Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta (born July 30, 1965 in Remedios, Colombia) is a Colombian football defensive midfielder, who played 101 times for the Colombia national team between 1985 and 1995, making him the 2nd most capped player in Colombian international football^[1]

On the pitch, Leonel was known for his intense physical defense which made him very popular among the Colombian fans.

[edit] Club career

Álvarez began his career with Independiente Medellín in 1983. In 1989 he was part of the Atlético Nacional team that won the Copa Libertadores in 1989. He won a Colombian league title with América de Cali in 1990 and another in 1995.

He has also played for Veracruz of Mexico Real Valladolid of Spain.

Álvarez signed with Major League Soccer before the league's inaugural 1996 season, and was allocated to the Dallas Burn. In his first year with the team, Álvarez was clearly one of the league's best players, as he scored three goals and five assists for the team from a defensive midfield position, and was named to the MLS Best XI. Unfortunately for the Burn, Álvarez moved to Mexico for the 1997 season, where he played for Veracruz. He did not return until 1998, when he quickly recovered his starting position; Álvarez would be an extremely important player in the Burn's central midfield for the next two years, but near the end of 1999, was traded to the New England Revolution for Ariel Graziani. Álvarez would play for the Revolution through 2001, always an important starter, before the team decided not to renew his contract for the 2002 season.

Late in his career he returned to Colombia football where he played in Colombia for Deportes Quindio and for Deportivo Pereira.

[edit] International career

Álvarez appeared in a total of 101 games for the Colombia, making his debut February 14, 1985 against Poland. He appeared for Colombia in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, playing in a total of seven games. Additionally, he played in Copa América for his native country in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1995.

[edit] After retirement

Álvarez has maintained a low profile since retiring, but has been back in the limelight in appearances in Colombian reality shows such as "La Isla de los Famosos."

[edit] Coaching Career

He has held the position of technical assistant at Deportes Pereira, one of his former clubs. In 2008 he worked as the assistant coach at Independiente Medellín, the team he began his career with. Working as Santiago Escobars understudy. After bad results Escobar was fired and finishing dead last Leonel was promoted and given his first head coach opportunity. After making DIM Champions in his debut as a coach, his name is being rumored to be the new Colombia national team coach.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career details at National Football Teams
• International statistics at rsssf
• (Spanish) Futbol Factory profile^{[dead link]}

Leonel Álvarez international tournaments v • d • e Colombia squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Higuita • 2 Escobar • 3 Gildardo Gómez • 4 Herrera • 5 Villa • 6 Pérez • 7 Estrada • 8 Gabriel Gómez • 9 Guerrero • 10 Valderrama • 11 Redín • 12 Niño • 13 Hoyos • 14 Álvarez • 15 Perea • 16 Iguarán • 17 Cassiani • 18 Cabrera • 19 Rincón • 20 Fajardo • 21 Mendoza • 22 Hernández • Coach: Maturana v • d • e Colombia squad – 1991 Copa América 1 Higuita • 2 Escobar • 3 Martínez • 4 Pimentel • 5 Herrera • 6 Pareja • 7 de Ávila • 8 García • 9 Valenciano • 10 Valderrama • 11 Redín • 12 Calero • 13 Cabrera • 14 Álvarez • 15 Perea • 16 Estrada • 17 Osorio • 18 Iguarán • 19 Usuriaga • 20 Rincón • 21 Vargas Cortés • 22 Niño • Coach: García v • d • e Colombia squad – 1993 Copa América 1 Córdoba • 2 Cortés • 3 Mendoza • 4 Herrera • 5 Gaviria • 6 Gómez • 7 O.Maturana • 8 García • 9 Aristizábal • 10 Valderrama • 11 Valencia • 12 Mondragón • 13 Pacheco • 14 Álvarez • 15 Perea • 16 Lozano • 17 Asprilla • 18 Osorio • 19 Rincón • 20 W.Pérez • 21 R.Pérez • 22 Pazo • Coach: Maturana v • d • e Colombia squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Córdoba • 2 Escobar • 3 Mendoza • 4 Herrera • 5 Gaviria • 6 Gómez • 7 de Ávila • 8 Lozano • 9 Valenciano • 10 Valderrama • 11 Valencia • 12 Mondragón • 13 Ortiz • 14 Álvarez • 15 Perea • 16 Aristizábal • 17 Serna • 18 Cortés • 19 Rincón • 20 Pérez • 21 Asprilla • 22 Pazo • Coach: Maturana v • d • e Colombia squad – 1995 Copa América 1 Higuita • 2 Santa • 3 Mendoza • 4 Fernández • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Gaviria • 7 Guerrero • 8 Lozano • 9 Arboleda • 10 Valderrama • 11 Asprilla • 12 Calero • 13 Cabrera • 14 Álvarez • 15 Mosquera • 16 Aristizábal • 17 León • 18 Cardona • 19 Rincón • 20 Quiñonez • 21 Cassiani • 22 Córdoba • Coach: Gómez