Diego López Rodríguez
Encyclopedia
Diego López Rodríguez (ˈdjeɣo ˈlopeθ; born 3 November 1981 in Paradela
, Lugo
, Galicia) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Villarreal CF
as a goalkeeper.
, López moved to Real Madrid
at almost 19. After a loan at another side from the capital
, AD Alcorcón
, he eventually moved up to Real's B team
, starting in his second season, which ended in a Segunda División
promotion.
López served as first-team backup to Iker Casillas
in the following two La Liga
seasons. In the closing stages of 2005–06
, he appeared in two back-to-back away wins, against CA Osasuna
(as Casillas was sent off
), and Racing de Santander
, adding a UEFA Champions League
group stage contest at Olympiakos FC, in a 1–2 defeat. In 2007 López signed for Villarreal for a reported fee of €
6 million, and started the season as second-choice to Uruguay
an Sebastián Viera
but, after a string of fine performances (he played in the domestic and UEFA Cups), he was awarded first-team action, finishing the season with 20 appearances.
In 2008–09, López was everpresent, helping Villarreal finish fifth in the league, as he did not miss one minute of action. More of the same in the following season
, but the team could only rank seventh, thus out of the European zone; however, as fifth-placed RCD Mallorca
was expelled from European competition due to bankruptcy, the Valencian
took its place in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League.
, as the third goalkeeper, for two 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
– both against Turkey
, in late March/early April 2009.
He was named by national side boss Vicente del Bosque
for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
in South Africa
, in the same predicament (behind Casillas and José Manuel Reina), and did not play any matches there.
On 12 August 2009, in a 3–2 friendly win in Macedonia, López made his national team debut, playing the last 30 minutes in the place of Reina, and keeping a clean sheet
.
Paradela
-Portugal:* Paradela , a civil parish in the municipality of Barcelos* Paradela , a civil parish in the municipality of Chaves* Paradela , a civil parish in the municipality of Miranda do Douro...
, Lugo
Lugo (province)
Lugo is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northeastern part of the autonomous community of Galicia. It is bordered by the provinces of Ourense, Pontevedra, and A Coruña, the principality of Asturias, the State of León, and in the north by the Cantabrian Sea .The population is 356,595 , of...
, 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 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...
as a goalkeeper.
Club career
A youth graduate from hometown's CD LugoCD Lugo
Club Deportivo Lugo is a Spanish football team based in Lugo, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Founded in 1953, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 1.-Season to season:----*1 seasons in Segunda División...
, López moved to 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...
at almost 19. After a loan at another side from the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, AD Alcorcón
AD Alcorcón
Agrupación Deportiva Alcorcón is a Spanish football team based in Alcorcón, in the autonomous community of Madrid. Founded in 1971, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home matches at Municipal de Santo Domingo, with a 5,430 seat capacity....
, he eventually moved up to Real's B team
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
, starting in his second season, which ended in a Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
promotion.
López served as first-team backup to Iker Casillas
Íker Casillas
Iker Casillas Fernández is a Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, being the captain of both...
in the following two 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...
seasons. In the closing stages of 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...
, he appeared in two back-to-back away wins, 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...
(as Casillas was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
), and Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
, adding a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage contest at Olympiakos FC, in a 1–2 defeat. In 2007 López signed for Villarreal for a reported fee of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
6 million, and started the season as second-choice to 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 Sebastián Viera
Sebastián Viera
Mario Sebastián Viera Galaín is an Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Junior Barranquilla in Colombia, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:...
but, after a string of fine performances (he played in the domestic and UEFA Cups), he was awarded first-team action, finishing the season with 20 appearances.
In 2008–09, López was everpresent, helping Villarreal finish fifth in the league, as he did not miss one minute of action. More of the same in the following season
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;"|...
, but the team could only rank seventh, thus out of the European zone; however, as fifth-placed RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
was expelled from European competition due to bankruptcy, the Valencian
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
took its place in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League.
International career
López was first called-up by SpainSpain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, as the third goalkeeper, for two 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
– both against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
, in late March/early April 2009.
He was named by national side boss Vicente del Bosque
Vicente Del Bosque
Vicente del Bosque González, 1st Marquis of Del Bosque is a former Spanish footballer He is currently the manager of the Spanish national football team. After taking over from Luis Aragonés who had led Spain to European success in Euro 2008, Del Bosque went on to manage the national team to the...
for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup was the eighth Confederations Cup, and was held in South Africa from 14 June to 28 June 2009 as a prelude to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The draw was held on 22 November 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The opening match was played at Ellis Park...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, in the same predicament (behind Casillas and José Manuel Reina), and did not play any matches there.
On 12 August 2009, in a 3–2 friendly win in Macedonia, López made his national team debut, playing the last 30 minutes in the place of Reina, and keeping a clean sheet
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
.