Diego Castro
Encyclopedia
Diego Castro Giménez (ˈdjeɣo ˈkastɾo; born 2 July 1982 in Pontevedra
, Galicia) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Getafe CF
as a left winger.
(third division
), Castro moved to Málaga CF
, but spent almost three seasons mainly registered with the Andalusia
ns' B club
; in December 2005, he appeared in two consecutive home losses for the main side, against CA Osasuna
(1–2) and Real Madrid
(0–2).
After both Málaga teams dropped down a level in 2005–06
, Castro moved to Sporting de Gijón
in division two, being an essential first-team element from the start (20 league goals in his first three seasons combined - with the Asturias
side achieving La Liga
promotion in his third - six of them in 2008–09, as Sporting narrowly avoided relegation).
In the following campaign
, Castro was arguably the team's most important player, as he topped its scoring charts at 10, four of those coming through penalties
. Sporting again managed to stay in the top division.
Castro again led Sporting de Gijón in goals scored in 2010–11
, netting one goal less. On 13 March 2011, after Nacho Novo
gained a penalty kick in the last-minute of an away fixture against Villarreal CF
, he converted it in Panenka
-style, for a final 1–1 draw; the Asturians
were then reduced to only nine players.
Shortly after the season ended, Castro confirmed his departure from Sporting as a free agent
, signing shortly after for Getafe CF
.
, also had a career intimately connected with football. He coached several teams in the first and second divisions from 1992 (notably SD Compostela
), also working in Portugal
.
Pontevedra
Pontevedra is a city in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of both the comarca and province of Pontevedra, in Galicia . It is also the capital of its own municipality which is, in fact, often considered as an extension of the actual city...
, Galicia) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
as a left winger.
Football career
After starting out professionally with local Pontevedra CFPontevedra CF
Pontevedra Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Pontevedra, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It was founded in 1941, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 1, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Pasarón, with a capacity of 12,000 seats.Having enjoyed...
(third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
), Castro moved to Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
, but spent almost three seasons mainly registered with the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns' B club
Atlético Malagueño
Atlético Malagueño, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1990, it is the reserve team of Málaga CF, and currently plays in Tercera División - Group 9....
; in December 2005, he appeared in two consecutive home losses for the main side, against CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
(1–2) and Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
(0–2).
After both Málaga teams dropped down a level in 2005–06
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
, Castro moved to Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
in division two, being an essential first-team element from the start (20 league goals in his first three seasons combined - with the Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
side achieving La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
promotion in his third - six of them in 2008–09, as Sporting narrowly avoided relegation).
In the following campaign
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, Castro was arguably the team's most important player, as he topped its scoring charts at 10, four of those coming through penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
. Sporting again managed to stay in the top division.
Castro again led Sporting de Gijón in goals scored in 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, netting one goal less. On 13 March 2011, after Nacho Novo
Nacho Novo
Ignacio Javier "Nacho" Gómez Novo is a Spanish association footballer who plays for La Liga side Sporting Gijón.Novo formerly played for Huesca in Spain then moved to Scotland with Raith Rovers and Dundee. In July 2004, he moved to Rangers for £450,000. During his first season at the club he...
gained a penalty kick in the last-minute of an away fixture against Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, he converted it in Panenka
Antonín Panenka
Antonín Panenka is a Czech former footballer.- Club career :An attacking midfielder known for the quality of his passing and his free kicks, Panenka played for Bohemians Prague for most of his career, joining the club as a youth in 1959. In 1981 Panenka left Bohemians for Austrian club Rapid...
-style, for a final 1–1 draw; the Asturians
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
were then reduced to only nine players.
Shortly after the season ended, Castro confirmed his departure from Sporting as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, signing shortly after for Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
.
Personal
Castro's father, Fernando Castro SantosFernando Castro Santos
Fernando Castro Santos is a Spanish football manager.During his career, he worked in several clubs in his country, as well as in Portugal.-Football career:...
, also had a career intimately connected with football. He coached several teams in the first and second divisions from 1992 (notably SD Compostela
SD Compostela
Sociedade Deportiva Compostela also known as Compostela is a Spanish football team based in Santiago de Compostela, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded on 26 June 1962, it currently plays in Preferente Autonómica.-History:...
), also working in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.