Claudio Maldonado

For the Argentinean musician, see Claudio Maldonado (musician).

Claudio Maldonado

Personal information
Full name	Claudio Andrés del Tránsito Maldonado Rivera
Date of birth	January 3, 1980 (1980-01-03) (age 31)
Place of birth	Curicó, Chile
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club	Flamengo
Number	5
Youth career
1997–1998	Colo-Colo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–1999	Colo-Colo	29	(2)
2000–2002	São Paulo	36	(0)
2003–2005	Cruzeiro	92	(4)
2005–2007	Santos	35	(0)
2008–2009	Fenerbahçe	17	(0)
2009–	Flamengo	37	(1)
National team‡
1997	Chile U-17
2000	Chile U-23
2000–	Chile	44	(1)
Honours Competitor for  Chile Men's Football Bronze 2000 Sydney Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 12, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of November 12, 2011

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Maldonado and the second or maternal family name is Rivera.

Claudio Andrés del Tránsito Maldonado Rivera, or just Claudio Maldonado, (born on January 3, 1980 in Curicó, Chile) is a Chilean football player. He rarely goes forward, his goal tally is less than ten, although 3 of the goals were a hat-trick against Manchester United in a friendly in 2007, but what he lacks in scoring Maldonado makes up for in tenacity and an ability to break down the opposition with great effectiveness. He is married with Vanderlei Luxemburgo's daughter and has Brazilian citizenship. He currently plays for Brazilian Série A club Flamengo.^[1]

Club career

São Paulo

He spent three seasons with São Paulo making 36 Brazilian Série A appearances with the team.

Cruzeiro

In May 2003, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, then coach of Cruzeiro, bought the services of Maldonado. At the time of the purchase, Maldonado's then girlfriend was Luxemburgo's daughter. Nevertheless while with Cruzeiro, Maldonado experienced the most success of his career. In 2003 he captained the only team in the history of Brazilian football to win the triple crown.

Santos

For the 2006 season, Maldonado was reunited with former Cruzeiro's coach Luxemburgo at Santos for a fee of $4.5 million. However at the end of the Brazilian season was scheduled to have ankle surgery which caused him to miss up to two months. After recuperating Maldonado continued playing for Santos reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 Copa Libertadores. Currently Santos has completed the 2007 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in second place and are eligible to compete in the upcoming Copa Libertadores 2008. He was being tracked by Fenerbahçe, Milan, Real Madrid and Ajax but no firm offers better than Fenerbahçe have been made. At 28 he is at the peak of his potential and European teams may want to capitalise on this, but they may be put off by the 8 red cards that he has received in the last 3 years at club level.

Fenerbahçe

On the beginning of 2008 Maldonado signed with Fenerbahçe, at that time managed by Zico. He struggled with injuries and spend a little more than a year in the Turkish club.

Flamengo

On August 27, 2009, Flamengo signed a 1-year contract with Maldonado.^[2] His debut for his new club was as a substitute in a 3-0 win against Santo André,^[3] but since his second match became a first team player. In his first ten matches Flamengo did not suffered any goal, nine of those playing alongside with Álvaro which signed with Flamengo at the same time, proving his was back at his high level. He scored his first goal for Flamengo after just few matches on November 8 against Atlético Mineiro.^[4] His good moment made Chile national team coach Marcelo Bielsa call him up to national team after a period absent.^[5] But his return to national team, on November 17 against Slovakia, wasn't as expected, Maldonado played well as a starter, although in the second half he suffered a serious injury in his left knee ligaments leaving out of the fields for four months.^[6][7][8][9]

Career statistics

(Correct as of November 12, 2011^[update])

