Júnior Díaz (footballer, born 1983) facts for kids
![]() Díaz before a match against Mexico at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Júnior Enrique Díaz Campbell | ||
Date of birth | 12 September 1983 | ||
Place of birth | Heredia, Costa Rica | ||
Height | 1.85 m | ||
Playing position | Left-back | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
2003–2007 | Herediano | 129 | (10) |
2008–2010 | Wisła Kraków | 66 | (5) |
2010–2012 | Club Brugge | 13 | (0) |
2011–2012 | → Wisła Kraków (loan) | 20 | (1) |
2012–2015 | Mainz 05 | 57 | (2) |
2015–2016 | Darmstadt 98 | 12 | (0) |
2016–2017 | Würzburger Kickers | 24 | (0) |
2017–2019 | Herediano | 49 | (2) |
2019–2021 | LD Alajuelense | 58 | (2) |
National team | |||
2002 | Costa Rica U20 | 6 | (0) |
2003–2004 | Costa Rica U23 | 17 | (4) |
2003–2016 | Costa Rica | 81 | (1) |
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Júnior Enrique Díaz Campbell, born on September 12, 1983, is a former professional football player from Costa Rica. He was known for playing as a left-back. Júnior Díaz also proudly represented his home country as part of the Costa Rica national team. At one point, FIFA even named him the fastest player at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, reaching a top speed of 33.8 kilometers per hour!
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Playing for Different Clubs
Júnior Díaz began his football journey in his hometown of Heredia, Costa Rica, playing for a team called Herediano. In January 2008, he moved to Europe to join a Polish club called Wisła Kraków.
Later, in September 2010, he joined the Belgian club Club Brugge. After that, in the summer of 2012, he moved to Germany to play for FSV Mainz in the top German league, the Bundesliga.
In 2015, after three years with Mainz, Díaz joined Darmstadt 98. This team had just been promoted to the Bundesliga for the 2015–16 season.
Playing for His Country
Júnior Díaz made his first appearance for the Costa Rica national team in a friendly match against China on September 7, 2003. He played in one match at the Copa América 2004 tournament. He also played in all four matches when Costa Rica won the UNCAF Nations Cup 2005 tournament. Díaz also appeared in one game at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup finals.
Díaz was part of the Costa Rica national team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Ten years later, he was a key player in the team that reached the quarterfinals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was very important in the victory against Italy. He made a great cross that helped Bryan Ruiz score the only goal of the match with a header. Díaz later said that many people would remember his career for that one important cross.
His Life Off the Field
Júnior Díaz is the son of a former Costa Rica international footballer, Enrique Díaz. His mother is Yamileth Campbell. His parents separated when he was 12 years old. He has two brothers named Jefferson and Reydel.
Football Achievements
Júnior Díaz has won several important titles during his career:
With Wisła Kraków
- Ekstraklasa (Polish League): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
With Alajuelense
- Liga FPD (Costa Rican League): Apertura 2020
- CONCACAF League: 2018, 2020
With the National Team
- UNCAF Nations Cup: 2005
See also
In Spanish: Júnior Díaz para niños