved the first bicampeonato in the history of the club, in addition to winning the Super Cup against the archrival Universidad de Chile.

In May 2017, Christian renewed for 6 months more with the club, announcing his retirement in the month of December.

In November 2018, Christian play his last game in San Carlos de Apoquindo, saying goodbye to the public that cheered his name

International career Álvarez and his twin brother, Iván, represented Chile at under-17 level in both the 1997 South American Championship and the 1997 FIFA World Championship. In addition, represented Chile U20 in the 1999 South American Championship in Argentina.

He competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney representing Chile and won the bronze medal. Previously, he took part in the 2000 Pre-Olympic Tournament.

His debut with the Chilean senior team was in 2000 against Ecuador during qualifications for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He has 24 caps for his country.

Coaching career Álvarez graduated as a Football Manager at the (National Football Institute) in 2017. Since 2018 he has worked for Universidad Católica, mainly as a technical consultant, but in 2022 he assumed as coach of youth levels.

He has also been in charge of a football academy in Curicó affiliated to Universidad Católica, just like another former players such as René Valenzuela, Carlos Verdugo, Luciano Saavedra, Ian Mac-Niven, among others.

Personal life He is nicknamed Huaso, like the traditional countryman of the Central Chile, due to the fact his birthplace is Curicó, a city in the Maule Region.

His father, Luis Hernán, was the top goalscorer of the 1963 Primera División de Chile playing for Colo-Colo, becoming an idol for the club. His twin brother, Iván, is a former footballer and coincided with Cristián at both Universidad Católica and Chile at under-17 level.

Honours Club Universidad Católica Primera División de Chile (5): 2002–A, 2005–C, 2016–C, 2016–A, 2018 Copa Chile (1): 2011 Supercopa de Chile (1): 2016

Beitar Jerusalem Israeli Premier League (2): 2007–08 Israeli Cup (2): 2008, 2009

International Summer Olympic Games: Bronze Medal in Sydney's 2000 Football Championship