Diego Godín

Diego Godín

Personal information
Full name	Diego Roberto Godín Leal
Date of birth	16 February 1986 (1986-02-16) (age 25)
Place of birth	Rosario, Uruguay
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Atlético Madrid
Number	2
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2006	Cerro	63	(6)
2006–2007	Nacional	26	(0)
2007–2010	Villarreal	91	(4)
2010–	Atlético Madrid	31	(0)
National team‡
2005–	Uruguay	47	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 July 2011

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

Diego Roberto Godín Leal (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo ɣoˈðin]; born 16 February 1986 in Rosario) is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid in La Liga, as a central defender.

A fast and composed defender, he combines physical presence with an ability to play the ball comfortably from behind.

Club career

Godín started his professional career with C.A. Cerro, moving at 20 to top division powerhouse Club Nacional de Football. There, he quickly became captain due to his maturity and professionalism.

In August 2007, Godín signed a five-year deal with La Liga side Villarreal CF,^[1] scoring in just his second game, a 2–3 loss at CA Osasuna, on October 7, and participating with 24 matches in the club's best-league placement ever (second). He consolidated his starting position in the subsequent seasons, mostly partnering Argentine Gonzalo Rodríguez in the heart of the back four.

On 4 August 2010, after experiencing his best season at Villarreal - 36 games, three goals - Godín joined fellow first-divisioner Atlético Madrid on a five-year contract, after the two clubs agreed an initial fee believed to be around €8 million (or £6.6 million).^[2] He made his official debut for the Colchoneros on the 27th, playing the entire 2–0 win against F.C. Internazionale Milano for the season's UEFA Super Cup.

International career

Aged just 19, Godín made his debut for Uruguay, in a friendly defeat against Mexico, in Guadalajara. He represented the nation at the 2007 Copa América.

Godín was selected for the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, starting in the opener against France (0–0), in Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, and playing in a further four matches for the eventual semifinalists.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	27 May 2006	Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia	Serbia and Montenegro	1–1	1–1	Friendly
2.	16 August 2006	Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt	Egypt	0–1	0–2	Friendly
3.	18 October 2006	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay	Venezuela	1–0	4–0	Friendly

Honours

Club

Atlético Madrid

• UEFA Super Cup: 2010

Country

• Copa América: 2011

References

1. ^ Villarreal put faith in Godín; UEFA.com, 2 August 2007
2. ^ Atlético get Godín from Villarreal; UEFA.com, 4 August 2010

External links

• Atlético Madrid official profile
• BDFutbol profile
• 2010 FIFA World Cup profile
• Diego Godín at National-Football-Teams.com
• Diego Godín – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile
• Godin shows his own style of fair play in a World Cup qualifiers defeat against Peru

Persondata
Name	Godin, Diego
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	16 February 1986
Place of birth	Rosario, Uruguay
Date of death
Place of death