UD Almería

Carlos García Badías
This is a Spanish name; the first family name is García and the second is Badías.
Carlos García Badías (born 29 April 1984 in Barcelona, Catalonia) is a Spanish footballer, who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish first division, as a central defender.


Football career
A product of local RCD Espanyol's youth ranks, García would only appear for the first team on three occasions, during 2003-04 (three defeats), and would serve a loan stint with Polideportivo Ejido the following season.

In 2005, García stayed in Andalusia, being sold by Espanyol to second division side UD Almería. He would become an instant first-choice, being instrumental in the team's first-ever top flight promotion, in 2006-07.

Hernán Pellerano

Hernán Darío Pellerano or simply Pelle (born June 4, 1984 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine football defender currently playing for UD Almería in Spain.

Pellerano made his professional debut in 2003 for Vélez Sársfield, he has gone on to establish himself as a key member of the first team squad, appearing in every game of the Apertura 2007 tournament.

In 2005 he was part of the squad that won the Clausura 2005, even though he was a substitute for Fabricio Fuentes and Maximiliano Pellegrino.

Pellerano was also part of an Argentina based national squad formed by Alfio Basile to train for the Copa América 2007. However, he did not play any official game with Argentina nor was he called for the Copa América.

In 2008 he joined UD Almería in Spain for a fee of around €$3 million.[1]

Juan Jesús Gutierrez(Juanito)

Juan Jesús Gutiérrez Robles, aka Juanito (born 17 February 1980 in Málaga, Andalusia), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish La Liga.

Earlier a central defender, Juanito grew through the ranks of hometown Málaga CF, making his top flight debuts on September 1, 2002, in a 3-2 away win against neighbours Recreativo de Huelva. After three seasons, he played one season each with Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad (with both teams eventually being relegated).

Juanito joined UD Almería in 2007-08, where he was successfully reconverted into a holding defensive midfielder.

Wilmer Santiago Acasiete Ariadela (born November 22, 1977 in Callao) is a Peruvian football central defender.
Currently with UD Almería in the Spanish first division, he also holds a Spanish passport.

Club career

Acasiete started playing professionally with lowly Deportivo Wanka, moving in the following year to Universitario de Deportes. After another sole season, he joined Cienciano del Cuzco, helping the former country capital side to the 2003 South American Cup and the 2004 South American Supercup.
In 2004-05, Acasiete joined Spain's Unión Deportiva Almería, then in the second level. He was an important defensive element in the Andalusians first ever promotion to the top flight, in 2007, appearing slightly less in the subsequent seasons although, in his first top level campaign in Spain, he managed to award his team six points with last minute home strikes against Sevilla FC and Villarreal CF (both 1-0).

International career

Acasiete played for Peru in the Copa América 2004 and 2007.
On December 7, 2007, he was found guilty of having introduced women and alcohol into the national squad's hotel two days before Peru's away drubbing at the hands of Ecuador (5-1), and was thus suspended 18 months (1.5 years) from international competition (national sides only).
On July 3, 2008, after an investigation and a review of the facts, the suspension was changed to three months (from the date of appeal in April, 2008), with a $10,000 fine.

Michel Macedo Rocha Machado or simply Michel (born February 15, 1990) is a Brazilian football player currently playing for UD Almería. He made his debut for Almería on November 16, 2008 in a game against RCD Mallorca.

Esteban Andrés Suárez, Estebán (born June 27, 1975 in Avilés, Asturias), is a Spanish footballer, who currently plays goalkeeper for UD Almería.
He began his career with hometown Real Avilés Industrial in 1994, but soon moved to local giants Real Oviedo. During 5 seasons, he only missed 12 league games combined. As Oviedo was consecutive relegated from the first to the third level, Esteban moved to Atlético de Madrid, whom in turn returned to the top flight.
After two solid seasons at Sevilla FC (two sixth league places, as first-choice), Esteban moved to Real Club Celta de Vigo, backing up José Manuel Pinto until the latter moved to FC Barcelona, in January 2008.
In the summer 2008, he joined UD Almería.

Guilherme Oliveira Santos or simply Guilherme (born February 5, 1988 in Jequié), is a Brazilian left back. He currently plays for UD Almería.

Fernando Soriano Marcos


This is a Spanish name; the first family name is Soriano and the second is Marcos.
Fernando Soriano Marcos (born 24 September 1979 in Zaragoza, Aragon) is a Spanish footballer, who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish first division, as a tireless, hard-working central midfielder.

