Diego Lugano

Early years

Born to Alfredo Lugano and Diana Morena in Canelones, Canelones Department, Lugano started playing football for his hometown club Club Atlético Libertad, like his father Alfredo. In December 1998, he played his first match with the first-team squad of Libertad, becoming league champions with the club at the age of 18 years. From Libertad, in 1999, Lugano transferred to Club Nacional de Football in Montevideo. Three years later, Lugano was loaned out to Plaza Colonia for the duration of the playing season.

São Paulo

Lugano came to São Paulo FC in 2003. He was contracted by club President Marcelo Portugal Gouveia without consulting the head coach Oswaldo de Oliveira. President Gouveia's actions led to the ascribing of the nickname "Homem do Presidente" ("President's Man") to Lugano. After Oswaldo de Oliveira left the club in late 2003, Lugano started playing matches more frequently. In 2005, he led the team to titles in the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa Libertadores, and the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan. That same year, Lugano was recognized as South America's best defender. His leadership skills and his willingness to fight for ball possession have raised his profile amongst São Paulo's supporters, where he is still highly regarded. Lugano has also mentioned that he still maintains a good relationship with the club. In 2006, he helped his club to the runner-up stage of the Copa Libertadores.

Fenerbahçe

Lugano joined Fenerbahçe…

Lugano made 95 appearances for the Uruguay national football team after making his debut in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Paraguay. He has represented the country at two FIFA World Cups, two Copa América tournaments and one FIFA Confederations Cup. He captained the team for eight years, beginning in May 2006, when he was given the armband of La Celeste for the first time prior to a 2–1 friendly defeat to England at Old Trafford. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Lugano scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw with Venezuela at Montevideo's Estadio Centenario. He went on to score three further goals during qualification, including the only goal of a 1–0 win in San José against Costa Rica in the inter-continental play-off.

Lugano was a first choice player for Uruguay at the 2007 Copa América, captaining the team in each of its six matches. In the team's semi-final against Brazil, Lugano had his decisive kick in the penalty shootout saved by Doni. Lugano was sent off in the 3–1 third-place play-off defeat to Mexico at the Estadio Olímpico in Caracas. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Lugano led Uruguay to an impressive fourth-placed finish. Lugano also captained Uruguay to victory at the 2011 Copa América, playing in all six games for the eventual champions. On 2 September 2011, Lugano scored a goal as Uruguay defeated Ukraine 3–2 in an international friendly away in Kharkiv. In his next call up to the national side, on 7 October…

Club

International

Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lugano goal.

Lugano is married to Karina Roncio and has three children: Nicolás, Thiago, and Bianca. During the 2000s, Nicolás played for Fenerbahçe youth teams. Nicolás now played for the U-19 Defensor squad. Thiago and Bianca were born in Istanbul. He has cited the defenders Hugo de León and Paolo Montero as his personal football heroes. A sports complex in the Uruguayan city Canelones, the Complejo Diego Lugano, is named after him, and serves Club Social y Deportivo SAC de Canelones. In 2015, Lugano gained international wide media attention when his wife and he travelled on a bus in Asunción after having a problem with his vehicle. Lugano is of Piedmontese descent and holds the Italian passport.