Rodolfo Zelaya facts for kids
Zelaya training with Alianza in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García | ||
| Date of birth | 3 July 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Usulután, El Salvador | ||
| Height | 1.74 m | ||
| Playing position | Second striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Retired | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001 | CD Alacrán | ||
| 2004 | San Rafael | ||
| 2004–2005 | Atlético La Merced | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2007 | Intipucá | 31 | (19) |
| 2008 | CD Chalatenango | 17 | (8) |
| 2008–2009 | Alianza | 29 | (18) |
| 2009–2010 | León | 10 | (1) |
| 2010–2018 | Alianza | 227 | (112) |
| 2011 | → Alania Vladikavkaz (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2013 | → Alania Vladikavkaz (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2019 | Los Angeles FC | 4 | (1) |
| 2019 | → Las Vegas Lights (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2020 | Celaya | 6 | (2) |
| 2020–2025 | Alianza | 158 | (64) |
| National team | |||
| 2008–2019 | El Salvador | 52 | (23) |
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Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García (born 3 July 1988) is a retired Salvadoran professional footballer. He played as a second striker for Primera División club Alianza. In 2013, he was temporarily suspended from playing football for a year due to a controversy involving the national team.
Contents
Club Career
Early Years
Zelaya started his football journey with San Rafael in 2004. He played there for one year. After that, he moved to Atlético La Merced.
In July 2006, Zelaya and another player, Rúsvel Saravia, almost joined Águila. This is one of El Salvador's biggest clubs. However, they could not agree on salaries, so the deal did not happen.
Playing for Intipucá
Next, Zelaya joined Intipucá in the Segunda División. This is the second-highest football league in El Salvador. After two years, he caught the eye of Chalatenango coach Vladan Vićević.
Time with Chalatenango
Zelaya accepted a contract to play with Chalatenango. This was his first time playing in the Primera División, the top league. He did very well in his first season. Fans and reporters saw him as a promising young striker.
Chalatenango finished fifth in the league. Zelaya scored 8 goals in the Clausura 2008 tournament.
Joining Alianza
In 2008, Zelaya moved to Alianza. This happened after Lisandro Pohl, the former president of Chalatenango, switched clubs. Pohl brought several players with him to Alianza.
Playing in Mexico
On 15 June 2009, Zelaya was one of three Salvadoran players to join Mexican club León. They were on a loan deal at first. Later, on 3 December 2009, León signed Zelaya and the other two players permanently. They signed a three-year contract.
However, Zelaya soon returned to Alianza on a loan deal. He later played for Alianza without a loan. He became the top goalscorer in the Clausura 2011 tournament with 13 goals. He also helped his team win the tournament by scoring 2 goals in the final.
Adventures in Russia
On 19 July 2011, Zelaya signed with Russian First Division club Alania Vladikavkaz. This was a six-month loan. He debuted in the Russian league on 9 August 2011.
On 4 November, he scored two goals. But he also got a knee injury that kept him from playing for seven months. Alania decided not to keep him, so he went back to Alianza in 2012.
On 26 January 2013, he rejoined Alania Vladikavkaz on another six-month loan. Alania had been promoted to the Russian Premier League. He returned to Alianza in June when his contract ended.
Back to Alianza
In June 2014, Zelaya signed with Alianza again. In December 2018, he scored four goals in a big 7–0 win against Chalatenango. This helped Alianza reach the semi-finals of the Apertura 2018 tournament.
Playing in the United States
On 30 January 2019, Zelaya joined Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. In January 2020, the club and Zelaya decided to part ways.
Loan to Las Vegas Lights
On 15 August 2019, Zelaya was loaned to USL Championship team Las Vegas Lights FC.
Retirement from Football
On January 24, 2025, Rodolfo Zelaya announced his retirement. He left Alianza as their all-time top goal scorer. He scored 176 goals in 385 games. He also holds the club record for most goals in a final series (32 goals). Zelaya won 8 club titles with Alianza.
International Career
Zelaya first played for the national team on 23 April 2008. This was in a friendly match against China.
He scored his first goal for El Salvador on 6 September 2008. This was during a World Cup qualification match against Haiti. In that game, he scored his first hat-trick (three goals). El Salvador won 5–0.
At the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Zelaya won two awards for being the best player in matches against Cuba and Panama. He scored 4 goals in total, making him the second-highest goalscorer in the tournament. Experts also named him one of the best players of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In 2013, he received a one-year ban from playing for the national team due to a sportsmanship issue. This ban was later extended to all football games worldwide.
Honors
- Alianza
- Primera División Winner (3): Clausura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2017, Clausura 2018
Individual
- Alania Vladikavkaz Player of the Year – 2011
- Univision Goal of the Year – 2011
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI – 2011, 2013
See also
In Spanish: Rodolfo Zelaya para niños
