Marcelo Fleitas
Encyclopedia
Julio Marcelo Fleitas Silveira (born 1 September 1973 in Montevideo
) is an Uruguay
an-Ecuador
ian football defender
. He currently plays for the Ecuadorian club Emelec
and the Ecuadorian national team
.
. Although he is Uruguayan by birth, he is a curiosity because he has never played for any professional team of Uruguay
in any division. When he was just starting his career, he moved to Argentina
and played there for small lower division clubs Leandro Alem
and Defensa y Justicia before travelling to Ecuador
to play for Olmedo.
In Riobamba
, Fleitas quickly showed that he was a very versatile, brave, fast and valuable defender, helping CD Olmedo to win their first and only Ecuadorian title in 2000. He played there for 3 seasons before signing for Barcelona S.C. for two seasons, where he also played very well, but the club's poor performance in both seasons made him leave the club. Then he was transferred to Deportivo Cuenca where he played the last 3 seasons and where he helped the team to qualify to two consecutive Copa Libertadores and he became on of the team's captains. Before the end of 2008 he was transferred to Ecuador
's giants Emelec
due to Deportivo Cuenca's financial crisis.
. He received his first call-up to the Ecuadorian national team for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
against Peru
and Argentina
. He received his first cap on June 7, 2009 against Peru in a game that was won by Ecuador 1-2.
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
) is an Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an-Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He currently plays for the Ecuadorian club Emelec
Club Sport Emelec
Club Sport Emelec is a Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil that is best known for their professional football team. The football team plays in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of professional football in the country....
and the Ecuadorian national team
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
.
Club career
Fleitas is a veteran player that has played most of his professional career in EcuadorEcuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. Although he is Uruguayan by birth, he is a curiosity because he has never played for any professional team of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
in any division. When he was just starting his career, he moved to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and played there for small lower division clubs Leandro Alem
Club Leandro N. Alem
Club Deportivo y Mutual Leandro N. Alem is an Argentine Football club, located in General Rodríguez, Buenos Aires Province. The team currently plays in the regionalised 4th level of Argentinian football Primera C Metropolitana....
and Defensa y Justicia before travelling to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
to play for Olmedo.
In Riobamba
Riobamba
Riobamba is the capital of the Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador, which is located at the Chambo River Valley of the Andes. It is south of Ecuador's capital Quito and located at 2754 m on the Avenue of the Volcanoes...
, Fleitas quickly showed that he was a very versatile, brave, fast and valuable defender, helping CD Olmedo to win their first and only Ecuadorian title in 2000. He played there for 3 seasons before signing for Barcelona S.C. for two seasons, where he also played very well, but the club's poor performance in both seasons made him leave the club. Then he was transferred to Deportivo Cuenca where he played the last 3 seasons and where he helped the team to qualify to two consecutive Copa Libertadores and he became on of the team's captains. Before the end of 2008 he was transferred to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
's giants Emelec
Emelec
Emelec can refer to:*Empresa Eléctrica del Ecuador, a former Ecuadorian electric company*Club Sport Emelec, a football club founded by the above company...
due to Deportivo Cuenca's financial crisis.
International career
Fleitas has played for over 8 seasons in the Ecuadorian league and because of this he decided to become an Ecuadorian citizen. Since he was never capped for his country of birth (Uruguay), he is eligible to play for the Ecuadorian national teamEcuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
. He received his first call-up to the Ecuadorian national team for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL...
against Peru
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
and Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
. He received his first cap on June 7, 2009 against Peru in a game that was won by Ecuador 1-2.