Diego Walsh Information & Diego Walsh Links at HealthHaven.com

Diego Walsh
	Diego Walsh
Personal information
Full name	Diego Costa Bastos Walsh
Date of birth	8 December 1979 (age 30)
Place of birth	Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Central Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Wellington Phoenix
Number	5
Youth career
1999–2002	Southern Methodist University
Senior career1
	1 Senior club appearances and goals; counted for the domestic league only and; correct as of 22 September 2009.; * Appearances (Goals)

Diego Walsh (born 8 December 1979 in Santos, São Paulo) is a Brazilian-American football player who plays as a center midfielder for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Youth Club career

[edit] Santos FC

While growing up in Brazil, Diego played in the youth system of Santos F.C. before moving to Miami, Florida.

[edit] Miami Strike Force

Diego played his club soccer for Miami Strike Force. Diego was part of a talented team which won 5 consecutive state championships, 2 regional championships, and finished second in the National Championship.

[edit] SMU

Diego played four years of college soccer for Southern Methodist University, from 1999 to 2002. 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.

[edit] Professional Club Career

[edit] Columbus Crew

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, however, being stuck behind emerging American playmaker Kyle Martino, and was traded at the end of the season to the Kansas City Wizards.

[edit] Kansas City Wizards

Although Diego started the season with a starting role in the Wizards' offense because of an injury to Preki, his season declined from there on.

Diego was released by Kansas City Wizards during the 2005 season.

[edit] Real Salt Lake

After a brief stint with Real Salt Lake in the 2006 pre-season, he was released again.

[edit] Miami FC

He played for Miami FC along with Brazilian superstar Romario where they both helped the team make it to the USL playoffs in its first year in the league.

[edit] Adelaide United

Diego joined Adelaide United in the Australian A-League during the 2006/2007 season after impressive displays during two Miami FC friendlies in Adelaide, ^[1] which also netted United former World Player of the Year Romario. Diego was also highly regarded by Romario himself.

He debuted impressively against Sydney FC on 14 January, 2007, with an assist to compatriate 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 is regarded by his team-mates as the outstanding player of the 2008 Asian Champions League campaign.

In a shock decision for Adelaide fans and the player himself, 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]

[edit] Wellington Phoenix

He was quickly signed up by the Wellington Phoenix, on a two-year contract. ^[3]

[edit] Career statistics

(Correct as of 22 December 2008)

Club	Season	League¹		Cup		International²		Total
Club	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Adelaide United	2006–07	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
	2007–08	14	1	2	0	?	?	16	1
	2008–09	8	0	1	0	13	4	22	4
Total								44	5

¹ - includes A-League final series statistics
² - includes FIFA Club World Cup statistics; AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (ie. 2008 ACL in 2008-09 A-League season etc.)

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Diego Walsh

^ "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.
^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24941969-5000940,00.html
^ http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/94708,exred-diego-signs-for-nix.aspx

[edit] External links

Adelaide United profile

[0] "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.

[1] ttp://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24941969-5000940,00.html

[2] ttp://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/94708,exred-diego-signs-for-nix.aspx

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