.
 Lugano with Uruguay in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Alfredo Lugano Morena | ||
| Date of birth | November 2, 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Canelones, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Club Atlético Libertad | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999–2002 | Nacional | 13 | (0) |
| 2002 | → Plaza Colonia (loan) | 46 | (4) |
| 2003–2006 | São Paulo | 96 | (8) |
| 2006–2011 | Fenerbahçe | 125 | (21) |
| 2011–2013 | Paris Saint-Germain | 12 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Málaga (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2013– | West Bromwich Albion | 2 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003– | Uruguay | 91 | (9) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 February 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:06, 30 June 2013 (UTC) | |||
Diego Alfredo Lugano Morena (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdjeɣo luˈɣano]; (born 2 November 1980) is a Uruguayan footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League [2] and for the Uruguayan national team as a central defender.
Nicknamed Tota, Lugano has previously played for Plaza Colonia, Club Nacional de Football, São Paulo FC, and Fenerbahçe. He is also captain of the Uruguayan national football team, and was selected the best captain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[3]
Club career
Early years
Born to Alfredo Lugano and Diana Morena in Canelones, Canelones Department,[4] Lugano started playing football for his hometown club Club Atlético Libertad, like his father Alfredo. In December 1998, he played his first match with the first-team squad of Libertad, becoming league champions with the club at the age of 18-years-old. From Libertad, in 1999, Lugano transferred to Club Nacional de Footballin Montevideo. Three few years later, Lugano was loaned out to Plaza Colonia for the duration of the playing season.
São Paulo
Lugano came to São Paulo FC in 2003. He was contracted by club President Marcelo Portugal Gouveiawithout consulting the head coach Oswaldo de Oliveira. President Gouveia's actions led to the ascribing of the nickname "Homem do Presidente" ("President's Man") to Lugano.[5] After Oswaldo de Oliveira left the club in late 2003, Lugano started playing matches more frequently. In 2005, he led the team to titles in the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa Libertadores, and the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan. That same year, Lugano was recognized as South America's best defender. His leadership skills[6] and his willingness to fight for ball possession[7] have raised his profile amongst São Paulo's supporters, where he is still highly regarded.[8] Lugano has also mentioned that he still maintains a good relationship with the club.[9] In 2006, he helped his club to the runner-up stage of the Copa Libertadores.
Fenerbahçe
Lugano joined Fenerbahçe on 21 August 2006 for a reported transfer fee of €7.5 million,[10] where he signed a 3-and-a-half-year contract with the Turkish club. He and former teammate Edu Dracena's powerful defensive abilities helped Fenerbahçe win the league during the club's 100th anniversary year.
Lugano is notorious for his presence in attack, as was shown with his scored goals from headers from dead ball situations and support of the forward line. He became a fan favourite with his defensive tenacity and his spectacular play from free kick situations. Following a red card, he was suspended for five weeks after the derby match against Galatasaray during the2008–09 season when he clashed with Emre Aşık on 12 April 2009 at Ali Sami Yen Stadium.[11] Since then, he has a strong connection with supporters, especially with the Genç Fenerbahçeliler.[12][13] He was one of the captains of the team. He signed a new four-year contract in 2009 with Fenerbahçe.[14]
Paris Saint-Germain
On 27 August 2011, Fenerbahçe announced Lugano was leaving the club to join Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1for a fee worth €3 million.[15][16] His first season in France, however, ended poorly and Lugano made just 12 appearances, mostly being cut out of the side due to injury and poor form.[17]
Málaga
On 21 January 2013, Lugano signed with Spanish side Málaga CF until 30 June on loan. As he was not in PSG managerCarlo Ancelotti's plans, Lugano was not inscribed in the Champions League for that season; this way, he was not cup tied for his new club and represented Málaga in their European ambitions.[2] He returned to PSG on 1 July 2013, with Málaga failing to make the loan move permanent.
West Bromwich Albion
On 2 August 2013, Lugano joined Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on a two-year contract.[18]
International career
Lugano's first official call up for Uruguay was in November 2004 under coach Jorge Fossati, whilst he played for São Paulo FC, to play in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Paraguay.[19] Prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Lugano was named team captain of La Celeste, having been given the armband for the first time against England in 2006. He led Uruguay to an impressive fourth-placed finish. Lugano also captained Uruguay to victory at the 2011 Copa América, playing in all six games for the eventual champions.[20] On 2 September 2011, Lugano scored a goal as Uruguay defeated Ukraine 2–3 in an international friendly away in Kharkiv. In his next call up to the national side, on 7 October 2011, Lugano netted a brace in Uruguay's 4–2 defeat of Bolivia inWorld Cup qualifying.[21] On 20 June 2013, Lugano scored his ninth goal for Uruguay against Nigeria in a 2–1 win at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where the nation eventually finished in fourth place.
International goals
- Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first.
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 14 June 2008 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay |  Venezuela | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 11 October 2008 | Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires,Argentina |  Argentina | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 28 March 2009 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay |  Paraguay | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4. | 15 November 2009 | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica |  Costa Rica | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 29 March 2011 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland |  Republic of Ireland | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 6. | 2 September 2011 | Metalist Oblast Sports Complex, Kharkiv, Ukraine |  Ukraine | 2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 7. | 7 October 2011 | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay |  Bolivia | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 4–1 | |||||
| 9. | 20 June 2013 | Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil |  Nigeria | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| ||||||
Honours
Club
- Campeonato Paulista: 2005
- Série A: 2006
- Copa Libertadores: 2005; Runner-up 2006
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2005
International
- 2007 Copa América: Fourth Place
- 2010 World Cup: Fourth Place
- 2011 Copa América: Winner
- 2003 Lunar New Year Cup: Winner
Personal life
Lugano is married to Karina Roncio and has three children: Nicolás, Thiago, and Bianca. Nicolás, the oldest child, plays for Fenerbahçe youth teams.[23][24]Thiago and Bianca were born in Istanbul.[25][26] He has cited the defenders Hugo de León and Paolo Montero as his personal football heroes
