Diego Alonso

Club

Alonso was born in Montevideo, the country's capital. He made his professional debut with Bella Vista where he remained four seasons, helping the side to the Uruguayan Segunda División title in 1997. After a brief spell in Argentina for Gimnasia La Plata (he would also represent the club towards the end of his career), Alonso moved to Spain, where he played with five teams in as many years: Valencia, Atlético Madrid (where he scored 22 goals in 2001–02's Segunda División, helping the Colchoneros to return to La Liga and forming an efficient attacking partnership with countryman Fernando Correa, who added 13), Racing de Santander, Málaga and Real Murcia, where he did not have a good scoring record overall. In between his fourth and fifth club, he played one year in Mexico with UNAM. In 2006, the 31-year-old Alonso returned to his country and joined hometown's Nacional. However, shortly after, he moved abroad again, signing with Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League; after two seasons with Gimnasia, the veteran switched to Peñarol.

International

Alonso made seven appearances for the Uruguay national team in two years. His debut came on 17 June 1999 in a 3–2 friendly win over Paraguay, in Ciudad del Este. Alonso was chosen for the nation's squad for that year's Copa América, and scored on his quarter-final penalty shootout attempt (5–3 victory) for the eventual runners-up, also against Paraguay, the hosts. In spite of his season with Atlético he…

Early career

Alonso started working as a manager in 2011, being in charge in quick succession of Bella Vista, Guaraní, Peñarol and Olimpia (the second and fourth sides from the Paraguayan Primera División).

Pachuca

In December 2014, Alonso was appointed at Pachuca of the Mexican Liga MX. He led them to the 2016 Clausura and the subsequent edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. On 4 May 2018, he was released.

Monterrey

On 2 June 2018, Alonso was named coach of Monterrey. In May of the following year, after the 2–1 aggregate victory over Tigres UANL in the Champions League final, he became the first manager to win the competition with two different clubs. On 30 September 2019, following a 2–0 loss to the same opposition that left his team in 12th place on the general table, he was dismissed.

Inter Miami

On 30 December 2019, Alonso was announced as the inaugural head coach of Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. On 7 January 2021, he left by mutual consent.

Uruguay national team

Alonso was appointed manager of Uruguay on 14 December 2021, replacing Óscar Tabárez who had occupied the position for the previous 15 years. On 24 March 2022, after four wins in his first four games in charge, he secured qualification for the World Cup in Qatar. In December, after failing to progress from the group stage in the finals, he presented his resignation and cited his desire to return to club duties.

Sevilla

On 10 October 2023,…

Alonso is a cousin of Iván Alonso, who also played several years in Spain, mainly with Alavés. His uncle Daniel represented Sevilla and Castellón in the 70s.

Player

Bella Vista

Uruguayan Segunda División: 1997 Atlético Madrid

Segunda División: 2001–02 UNAM

Liga MX: Apertura 2004 Campeón de Campeones: 2004 Shanghai

A3 Champions Cup: 2007 Peñarol

Uruguayan Primera División: 2009–10 Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2011 Uruguay

Copa América runner-up: 1999 Individual

Pichichi Trophy (Segunda División): 2001–02

Manager

Pachuca

Liga MX: Clausura 2016 CONCACAF Champions League: 2016–17 Copa MX runner–up: Apertura 2017 FIFA Club World Cup third place: 2017 Monterrey

CONCACAF Champions League: 2019 Individual

CONCACAF Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2019