Martín Ligüera

Martín Ricardo Ligüera López (born 9 November 1980) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ligüera and the second or maternal family name is López.
Martín Ligüera
Personal information
Full name Martín Ricardo Ligüera López
Date of birth (1980-11-09) 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 Mallorca 1 (0)
2004 Grasshoppers ---> (loan) ? (?)
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 Atlético Paranaense 27 (5)
2013 Joinville 13 (1)
2014–2016 Fénix 63 (14)
2016–2017 Nacional 41 (9)
International career
2002–2005 Uruguay 15 (7)
Managerial career
2017–2021 Nacional (youth)
2021 Nacional (interim)
2021 Nacional
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Montevideo, Ligüera made his first division debut in 1997 for Uruguayan power Nacional. 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.

Ligüera's contract was purchased by La Liga side Mallorca. 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.[1]

After the 2004 campaign, Ligüera returned to Uruguay and Nacional to help lead the club to a league title. 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.

In 2009, he signed for Club Olimpia of Paraguay.

International career

A 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.[2]

Career statistics

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Uruguay[3] 200210
2003117
200420
200510
Total157

References
  1. "Delibašic makes Mallorca move". UEFA.com. 2004-01-21. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  2. "Uruguay vs. Iraq". Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  3. "Martín Ligüera - AUF". Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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