Diego Alves Carreira

Diego Alves

Personal information
Full name	Diego Alves Carreira
Date of birth	24 June 1985 (1985-06-24) (age 26)
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Valencia
Number	1
Youth career
2001–2003	Botafogo-SP
2004	Atlético Mineiro
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2007	Atlético Mineiro	61	(0)
2007–2011	Almería	120	(0)
2011–	Valencia	1	(0)
National team‡
2008	Brazil U23	2	(0)
2011–	Brazil	2	(0)
Honours Competitor for  Brazil Men's Football Bronze 2008 Beijing Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2011

Diego Alves Carreira (born 24 June 1985 in Rio de Janeiro), known as Alves, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Valencia CF in Spain, as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Brazil / Almería

Having started professionally at Clube Atlético Mineiro, Alves moved to UD Almería on 24 July 2007, as the Andalusians had just achieved a first ever La Liga promotion.

Initially the backup to another newly signed, David Cobeño, Alves eventually became the undisputed starter, helping the club overachieve for a final 8th place in the league, with notable performances against, among others, Real Madrid.^[1]

After Cobeño left for Rayo Vallecano in August 2008, Alves remained first choice during 2008–09, but suffered an injury in the final stretch of the campaign. Fully recovered for the start of the following campaign, he played in all the matches and minutes (safe for 30 minutes against Valencia CF, after he had been sent off, and the last round against Sevilla FC, as Almería was already saved from relegation); even before the campaign had ended, speculation was ripe regarding his future.^[2][3]

On 20 November 2010, Alves was in goal as Almería lost 0–8 at home against FC Barcelona, a defeat which cost manager Juan Manuel Lillo his post.^[4] In mid-May 2011, after Almería's top flight relegation, Valencia chairman Manuel Llorente confirmed the signing of the player.^[5]

Valencia

Alves made his official debut for the Che on 13 September 2011, in a 0–0 away draw against K.R.C. Genk for the season's UEFA Champions League.^[6] He backed-up Vicente Guaita in the league, however.

Alves also appeared in the second Champions League group stage match, at home to Chelsea, where he had a series of superb saves, including a string of three in two minutes — two point-blank against Ramires and Fernando Torres, and a third when Valencia man Víctor Ruiz accidentally diverted the ensuing corner towards his own goal — in an eventual 1–1 draw.

He made his league debut against Real Madrid which ended 2-3.

International career

Alves was chosen to represent Brazil at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as backup to Renan. He did not receive any playing time as the national team went on to get a bronze medal.

Alves made his debut for the full side on 10 November 2011, in a friendly with Gabon. He also played four days later, against Egypt.

Honours

Club

Atlético Mineiro

• Brazilian Second Division: 2006
• Minas Gerais State Championship: 2007

Country

• Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal 2008

References

1. ^ Almería take pride after Madrid fall
2. ^ Diego Alves open to move away from Almeria – Agent; Goal.com, 22 April 2010
3. ^ AC Milan tracking Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves; Goal.com 22 April 2010
4. ^ Barcelona net away record; ESPN Soccernet, 20 November 2010
5. ^ Manuel Llorente confirma el fichaje de Diego Alves (Manuel Llorente confirms signing of Diego Alves); Super Deporte, 19 May 2011 (Spanish)
6. ^ Genk and Valencia draw a blank; UEFA.com, 13 September 2011

External links

• Valencia official profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Diego Alves Carreira at National-Football-Teams.com
• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Transfermarkt profile
• CiberChe stats and bio (Spanish)
• ESPN stats
• Official website (Portuguese)

Persondata
Name	Alves Carreira, Diego
Alternative names	Alves, Diego
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	24 June 1985
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of death
Place of death