Football career
A product of hometown Real Zaragoza's youth ranks, Soriano was loaned to second division side Recreativo de Huelva before appearing with the first team, which would befall during the following season, also in the second level.

In the top flight, Soriano proved a very useful midfield element. During 2003-04, he scored the winner in 2-1 triumphs over Racing de Santander and FC Barcelona. He also helped the Aragon side win the 2004 Spanish Cup.


In 2005-06, Soriano joined UD Almería, netting seven goals in his first season. He was an instrumental figure in the side's first ever top division promotion the next campaign, reuniting with former Zaragoza teammate Corona in 2007-08, as the Andalusians overachieved for a final 8th place.

José Ortiz Bernal

This is a Spanish name; the first family name is Ortiz and the second is Bernal.
José Ortiz Bernal (born 4 August 1977 in Almería) is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish first division, usually as a forward.

Football career
After beginning playing professionally for hometown's UD Almería (then in the third level), Ortiz served an uneventful stint abroad, appearing one season with Italy's Ravenna Calcio.

Upon his return to Almería, Ortiz helped the Andalusians achieve promotion to the second division in 2002, netting five goals in the following season, notably a brace against neighbours Xerez CD, in a 6-0 home routing.

Ortiz, who was club captain when in the starting XI, finished as Almería's third-best scorer in 2006-07, as it achieved a first ever top flight promotion. He netted ten goals (behind only Albert Crusat and Míchel), subsequently playing in 24 matches in 2007-08, mainly as a substitute.

Trivia
Ortiz is one of three Almería players with that surname, Mané and Juan Manuel Ortiz being the others.

Miguel Angel García Pérez-Roldán(Corona)

Miguel Angel García Pérez-Roldán, aka Corona (born 12 February 1981 in Talavera de la Reina, Castile-La Mancha), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for UD Almería in Spain's first division. His usual position is midfielder.
Football career
A product of La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid, skilled Corona never made it past its C and B sides, being signed by Real Zaragoza in 2001-02, but would only amass 33 top flight matches for the Aragonese side during four seasons, with loans in the second level in between (one season with Polideportivo Ejido, six months with Albacete Balompié).

In 2006-07, Corona was loaned again, to UD Almería, being instrumental in the Andalusia outfit's first ever promotion to the top level. He reunited with former Zaragoza teammate Fernando Soriano for 2007-08, and the move was made permanent after the season's end,[1]with Almería finishing eighth.

Corona scored his first top flight goal with a header, in a March 9, 2008 1-2 defeat at CA Osasuna, his season only.

UD Almería is a team very good

Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Ortiz Palazón (born 1 March 1982 in Guardamar del Segura, Valencian Community) is a Spanish footballer, who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish first division as a midfielder.

Football career

A graduate of Atlético de Madrid's youth system, Ortiz played five first-team matches during 2003-04, three as a starter. He would spend the next three seasons on loan, to CA Osasuna and Polideportivo Ejido (second division).
In 2007-08, Ortiz joined newly promoted UD Almería, where he was instrumental in helping the Andalusia outfit overachieve to a final 8th place in the league. He scored twice, namely in a 4-1 away win against Sevilla FC, on April 19, 2008.

Trivia

Ortiz is one of three Almería players with that surname, Mané and José Ortiz being the others.

Iriney Santos da Silva (born April 23, 1981 in Humaitá), simply known as Iriney, is a Brazilian professional footballer, playing in central midfield for UD Almería in Spain. He is 179 cm tall and weighs 80 kg.
He joined Celta from Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2005. He played three seasons with Rayo after joining them from São Caetano in 2002. He holds a Spanish passport. After Celta's relegation to the Segunda Division he decided to leave the club in the summer of 2007, but couldn't find another employer until the next year. He was picked up by Almeria from the free agent list in January 2008, but lack of match practice reduced him only to a substitute role at his new club.

Miguel Ángel Nieto de la Calle (born January 12, 1986 in Madrid) is a Spanish football right winger, currently playing with Spanish League side UD Almería.

Football career

A Real Madrid youth graduate, Nieto spent his first three professional seasons with the C team. He sometimes trained with and was called-up to the first team, as against Racing de Santander (November 18, 2006) and Valencia CF (November 27), as an unused substitute.
Nieto made his first team debut in a match with Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Champions League, on a final group stage tie that ended with a 2-2 away draw. His league debut was against Villarreal CF, in January 27, 2007, and he appeared the next week against UD Levante, in two consecutive 1-0 defeats, although Madrid would be crowned league champions. On the latter match, Nieto, who had substituted an injured Robinho, tried his luck with a shot which sliced the woodwork of José Francisco Molina's goal.
After spending 2007-08 with Real Madrid Castilla, in the third category, Nieto signed a five-year contract with 2007-08's top level overachievers UD Almería on July 1, 2008, after finishing his contract with Real Madrid.

