Diego Martín Alonso López (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈdjeɣoaˈlonso]; born 16 April 1975) is a Uruguayan professional
footballmanager and former player who played as a
striker.
Other than in his own country, he played football in Argentina, Spain, Mexico and China in a 16-year career, notably winning the
2001–02 Segunda División with
Atlético Madrid while being crowned top scorer. He represented
Uruguay at the
1999 Copa América.
Alonso began working as a coach in 2011, being in charge of clubs in Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico and the United States and leading
Pachuca to the
2016 Clausura and the
2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League titles. In December 2021, he was appointed at the Uruguay national side, coaching them at the
2022 World Cup and leaving his position following a group stage exit. In October 2023, he signed for
Sevilla, being dismissed two months later.
Playing career
Club
Alonso was born in
Montevideo, the country's capital. He made his professional debut with
Bella Vista where he remained four seasons, helping the side to the
Uruguayan Segunda División title in 1997.[2]
After a brief spell in Argentina for
Gimnasia La Plata (he would also represent the club towards the end of his career), Alonso moved to Spain, where he played with five teams in as many years:
Valencia,[3]Atlético Madrid (where he scored 22 goals in
2001–02's
Segunda División, helping the Colchoneros to return to
La Liga and forming an efficient attacking partnership with countryman
Fernando Correa, who added 13),[4][5]Racing de Santander,
Málaga[6] and
Real Murcia,[7] where he did not have a good scoring record overall. In between his fourth and fifth club, he played one year in Mexico with
UNAM.[2]
In 2006, the 31-year-old Alonso returned to his country and joined hometown's
Nacional. However, shortly after, he moved abroad again, signing with
Shanghai Shenhua in the
Chinese Super League; after two seasons with Gimnasia, the veteran switched to
Peñarol.[8]
Alonso was chosen for the nation's squad for
that year's
Copa América, and scored on his quarter-final
penalty shootout attempt (5–3 victory) for the eventual runners-up, also against Paraguay, the hosts.[10] In spite of his season with Atlético he was not selected for the
2002 FIFA World Cup, and subsequently criticised manager
Víctor Púa.[11]
Coaching career
Early career
Alonso started working as a manager in 2011, being in charge in quick succession of Bella Vista,
Guaraní, Peñarol and
Olimpia (the second and fourth sides from the
Paraguayan Primera División).[12]
On 2 June 2018, Alonso was named coach of
Monterrey.[17] In May of the following year, after the 2–1 aggregate victory over
Tigres UANL in the
Champions League final,[18][19] he became the first manager to win the competition with two different clubs.[20] On 30 September 2019, following a 2–0 loss to the same opposition that left his team in 12th place on the general table, he was dismissed.[21]
Inter Miami
On 30 December 2019, Alonso was announced as the inaugural head coach of
Major League Soccer side
Inter Miami.[22][23] On 7 January 2021, he left by mutual consent.[24]
Uruguay national team
Alonso was appointed manager of Uruguay on 14 December 2021, replacing
Óscar Tabárez who had occupied the position for the previous 15 years.[25] On 24 March 2022, after four wins in his first four games in charge, he
secured qualification for the
World Cup in Qatar.[26] In December, after failing to progress from the group stage in the finals, he presented his resignation and cited his desire to return to club duties.[27][28]
Sevilla
On 10 October 2023, Alonso was named manager of
Sevilla, replacing
José Luis Mendilibar;[29] the team stood 14th in the table at the time of his arrival.[30] On 16 December, having failed to win once in eight league matches and been eliminated from the
UEFA Champions League group stage
as last, he was dismissed.[31]
Personal life
Alonso is a cousin of
Iván Alonso, who also played several years in Spain, mainly with
Alavés.[32]
^Pallarés, Pepe; Calleja, José Luis (19 July 2005).
"El fichaje de Samuel, del Sporting, se aplaza" [Signing of Samuel, from Sporting, postponed]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish).
Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
^"Alonso fue presentado en Peñarol" [Alonso was presented at Peñarol] (in Spanish). Fútbol Uruguay. 31 July 2009.
Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
^"Despiden a Diego Alonso de Monterrey" [Diego Alonso is dismissed from Monterrey]. Milenio (in Spanish). 30 September 2019.
Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^Ros, Cayetano; Villalba, Juan M. (8 February 2001).
"Primos hermanos bajo distinta bandera" [First cousins under a different flag]. El País (in Spanish).
Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2016.