Cristian Díaz (footballer, born 1976)

For other people named Cristian Díaz, see Cristian Díaz (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is Sichi.
Cristian Díaz
Personal information
Full name Cristian Fabián Díaz Sichi
Date of birth (1976-05-18) 18 May 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Platense 67 (1)
1997–1998 Atlético B 28 (4)
1998–1999 Atlético Madrid 0 (0)
1999 → Málaga (loan) 5 (0)
2000 Elche 19 (3)
2000–2002 Salamanca 61 (3)
2002–2005 Sporting Gijón 71 (4)
2005–2007 Ciudad Murcia 40 (3)
2007–2008 Granada 74 19 (0)
2008–2009 Atlético Ciudad 6 (2)
Total 316 (20)
International career
1995 Argentina U20 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cristian Fabián Díaz Sichi (born 18 May 1976 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a central defender.

Football career

After beginning his career with native Club Atlético Platense, 21-year-old Díaz moved to Spain in 1997, going on to remain in the country the following 12 seasons. Two years earlier, he was picked to represent Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the national team winning the tournament in Qatar after defeating Brazil 2–0; during his career, he was nicknamed Camioncito (Little Truck).[1]

Díaz started with Atlético Madrid, all but representing the reserve side during his spell – the exception to this was on 14 April 1998, when he started in a 0–0 away draw against S.S. Lazio for the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup where he was charged with marking Alen Bokšić, excelling in the task as the Spaniards lost 0–1 on aggregate.[2][1] Also in the second division (where he played with Atlético B), he represented Málaga CF, Elche CF,[3] UD Salamanca, Sporting de Gijón, Ciudad de Murcia and Granada 74 CF – who rose from the ashes of Ciudad – retiring at CF Atlético Ciudad in the third level at the age of 33.[4]

In the 1998–99 campaign, Díaz achieved his biggest team success, winning La Liga promotion with Andalusia's Málaga. He only contributed with five matches to this feat, however, having arrived during the winter break.[5]

After retiring, Díaz worked as assistant to Granada CF president Quique Pina.[6]

Honours

Club

Málaga

International

Argentina

References

  1. ^ a b Torres, Diego (15 April 1998). "La gran noticia de Christian Díaz" [Christian Díaz's great news]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. ^ Cuéllar, José Manuel (15 April 1998). "Al Atlético le faltó un punto de locura" [Atlético lacked point of madness]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  3. ^ Romero, J. C. (13 January 2000). "Presentan a C. Díaz y se va 'Tolo' Plaza" [They present C. Díaz and ‘Tolo’ Plaza leaves]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Las Palmas denuncia al Ciudad por alineación indebida de Slimane en el último partido" [Las Palmas denounce Ciudad for unlawful Slimane appearance in the last match]. La Verdad (in Spanish). 21 January 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Plantillas históricas – Temporada 1998–1999" [Historical squads – 1998–1999 season] (in Spanish). Málaga CF. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  6. ^ Barrio, Javier (21 October 2011). "Cristian Díaz: "Ayudo a Fabri en temas personales con el equipo"" [Cristian Díaz: "I help Fabri in team-related subjects"]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 November 2018.