Manfred Ugalde facts for kids
Ugalde celebrating the CONCACAF League with Saprissa in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 May 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Heredia, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.73 m | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Spartak Moscow | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2019–2020 | Saprissa | 37 | (13) |
| 2020–2023 | Lommel | 22 | (11) |
| 2021–2023 | → Twente (loan) | 49 | (11) |
| 2023–2024 | Twente | 18 | (7) |
| 2024– | Spartak Moscow | 30 | (15) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2018–2019 | Costa Rica U17 | 5 | (3) |
| 2020– | Costa Rica U23 | 3 | (1) |
| 2020– | Costa Rica | 18 | (3) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Manfred Ugalde is a talented professional footballer from Costa Rica. He was born on May 25, 2002. Manfred plays as a forward, which means he is usually focused on scoring goals for his team. Currently, he plays for Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow and is also a member of the Costa Rica national team.
Contents
Manfred's Club Career Journey
Manfred Ugalde started his professional football journey in Costa Rica.
Starting Strong at Saprissa
Manfred began playing for Saprissa in early 2019. He quickly showed his skills by scoring two goals in a game against Belmopan Bandits in the CONCACAF League. This was on July 31, 2019.
Later that year, on October 21, he scored his first "hat-trick" (three goals in one game) in a big 6–0 win against Limón. His amazing performance in the 2019 CONCACAF League earned him the award for the Best Younger Player. He scored four goals in seven matches during that tournament.
Moving to Europe: Belgium and Netherlands
In July 2020, Manfred signed a contract with City Football Group. This led him to join Lommel, a club in Belgium. He played there for a season, gaining more experience.
Then, on June 25, 2021, Manfred moved to the Netherlands to play for Eredivisie team Twente. He first joined them on a loan deal for one season. His performance was good, so the loan was extended for another year, covering the 2022–23 season.
Because he played so well, FC Twente decided to sign him permanently on July 6, 2023. He signed a four-year contract with the club.
New Chapter in Russia: Spartak Moscow
On January 29, 2024, Manfred made another big move in his career. He joined Spartak Moscow, a well-known club in the Russian Premier League. He signed a contract for four and a half years.
He quickly became a key player for Spartak Moscow. On November 23, 2024, he scored an incredible four goals in a 5–2 victory against Lokomotiv Moscow. This amazing performance helped him become the top goal scorer in the league with 12 goals. By the time the Russian season took a winter break in December, he had scored 15 goals.
Playing for Costa Rica's National Team
Manfred Ugalde also represents his home country, Costa Rica, on the international stage.
Senior Debut and Challenges
He made his first appearance for the Costa Rica senior team on February 1, 2020. This was in a game against the United States.
In September 2021, Manfred decided to take a break from playing for the national team. This happened after some disagreements with the coach at the time, Luis Fernando Suárez.
Return and First International Goal
After the coach changed, Manfred Ugalde was called back to play for Costa Rica in August 2023. He accepted the invitation from the new interim coach, Claudio Vivas.
On September 8, 2023, during a friendly match against Saudi Arabia, Manfred scored his very first goal for his country! His goal helped Costa Rica win the game 3–1. He has continued to score important goals for Costa Rica since his return.
Manfred's Achievements and Awards
Manfred Ugalde has won several awards and trophies throughout his career.
Team Trophies
- Saprissa
- Liga FPD: Clausura 2020 (This is a league championship in Costa Rica)
- CONCACAF League: 2019 (A big tournament for clubs in North and Central America and the Caribbean)
Individual Awards
- CONCACAF League Best Young Player: 2019
- Eredivisie Talent of the Month: March 2023
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: March 2023, October 2023
- Russian Premier League Player of the Month: November/December 2024
