Miguel Pinto

Miguel Pinto

Personal information
Full name	Miguel Ángel Pinto Jerez
Date of birth	July 4, 1983 (1983-07-04) (age 28)
Place of birth	Santiago, Chile
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Atlas
Number	1
Youth career
	Universidad de Chile
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2011	Universidad de Chile	218	(0)
2011-	Atlas	24	(0)
National team‡
2006–	Chile	17	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 April 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 July 2009

Miguel Ángel Pinto Jerez (born July 4, 1983 in Santiago, Chile) is a Chilean football goalkeeper who plays for Mexican club Atlas.

Club career

Universidad de Chile

Pinto was thrust into action in 2002 against Universidad de Chile's biggest rival, Colo-Colo, when the teams first string goalkeeper was injured and the second string goalkeeper was ejected in the same game. In his first action against Colo-Colo he would hold them scoreless, which would foreshadow his future success against the same team. Pinto would be the team's second team goalkeeper for the 2004 and 2005 season behind Johnny Herrera. Herrera was transferred to Corinthians in 2006 pushing Pinto to become the team's first-choice goalkeeper a position he has held for three years. In 2006 Pinto drew some criticism for his low level of performance. However in 2007 Pinto was named the best player of the year for Universidad de Chile. After a successful 2008 season, Universidad de Chile qualified for the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores 2009, which would lead to Pinto's first participation in international club football. Universidad de Chile would go on to defeat Pachuca in the preliminary round with Pinto turning in good performances in both games of the two-legged playoff. In the group stage, Pinto would have an incredible performance against Gremio in Porto Alegre making numerous saves in order to maintain a scoreless draw. In the game Pinto received 25 shots from the Brazilian side.^[1] Pinto would go on to play in 10 games during the tournament allowing 11 goals, which has led to rumors that Pinto will be making a move to a Mexican club Cruz Azul in mid-2009 for a reported $1.2 million.^[2] Pinto won his first title with Universidad de Chile at the end of the Apertura Tournament 2009. In December 2010 after being eliminated of the "Liguilla" for Copa Libertadores 2011 the president of Universidad de Chile Federico Valdés confirmed the transfer of the player to the Mexican club Atlas, in where he will play on loan from La U.^[3]

All-time club statistics

Club	Season	League		Cup		America		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Universidad de Chile	Apertura 2002	0	0	–		–		0	0
	Clausura 2002	6	0	–		–		6	0
	Apertura 2003	2	0	–		-		2	0
	Clausura 2003	17	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
	Apertura 2004	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	Clausura 2004	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Apertura 2005	8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
	Clausura 2005	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	Apertura 2006	21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	Clausura 2006	21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	Apertura 2007	20	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
	Clausura 2007	24	0	0	0	0	0	24	0
	Apertura 2008	22	0	0	0	0	0	22	0
	Clausura 2008	20	0	0	0	0	0	20	0
	Apertura 2009	19	0	0	0	0	0	19	0
	Clausura 2009	11	0	0	0	4	0	16	0
	Apertura 2010	19	0	0	0	10	0	29	0
Career totals Universidad de Chile		218	0	0	0	14	0	232	0

• America = Sudamericana y Libertadores

International career

Pinto represented Chile in the South American Youth Championship of 2003, which is a Sub-20 tournament. In 2006 Pinto made appearances for the adult side against Ivory Coast and Ireland.^[4] Former Chile national coach Nelson Acosta named Pinto as the third goalkeeper for the Copa America 2007 tournament. However Pinto refused to be the third goalkeeper and did not make the trip to Venezuela. In 2007, Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa took over the Chilean national team and he regularly names Pinto as the second goalkeeper behind Claudio Bravo. In May 2009, Pinto along with Chile participated in the Kirin Cup and in two games Pinto allowed five goals.

Personal life

Pinto designs his own goalkeeper jersey, such as former goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert.^[5] Pinto regularly incorporates a lion or owl into his designs, which are the mascots of Universidad de Chile.^[6] Pinto has a twin brother named Juan Francisco.^[7] Pinto is also known by his nicknames, Miguelito and Criptonita (kryptonite).

Honors

Club

• Universidad de Chile
  • Chilean League: Apertura: 2009

Individual

• America best goalkeeper: 2009

• Copa Nissan Sudamericana best goalkeeper: 2009

• Goalkeeper of the "Americas ideal team": 2009

References

1. ^ ADN.es
2. ^ Goal.com
3. ^ El final de la era Pelusso: "Me voy agradecido de la 'U'"
4. ^ Nationalfootball-teams.com
5. ^ Terra.cl
6. ^ Megagaliers.terra.cl
7. ^ Lacuarta.cl

External links

• Miguel Pinto stats at Medio Tiempo.com (Spanish)

Persondata
Name	Pinto, Miguel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1983-07-04
Place of birth	Santiago, Chile
Date of death
Place of death