Diego Alonso


Diego Martín Alonso López is a Uruguayan former footballer who played as a striker, and the head coach of Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer.

Playing career

Club

Alonso was born in Montevideo, the country's capital. He made his professional debut with C.A. Bella Vista where he remained four seasons, helping the side to the second division title in 1997.
After a brief spell in Argentina for Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Alonso moved to Spain, where he played with five teams in as many years: Valencia CF, Atlético Madrid, Racing de Santander, Málaga CF 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 Club Universidad Nacional.
In 2006, the 31-year-old Alonso returned to his country and joined hometown's Club Nacional de Football. However, shortly after, he moved abroad again, signing with Shanghai Shenhua F.C. in the Chinese Super League; after two slow seasons with Gimnasia, the veteran switched to Peñarol.

International

Alonso made eight appearances for the Uruguay national team, during five 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 for the eventual runners-up, also against Paraguay, the hosts. In spite of his season with Atlético he was not selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and subsequently criticised manager Víctor Púa.

Coaching career

Alonso started working as a manager in 2011, being in charge in quick succession of Bella Vista, Club Guaraní, Peñarol and Club Olimpia. In December 2014, he was appointed at C.F. Pachuca of the Mexican Liga MX, leading them to the 2016 Clausura and the subsequent edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
On 2 June 2018, Alonso was named coach of C.F. 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 a different club.
On 30 December 2019, Alonso was announced as the inaugural head coach of Major League Soccer side Inter Miami CF.

Personal life

Alonso is a cousin of Iván Alonso, who also played several years in Spain, mainly with Deportivo Alavés.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Club

Bella Vista
Atlético Madrid
UNAM
Shanghai
Peñarol
Uruguay
Pachuca
Monterrey
Individual