Martín Ricardo Ligüera López (born 9 November 1980) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Martín Ricardo Ligüera López | ||
| Date of birth | 9 November 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Montevideo, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Nacional | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1999 | Nacional | 2 | (0) |
| 2000 | Cerro | 33 | (14) |
| 2001 | Defensor Sporting | 34 | (10) |
| 2002–2003 | Fénix | 53 | (33) |
| 2003–2004 | Mallorca | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | → Grasshoppers (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Nacional | 34 | (14) |
| 2005–2006 | San Luis | 20 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | Alianza Lima | 39 | (8) |
| 2007–2008 | Nacional | 33 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | Olimpia | 40 | (10) |
| 2010–2011 | Unión Española | 58 | (16) |
| 2012–2013 | Athletico Paranaense | 27 | (5) |
| 2013 | Joinville | 13 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Fénix | 63 | (14) |
| 2016–2017 | Nacional | 41 | (9) |
| International career | |||
| 1995 | Uruguay U15[1] | ||
| 1999 | Uruguay U20 | ||
| 2002–2005 | Uruguay | 15 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2017–2021 | Nacional (youth) | ||
| 2021 | Nacional (interim) | ||
| 2021 | Nacional | ||
| 2022–2024 | Nacional (youth) | ||
| 2024 | Rentistas | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editBorn in Montevideo, Ligüera made his first division debut in 1997 for Uruguayan power Nacional.[2] However it was his play with Fénix in which he scored 33 goals in 53 first division matches, which started to draw him interest from European clubs. While at Fénix his play helped convert the small Montevideo side into the revelation of the Uruguayan First division. They qualified for the 2003 Copa Libertadores, in which they had a famous 6-1 victory over Mexican side Cruz Azul with Ligüera tallying 3 goals.[1]
Ligüera's contract was purchased by La Liga side Mallorca.[3] His stay at the club was short-lived due to foreign player restrictions. Ligüera played one game in La Liga for Mallorca, against Sevilla FC, on 21 September 2003. He also scored in the Copa del Rey, and appeared in three UEFA Cup matches for Mallorca, starting in two of those matches. In January 2004, due to the arrival of Andrija Delibasic, he was loaned out to Grasshopper Club Zürich in order to free the non-EU seat.[4]
After the 2004 campaign, Ligüera returned to Uruguay and Nacional to help lead the club to a league title.[1] His play once began to draw the interest of other South American clubs, resulting in stints with San Luis in Mexico and Peruvian powerhouse Alianza Lima. While at Alianza, Martin helped the club win a Peruvian League title and participated in the Copa Libertadores.[1]
International career
editA Uruguay full international, he also played at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. He has represented his country 15 times and scored seven goals including a hat-trick on 15 August 2003 in a 5–2 victory over Iraq.[6]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay[7] | 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 11 | 7 | |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 7 | |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Se quedaba a ver a O'Neill, llevaba a Suárez a entrenar a Nacional, lo golpeó la pobreza de Nigeria y se salvó en un terremoto: la vida de Martín Ligüera". El Observador (in Spanish). 4 May 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Ligüera, Martín". Atilio Software (in Spanish). COMISIÓN DE HISTORIA Y ESTADÍSTICA C.N.de F. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Uruguay: Ligüera se incorpora al Mallorca de España". www.beaumontenterprise.com (in Spanish). 31 August 2003. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Delibašic makes Mallorca move". UEFA.com. 21 January 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
- ^ "Jugó un año en Olimpia y fue ídolo; ahora lo quieren como entrenador". El Futbolero Paraguay (in Spanish). 8 February 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Uruguay vs. Iraq". Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Martín Ligüera - AUF". Retrieved 21 February 2022.
External links
edit- Martín Ligüera at BDFutbol
- Martín Ligüera at National-Football-Teams.com
- Martín Ligüera at ESPN FC
- Martín Ligüera at Soccerway
- Martín Ligüera at PlaymakerStats.com