Cristian Darío Álvarez

Cristian Álvarez
	File:CristianAlvarez.JPG Álvarez in action for Espanyol in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Cristian Darío Álvarez
Date of birth	13 November 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth	General Lagos, Argentina
Height	Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Cerro Porteño (loan from San Lorenzo)
Number	12
Youth career
2001–2005	Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years	Team
2005–2008	Rosario Central
2008–2013	Espanyol
2013–	San Lorenzo
2014–2015	→ Rayo Vallecano (loan)
2015–2016	→ Cerro Porteño (loan)
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 December 2015

Cristian Darío Álvarez (born 13 November 1985) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño on loan from San Lorenzo de Almagro as a goalkeeper.

Football career

Born in General Lagos, Santa Fe, Álvarez came through the youth ranks at hometown side Rosario Central, making his first-team debuts in a Copa Libertadores game against Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño on 23 February 2006, a 0–2 home loss. He went on to fully establish himself as the club's first-choice, playing two seasons in the first division.

In late May 2008, Álvarez joined Spanish team RCD Espanyol, signing a five-year contract.^[1] He spent most of his spell with the Catalans restricted to Copa del Rey matches, being barred in La Liga by Cameroonian Carlos Kameni: his longest run in the latter competition came during the 2009–10 season as the starter had been selected to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and he played four matches, conceding as many goals in two wins, one draw and one loss.

Álvarez was promoted to first-choice for the start of the 2011–12 season by manager Mauricio Pochettino, with Kameni also still in Espanyol's roster.