![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Leonel_%25C3%2581lvarez_%2528cropped%2529.jpg/640px-Leonel_%25C3%2581lvarez_%2528cropped%2529.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Leonel Álvarez (footballer, born 1965)
Colombian football defensive midfielder / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Leonel Álvarez (footballer, born 1995) or Leonel Álvarez (footballer, born 1996).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Zuleta.
Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta (born 29 July 1965) is a Colombian football manager and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is the current manager of Ecuadorian Serie A club Emelec.[2]
Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
![]() Álvarez in 2010 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta | ||
Date of birth | (1965-07-29) 29 July 1965 (age 59) | ||
Place of birth | Remedios, Colombia | ||
Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Emelec (manager) | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1983–1986 | Independiente Medellín | 189 | (3) |
1987–1989 | Atlético Nacional | 42 | (0) |
1990 | América de Cali | 0 | (0) |
1990–1992 | Real Valladolid | 35 | (0) |
1992–1995 | América de Cali | 115 | (5) |
1996 | Dallas Burn | 22 | (3) |
1997 | Veracruz | 20 | (2) |
1998–1999 | Dallas Burn | 48 | (0) |
1999–2001 | New England Revolution | 58 | (2) |
2002 | Deportivo Pereira | 25 | (1) |
2003–2004 | Deportes Quindío | 16 | (0) |
Total | 570 | (16) | |
International career | |||
1985–1997 | Colombia | 101 | (1) |
Managerial career | |||
2007 | Deportivo Pereira (assistant) | ||
2008–2009 | Independiente Medellín (assistant) | ||
2009–2010 | Independiente Medellín | ||
2010–2011 | Colombia (assistant) | ||
2011 | Colombia | ||
2012 | Once Caldas | ||
2012 | Itagüí | ||
2013–2014 | Deportivo Cali | ||
2014 | Veracruz | ||
2015–2017 | Independiente Medellín | ||
2017–2018 | Cerro Porteño | ||
2018–2019 | Club Libertad | ||
2022 | Águilas Doradas | ||
2023 | Cienciano | ||
2024 | Deportivo Pereira | ||
2024– | Emelec | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Close
Álvarez played 101 times for the Colombia national team between 1985 and 1997, making him the third most capped player in Colombian international football.[3] He also served as head coach of the Colombia national team in 2011, and is the only coach to have been champion twice with Independiente Medellín.