Club	Season	Brazilian Série A		Brazilian Cup		Copa Libertadores		Copa Sudamericana		State League		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
São Paulo	2000	11	0	6	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	1
	2001	10	0	2	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	0
	2002	15	0	6	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	21	0
	2003	-	-	2	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	0
	Total	36	0	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	52	1
Cruzeiro	2003	28	0	-	-	-	-	1	0	-	-	29	0
	2004	33	3	-	-	7	0	4	0	13	0	57	3
	2005	31	1	7	0	-	-	-	-	11	0	49	1
	Total	92	4	7	0	7	0	5	0	24	0	131	4
Santos	2006	19	0	3	0	-	-	-	-	18	0	40	0
	2007	15	0	-	-	12	1	-	-	17	0	44	1
	Total	34	0	3	0	12	1	0	0	35	0	84	1
Club	Season	Süper Lig		Turkish Cup		Champions League		UEFA Cup		Other		Total
Fenerbahçe	2007-08	8	0	0	0	2	0	-	-	-	-	10	0
	2008-09	9	0	1	0	7	0	-	-	-	-	17	0
	Total	17	0	1	0	9	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
Club	Season	Brazilian Série A		Brazilian Cup		Copa Libertadores		Copa Sudamericana		State League		Total
Flamengo	2009	13	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	13	1
	2010	17	0	-	-	6	0	-	-	5	0	28	0
	2011	8	0	3	0	-	-	2	0	12	0	25	0
	Total	38	1	3	0	6	0	2	0	17	0	66	1
Career total		217	5	30	1	34	1	7	0	76	0	360	7

according to combined sources on the Santos official website^[10] Flamengo official website^[11] and Flaestatística.^[12]

International

Maldonado was selected to represent his country, Chile, at the 2000 Summer Olympics as a part of the Under-23 team that went on the win the bronze medal. Maldonado made his international debut on February 12, 2000, in a match versus Bulgaria. Since then Maldonado has appeared in 41 games with the adult squad and has netted one goal. For 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, Maldonado was a regular with the first team and has since gained the captaincy of the national team. As of recent Maldonando has been called up to serve on the Chilean national team that is managed by Marcelo Bielsa.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	9 February 2005	Viña del Mar, Chile	Ecuador	3–0	Win	Friendly

Honours

Club

• Colo-Colo
  • Chilean First Division: 1998

• São Paulo
  • São Paulo State League: 2000, 2002

• Cruzeiro
  • Copa do Brasil: 2003
  • Minas Gerais State League: 2003, 2004
  • Brazilian Série A: 2003

• Santos
  • São Paulo State League: 2006, 2007

• Flamengo
  • Brazilian Série A: 2009
  • Taça Guanabara: 2011
  • Taça Rio: 2011
  • Rio de Janeiro State League: 2011

National Team

•  Chile
  • Sydney Olympic Games: Bronze medal

References

1. ^ Player profile @ Flamengo.com.br (Portuguese)
2. ^ Fla apresenta os experientes Álavaro e Maldonado, reforços para a defesa (Portuguese)
3. ^ Dupla de 'plebeus' brilha, e Flamengo vence o Santo André no Maracanã (Portuguese)
4. ^ Em 'revival' de emoção dos anos 80, Fla bate o Galo por 3 a 1 e pula para 3º lugar (Portuguese)
5. ^ Maldonado e Fierro devem ser titulares do Chile contra a Eslováquia (Portuguese)
6. ^ Maldonado se destaca em vitória do Chile, mas sai machucado e preocupa Fla (Portuguese)
7. ^ Maldonado lamenta lesão: 'Sei que vai ser uma recuperação longa' (Portuguese)
8. ^ Maldonado desembarca no Rio mancando e com dores (Portuguese)
9. ^ Maldonado só volta ao Flamengo daqui a pelo menos quatro meses (Portuguese)
10. ^ Santos official website (in Portuguese)
11. ^ Flamengo official website (in Portuguese)
12. ^ Flaestaística (in Portuguese)

External links

• claudiomaldonado.com Claudio Maldonado Unofficial Fan Website
• Profile at TFF
• Player Profile @ Santos.com (Portuguese)
• Player Profile @ Flamengo.com.br (Portuguese)
• zerozerofootball.com
• Negociação de Maldonado é investigada (Portuguese)

Persondata
Name	Maldonado, Claudio
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 3, 1980
Place of birth	Curicó, Chile
Date of death
Place of death