Nicolás Lodeiro

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

Nicolás Lodeiro

Personal information
Full name	Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez
Date of birth	21 March 1989 (1989-03-21) (age 22)
Place of birth	Paysandú, Uruguay
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Ajax
Number	18
Youth career
	Barrio Obrero
2003–2007	Nacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2010	Nacional	41	(11)
2010–	Ajax	10	(1)
National team‡
2008–2009	Uruguay U20	11	(5)
2009–	Uruguay	12	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:35, 02 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 07:12, 12 June 2010 (UTC)

Nicolás Lodeiro (Spanish pronunciation: [nikoˈlas loˈðejɾo]) (born 21 March 1989) is a Uruguayan footballer playing for Dutch Eredivisie club Ajax Amsterdam.

Club career

Early career

Lodeiro was born in 1989 in Paysandú, which borders Argentina. It was here that he made his first steps as a footballer in the youth sides of local club Barrio Obrero. It wasn't too long before his talent was recognised by a local scout called Daniel López who nurtured him to play for the youth team at Nacional Montevideo aged only 14 years old.^{[citation needed]}

Nacional

Four years later, at the age of 18, Lodeiro made his debut for the Nacional first team against Fénix on 19 August 2007. Later on in the year he also scored his first senior goal and it was clear to see that in Lodeiro, there was a new star in the making.

A year later, Lodeiro continued to make progress, securing more playing time and even scored against River Plate in the Pre-Libertadores playoff. But 2009 was the year that Lodeiro really began to make progress. His three goals and several assists in the Copa Libertadores helped Nacional to reach the semi finals of the tournament. In April 2009 he was named 58th highest scorer in the world by the IFFHS following his performance in the Copa Libertadores ^[1]

Lodeiro played a vital role for Nacional in the 2008/2009 Copa Libertadores, which saw Nacional reach the Semi-finals. From then on, Lodeiro has been considered one of the best youth players in the country.^{[citation needed]}

Lodeiro is well known for his ability to glide past players with ease, due to his speed, close control and dribbling ability. He is also a very energetic player and his fitness ensures excellent movement on the pitch. Lodeiro likes to come towards a player in order to receive the ball and subsequently take control of play. However, he also likes to move wide towards the flanks and can often be found on both sides of the pitch and operating in the middle during the course of the same game. Lodeiro is two footed but has a particularly lethal left foot shot and is dangerous from free kicks.^{[citation needed]}

Ajax

In January 2010, Lodeiro signed a contract with AFC Ajax until June 2012 with option of 2 more years.^[2] He will join his fellow Uruguayans Bruno Silva and his friend Luis Suárez. His first appearance for Ajax was as a substitute in the match against FC Twente on February 7, 2010. He marked his first goal against Go Ahead Eagles with Ajax on March 25 in the KNVB Beker. Because of an injury he sustained during the World Cup he didn't play a single match for Ajax in the 2010/2011 Eredivisie season

International career

Under-20

During 2009, Lodeiro also progressed on the international scene with good performances for the Uruguay under-20 national team. This included outstanding performances at a South American under-20 tournament in Venezuela where he scored three goals and led Uruguay to third place.^{[citation needed]} He also contributed impressively at the FIFA under-20 tournament in Egypt,^[3] scoring two goals in four matches.

Senior

His senior international debut for Uruguay came against Costa Rica, in the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL 2010 World Cup Play-Off. He played both legs of the play-off and, in the second leg at home, was named player of the match for Uruguay.^[4]

2010 FIFA World Cup

Lodeiro at the World Cup.

Lodeiro played for Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and, in Uruguay's opening match against France, was the first player to receive a red card at the tournament.^[5]

2011 Copa América

Lodeiro was a member of the Uruguay national team that won the 2011 Copa América in Argentina.^[6]

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	June 23, 2011	Estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera, Rivera, Uruguay	Estonia	3–0	3–0 (W)	Friendly

Career statistics

As of 3 November 2011.^[7]

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Uruguay			League		Cup		South America		Total
2007–08	Nacional	Primera División	8	0	-	-	2	0	10	0
2008–09			25	4	-	-	10	4	35	8
2009–10			8	7	-	-	-	-	8	7
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Europe		Total
2009–10	Ajax	Eredivisie	8	0	2	1	-	-	10	1
2010–11			-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2011–12			1	0	1	0	1	1	3	1
Total	Uruguay		41	11	-	-	12	4	53	15
	Netherlands		9	0	3	1	1	1	13	2
Career total			50	11	3	1	12	4	65	16

Honours

Club

Nacional

• Primera División (1): 2008–09
• Torneo Apertura (2): 2008, 2009
• Liguilla (1): 2008

Ajax

• Eredivisie (1): 2010–11
• KNVB Cup (1): 2009-10

International

Uruguay

• 2010 World Cup: Fourth Place
• 2011 Copa América: Winner

References

1. ^ "Nicolás Lodeiro, entre los mejores del mundo". Larepublica.com. 2009-04-20. http://www.larepublica.com.uy/deportes/360769-nicolas-lodeiro-entre-los-mejores-del-mundo. Retrieved 2010-01-30. 
2. ^ "Ajax contracteert Nicolás Lodeiro" (in Dutch). AFC Ajax. 2010-01-23. http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief/Nieuws-artikel/Ajax-contracteert-Nicolas-Lodeiro.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-07. 
3. ^ "10 Best Young Players at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2009". Just-Football.com. October 21, 2009. http://www.just-football.com/2009/10/10-best-young-players-under-20-world/. Retrieved 2009-10-21. 
4. ^ "Uruguay vs Costa Rica". Goal.com. 2009-11-19. http://www.goal.com/en/match/42602/uruguay-vs-costa-rica/lineup-stats. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 
5. ^ "Uruguay's Lodeiro gets World Cup's first red card". The Times of India. June 12, 2010. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/fifa-world-cup/top-stories/Uruguays-Lodeiro-gets-World-Cups-first-red-card/articleshow/6039275.cms. Retrieved 2010-06-12. 
6. ^ "Minnows impress as the Copa América gets underway" (in English). ESPN. July 5, 2011. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/932236/minnows-impress-as-the-copa-america-gets-underway?cc=5901. Retrieved October 24, 2011. 
7. ^ "Nicolas Lodeiro". ESPN Soccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=105957&cc=5739. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 

External links

• www.nicolaslodeiro.com
• Player profile (Spanish)
• Nicolás Lodeiro playing stats at ESPN Soccernet
• Detailed Player Profile (Spanish)
• [1]
• Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez Statistics at uk.soccerway.com

Persondata
Name	Lodeiro, Nicolas
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	21 March 1989
Place of birth	Paysandú, Uruguay
Date of death
Place of death