Juan Carlos Álvarez Cárdenas

Juan Carlos Álvarez Cárdenas (born 14 February 1966) is a Colombian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

Playing career Born in Medellín, Álvarez represented Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín as a youth, but made his senior debut with Cúcuta Deportivo in 1988. After his contract ended in 1989, he worked at the before returning to football in 1991 with Deportivo Rionegro.

Álvarez subsequently played for Deportivo Antioquia, Deportes Quindío and Atlético Bucaramanga before retiring with Cúcuta in 1999.

Álvarez followed Aristizábal's staff to Envigado in 2009, also as an assistant. He led the club to a first-ever promotion to the top tier in 2017,

Álvarez left Leones by mutual consent on 24 August 2018, with the club sitting bottom of the table. In the following year, he rejoined Sarmiento's staff at Unión Magdalena, returning to an assistant role.

In March 2022, Álvarez was appointed manager of the Antioquia regional team. He was also an assistant of Jhon Jaime Gómez at Boyacá Chicó in 2024, before becoming manager of the club on 27 October of that year. Álvarez was sacked by Boyacá Chicó on 23 February 2025.