Kalu Uche (born November 15, 1982 in Aba) is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish first division, mainly as a forward.
He is the older brother of Ikechukwu Uche, also a footballer (they are not related to two other players, Uche Okechukwu and Ikechukwu Kalu).

Club career

Uche's career began in Nigeria with Enyimba FC and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. In 2000-01, he joined Spanish first division team RCD Espanyol, but would not collect a single first team appearance.
Uche then transferred to Poland's Wisła Kraków and played there until 2006 (winning the 2003 Polish League and two domestic cups), except for the 2004-05 season when he represented FC Girondins de Bordeaux, on loan, after disciplinary problems endured in Poland.
In 2006-07, Uche moved to UD Almería, and was instrumental in helping the Andalusia outfit to its ever top flight promotion, netting 8 league goals (with three in the last five contests).
He would make his first division debut on August 26, 2007, coming from the bench in a 3-0 win at Deportivo de La Coruña.
On January 11, 2009, profitting from the absence of first-choice Álvaro Negredo, Uche netted both goals in a 2-2 draw at Espanyol.

International career

Uche played with the Nigerian olympic team in the qualifications for the 2000 Olympics, but did not make his full international debut until 2003, in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola.

Albert Crusat Domènech (born 13 May 1982 in Barcelona, Catalonia) is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for UD Almería of the Spanish first division. His usual position is left winger or forward, from where he often relies on his dribbling ability and incredible pace.

Football career

A product of RCD Espanyol's youth system, Crusat played five first-team matches during 2002-03, the first on September 2, 2002, in a 0-2 loss at Real Madrid, as the Catalonia outfit barely avoided relegation. He went on to have second division stints with Rayo Vallecano and UE Lleida.
In 2005-06, Crusat joined UD Almería, being instrumental in the Andalusia side's first ever top-flight promotion and subsequent overachievements in 2007-08.

Natalio Lorenzo Poquet, Natalio (born September 18, 1984 in Valencia, Valencian Community), is a Spanish footballer who currently plays for Córdoba CF, on loan from UD Almería, usually as a forward.

Esteban Andres Solari, born June 2, 1980) in Rosario Santa Fe, is an Argentine football player. His nickname "Tano" means "Italian", but can also mean "stubborn" in Argentinian slang. His parents are Eduardo Miguel Solari and Alicia Susana Poggio. His brothers are Santiago Hernán Solari, Martin Miguel Solari, David Eduardo Solari and his sister is Liz Maria Solari (model).

Biography

Solari's first professional club was Velez Sarsfield, for whom he played in the 1999-00 season, followed by seasons at Estudiantes and Defensa y Justicia. He played for Argentinos Juniors in the 2002-03 season, and in 2003-04 played for Italian team Chioggia.
He played the 2004-05 season for Lierse, scoring 12 goals in 23 appearances, before signing with APOEL for the 2005-06 season. After impressing during his debut season, he was offered a contract extension until 2008. That first year, Esteban played 16 games from the start and 4 as a substitute, scoring 15 goals in the league. In the 2006-07 season, he finished top scorer in Cyprus with 20 goals in the championship, and was one major force behind APOEL's final win.He was the MVP of the championship. However, at the end of May 2007, it was announced that Solari had signed for Pumas UNAM of Mexico. On June 13, 2008, Solari was transferred to the spanish club UD Almería.
His parents are Eduardo Miguel Solari and Alicia Susana Poggio. His brothers are Santiago Solari , Martin Solari and David Solari who are also footballers, his sister Liz Maria Solari is a model.
Esteban started his professional career at Velez Sarsfield in 2001, he also played for Estudiantes de la Plata and Defensa y Justicia and Argentinos Juniors in Argentina before. joining Italian team AC Chioggia in 2003. In 2004 he played in Belgium for Lierse where he scored 8 goals in 23 games. In 2006 he joined APOEL where he signed a contract for a year. His strong performances for the team earned him an extended contract for another two years, until May 2008.
Solari joined Pumas in Mexico and scored the first goal of the 2007-08 season. In 2008 he joined UD Almería of Spain.