Diego Walsh

Diego Walsh

Personal information
Full name	Diego Costa Bastos Walsh
Date of birth	8 December 1979 (1979-12-08) (age 31)
Place of birth	Santos, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	TOT S.C.
Number	31
Youth career
1999–2002	SMU Mustangs
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003	Columbus Crew	14	(1)
2004–2005	Kansas City Wizards	16	(0)
2006	Real Salt Lake	0	(0)
2006	Miami FC	22	(5)
2006–2009	Adelaide United	30	(1)
2010–2011	Wellington Phoenix	12	(0)
2011	Charleston Battery	4	(0)
2011–	TOT S.C.	7	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Diego Walsh (born December 8, 1979 in Santos) is a Brazilian footballer currently playing for TOT S.C. in the Thai Premier League.

Career

Youth and College

While growing up in Brazil, Diego played in the youth system of Santos FC, before moving to Miami, Florida at the age of 15. He played club soccer for Miami Strike Force, and was a major part of a talented team which won 5 consecutive state championships, 2 regional championships, and finished second in the National Championship.

Diego turned down numerous other university scholarships (such as Brown University) to play four years of college soccer for Southern Methodist University, from 1999 to 2002, on a full scholarship. In both his junior and senior years, Diego was a NSCAA first team All-American. He is also currently SMU's all-time leader in assists, with 39, and ranks fifth in goals, also with 39. He was later named in the NSCAA "Team of the Decade," in 2010.

Professional

Upon graduating, Diego was drafted 7th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew. Walsh did not garner much time with the Crew, although playing extremelly well when he was given the opportunity earning Columbus Crew Goal of the Year for 2003. He was traded at the end of the season to the Kansas City Wizards.

Although Diego started the season with a starting role in the Wizards' offense because of an injury to Preki, Diego did not fit in to the Kansas City style of play. He was released by Kansas City Wizards during the 2005 season. After a brief stint with Real Salt Lake in the 2006 pre-season, he was released again, and played for Miami FC along with Brazilian superstar Romario where the pair helped the team make it to the USL playoffs in its first year in the league.

Diego joined Adelaide United in the Australian A-League during the 2006/2007 season after impressive displays during two Miami FC friendlies in Adelaide,which were organised by former Adelaide United Chairman Mel Patzwald who facilitated both the Romario transfer as well as the sister relationship between both clubs and was intrumental in the Adelaide United Brazilian connection.^[1] which also netted United former World Player of the Year Romario. Diego was recommended to Adelaide by Romario himself, who regarded him highly as a player.

He debuted impressively against Sydney FC on 14 January 2007, with an assist to Fernando for an 88th minute winner. During his second season with Adelaide United, he established himself as an excellent defensive and central midfielder, not only for Adelaide but in the whole A-League, and was regarded by his teammates as the outstanding player of the 2008 Asian Champions League campaign. He was the team's top goal scorer with 4 goals helping Adelaide United reach the 2008 Asian Champions League for the first time.

In a shock decision for Adelaide fans, Diego was released by the club on the 20th of January, 2009. Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar cited Diego's 19 starts out of a possible 41 in two seasons, as a key factor in the decision. "He missed 50 per cent of the games due to injury - hamstrings, quads and back," said Vidmar.^[2] He was signed up by the Wellington Phoenix, on a two-year contract ^[3] and became a firm favorite with the Wellington Phoenix supporter's group Yellow Fever. Diego struggled to make an impact at Wellington and was released after two seasons.^[4]

Diego returned to USA with his pregnant fiance American/Australian model Heston Stutz and son Penn, after four years in the A-League,^[5] looking to win a contract with an MLS club. On 20 May, 2011 it was announced that he had signed a temporary contract with Charleston Battery to keep fit while visiting his inlaws.^[6] On July 6, 2011 it was announced in the Thai media that Diego had taken up a contract with Thai Premier League team TOT S.C.. The couple had another son, born in Bangkok, on October 10, 2011, in which they named Atlas.

A-League Career Statistics

All-Time Club Performances

Club	Season	A-League		Finals Series		Asia		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Adelaide United (A-League)	2006–07	6	0					6	0
	2007–08	16	1					16	1
	2008–09	8	0	1	0	13	4	22	4
	Club Total	30	1	1	0	13	4	44	5
Club	Season	A-League		Finals Series		Asia		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Wellington Phoenix F.C. (A-League)	2009–10	12	0	1	0			13	0
	2010–11	0	0	0	0			0	0
	Club Total	12	0	1	0			13	0
Career totals		42	1	2	0	13	4	57	5
Last updated 21 February 2011

References

1. ^ "Brazilian Diego joins Adelaide United". ABC News. 2007-01-09. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/01/09/1824073.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-16. 
2. ^ Adelaide United sack Brazilian midfield star Diego, Aurelio Vidmar cites injuries
3. ^ Ex-Red Diego Signs For 'Nix
4. ^ Diego leaves Wellington Phoenix to Return to U.S
5. ^ Tiny Star for Diego's Team
6. ^ Veteran Midfielder Diego Walsh joins the Battery

Persondata
Name	Walsh, Diego
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	8 December 1979
Place of birth	Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Date of death
Place of death