Álvaro Pires
Personal information
Full name	Álvaro Henrique Alves Pires
Date of birth	March 11, 1985 (1985-03-11) (age 24)
Place of birth	Jardinópolis, Brazil
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	defensive-midfielder
Club information
Current club	Fortaleza Esporte Clube
Youth career
2002–2003	Internacional
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004–2006 2007 2008 2009-present	Internacional Spartak Nalchik Los Angeles Galaxy (loan) Fortaleza Esporte Clube (loan)	013 0(0) 019 0(1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 October 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Álvaro Henrique Alves Pires, or simply Álvaro Pires, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defensive-midfielder, he currently plays for Fortaleza Esporte Clube on loan from PFC Spartak Nalchik.

A native of Jardinópolis, Brazil (just outside of São Paulo), Pires signed his first professional contract at the age of 16 with Brazilian side Internacional and broke into the first team at the age of 19. He spent three years there, appearing in a handful of games, before signing with Russian side Spartak Nalchik, then of the Russian First Division.

Pires had been on trial with Los Angeles Galaxy during the club's pre-season, featuring in the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship in Hawaii, and featuring on their Asian tour in China and Hong Kong. Having impressed Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit with his performances, Pires signed a full professional contract with Galaxy on March 28, 2008.[1].

He made his MLS debut in Galaxy's first match of the 2008 season against Colorado Rapids on March 29, 2008, and scored his first MLS goal on June 7, 2008 - also against Colorado.

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

[edit] External links

• MLS profile

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