Marcelo Díaz facts for kids
Díaz in 2023
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 December 1986 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Santiago, Chile | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.65 m | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Central midfielder | |||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Universidad de Chile | |||||||||||||||
| Number | 21 | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Universidad de Chile | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2012 | Universidad de Chile | 164 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| 2010 | → Deportes La Serena (loan) | 13 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Basel | 58 | (7) | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | Hamburger SV | 19 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Celta Vigo | 40 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Pumas UNAM | 31 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Racing Club | 36 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Libertad | 21 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | Audax Italiano | 21 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2024– | Universidad de Chile | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Chile U20 | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2011–2017 | Chile | 61 | (1) | |||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Marcelo Alfonso Díaz Rojas (born 30 December 1986) is a Chilean professional footballer. He plays as a central midfielder for Chilean Primera División team Universidad de Chile.
Díaz grew up in the youth academy of Universidad de Chile. He joined the main team when he was 18. He played over 150 games for the club. He helped them win five titles, including three national championships in a row. He also won the 2011 Copa Sudamericana, which was the club's first international title.
In 2012, he moved to the Swiss team Basel. There, he won two league titles in a row. Later, in 2015, he joined Hamburger SV.
Díaz has played over 60 games for the Chile national team since 2011. He played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also helped Chile win the 2015 Copa América, where he was named one of the best players in the tournament.
People sometimes call Díaz "South American Xavi". This is because he is very good at controlling the ball and passing it. In June 2015, he scored a very important free-kick goal. This goal helped Hamburger SV avoid being moved down to a lower league. Many fans think it was one of the most important goals in the club's long history.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Universidad de Chile
Early Days and First Steps
Marcelo Díaz started his football journey at the Universidad de Chile youth academy. He was quickly accepted by the coach, Jorge Cabrera. Marcelo felt lucky to join the club, as he saw himself as a quiet player. He moved up through all the youth teams, often playing as a playmaker.
In 2004, when he was 18, he joined the main team. However, he did not play in any matches that year. The next season, in 2005, Díaz played his first professional game. It was a 3–2 loss against Everton. In 2006, he played 29 games in total for the club.
Becoming a Key Player
In 2008, Díaz started playing more often. He scored his first goal for Universidad de Chile on 23 March in a 3–2 loss to Huachipato. He played 36 games that year. Later, a new coach, Sergio Markarián, used Díaz as a left back instead of an attacking midfielder.
In January 2009, he scored his first international goal in a 1–0 win against Pachuca. In the first half of that year, he won his first title, the Apertura Tournament. His team won by beating Unión Española 1–0 in the final.
In 2010, Díaz went on loan to Deportes La Serena. There, he played as an attacking midfielder again. He scored his first goal for them in his third game. He even scored two goals in one match against Everton. After his loan, the new coach for Universidad de Chile, Jorge Sampaoli, wanted him back.
Breakthrough Success
In 2011, Díaz started as a substitute but soon became a regular player. He scored a fantastic free-kick goal from far away in a 7–1 win. After a teammate left, Díaz took over his position as a central midfielder with a more defensive role. He became one of the team's most important players.
His great performances helped him get noticed by the national team coach, Claudio Borghi. In October, Díaz played a key role in a historic 4–0 win against Flamengo in the 2011 Copa Sudamericana. He scored the only goal in the return game, winning the man of the match award.
He continued to play well in the Copa Sudamericana. He helped his team reach the final and win the tournament. Universidad de Chile had a very successful year, winning three titles. Díaz was a key part of this success.
In 2012, Díaz turned down an offer from another club to stay and play in the 2012 Copa Libertadores. He scored a penalty goal in the first game of the season. He also had an amazing game against Colo-Colo, scoring one goal and setting up three others in a 5–0 win. In May, it was announced that Díaz would move to Basel in Switzerland.
Playing for FC Basel
After winning the Apertura with Universidad de Chile, Díaz joined the Swiss team Basel in the summer of 2012. He signed a four-year contract. He played his first game for Basel on 17 July in a Champions League qualifier. He scored his first goal for Basel from a free-kick on 24 July.
At the end of the 2012–13 season, he won the league title with Basel. They also reached the final of the Swiss Cup but lost. Basel played in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League and reached the semi-finals. They were beaten by Chelsea, who went on to win the competition.
In the 2013–14 season, Díaz won his second league championship with Basel. They also reached the Swiss Cup final again but lost. Basel played in the Champions League and then the Europa League, reaching the quarter-finals.
The 2014–15 season was not as good for Díaz. Even though Basel won the league, Díaz did not play as much. He decided to leave the club during the winter break. He played a total of 118 games for Basel and scored 15 goals.
Time in Germany and Spain
On 2 February 2015, Díaz signed with the German club Hamburger SV. On 1 June 2015, he scored his first goal for the club. This goal was in a special play-off game to avoid being moved down to a lower league. His free-kick goal in the 91st minute helped save Hamburg from being relegated for the first time ever. Many fans remember this as one of the most important goals in the club's history.
In January 2016, Díaz moved to the Spanish team Celta de Vigo. He scored his first goal for them on 16 April 2017. In August 2017, Díaz left Celta.
Later Career Moves
On 17 August 2017, Díaz signed with Liga MX team Pumas UNAM in Mexico.
In June 2021, he joined Libertad in Paraguay. He helped them win the 2022 Apertura title.
In 2023, he played for Audax Italiano. In 2024, he returned to his first club, Universidad de Chile.
International Career
Youth Team
In January 2005, when he was 19, Marcelo Díaz was called up to play for the Chile U20 team. He played in the 2005 South American Youth Championship. His team qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, and he was part of the squad, but he did not play in the tournament.
Senior National Team
Six years later, in September 2011, Díaz was called up to the Chile senior team. He made his official debut for Chile on 11 November in a game against Uruguay. Because of his strong performances for his club, he became a regular player for the national team.
Winning the Copa América
Díaz played in all six matches of the 2015 Copa América. He helped Chile win their first major international trophy by beating Argentina in a penalty shootout. Because of his excellent play, he was named to the "Team of the Tournament." He also helped Chile win the Copa América Centenario in 2016. In 2017, he was part of the team that finished second in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Personal Life
Marcelo Díaz studied to become a football manager. He graduated from the National Institute of Football, Sports and Physical Activity of Chile in December 2024.
Career Statistics
- Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 May 2014 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago, Chile |  Egypt |
1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
Honours and Awards
Universidad de Chile
- Chilean Primera División: 2009 Apertura, 2011 Apertura, 2011 Clausura, 2012 Apertura
- Copa Sudamericana: 2011
Basel
- Swiss Super League: 2012–13, 2013–14
- Swiss Cup runner-up: 2012–13, 2013–14
Racing Club
- Superliga Argentina: 2018–19
- Trofeo de Campeones: 2019
Libertad
- Paraguayan Primera División: 2022 Apertura
Chile National Team
- Copa América: 2015, 2016
- FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2017
- Copa del Pacífico [es]: 2012 [es]
Individual Awards
- Primera División de Chile Team of the Season : 2011
- Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Marcelo Díaz (futbolista) para niños
