Nery Castillo

{{short description|Mexican footballer (born 1984)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{family name hatnote|Castillo|Confalonieri|lang=Spanish}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nery Castillo

| image =

| fullname = Nery Alberto Castillo Confalonieri

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = San Luis Potosí, Mexico

| height = {{convert|1.70|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = 1999–2000 |youthclubs1 = Danubio

| years1 = 2000–2007 |clubs1 = Olympiacos |caps1 = 105 |goals1 = 30

| years2 = 2007–2011 |clubs2 = Shakhtar Donetsk |caps2 = 12 |goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2008–2009 |clubs3 = → Manchester City (loan) |caps3 = 7 |goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2009–2010 |clubs4 = → Dnipro (loan) |caps4 = 3 |goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2010 |clubs5 = → Chicago Fire (loan) |caps5 = 8 |goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2011 |clubs6 = → Aris (loan) |caps6 = 10 |goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2011–2012 |clubs7 = Aris |caps7 = 20 |goals7 = 6

| years8 = 2012–2013 |clubs8 = Pachuca |caps8 = 13 |goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2013 |clubs9 = → León (loan) |caps9 = 7 |goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2013–2014 |clubs10 = Rayo Vallecano |caps10 = 11 |goals10 = 2

| totalcaps = 196 |totalgoals = 42

| nationalyears1 = 2007–2009 |nationalteam1 = Mexico |nationalcaps1 = 21 |nationalgoals1 = 6

| pcupdate = 6 January 2014

| ntupdate = 9 September 2009

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|Mexico}}

{{Medal|RU|CONCACAF Gold Cup|2007}}

{{Medal|3rd|Copa América|2007}}

}}

Nery Alberto Castillo Confalonieri (born 13 June 1984) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Early years

Nery Castillo was born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where his father, a Uruguayan professional footballer, had played for the local team of San Luis. He is also of Italian descent.{{cite news|date=21 December 2007|access-date=17 January 2008|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=557382.html|title=Castillo: We'll be a force in 2010|publisher=FIFA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid%3D557382.html|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

The family moved to South America while Castillo was still a small child. He started playing for Uruguayan side Danubio's youth team. While playing in a Brazilian tournament, Castillo was spotted by scouts from European clubs. He went on to trials with Manchester United,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/nery-castillo-devil-in-the-detail-as-castillo-pays-for-his-city-break-768386.html|title=Nery Castillo: Devil in the detail as Castillo pays for his City break|date=5 January 2008|access-date=6 January 2008|work=The Independent on Sunday|publisher=Independent News and Media|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/nery-castillo-devil-in-the-detail-as-castillo-pays-for-his-city-break-768386.html|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}} but failed to obtain a work permit and the transfer did not materialise.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/21/castillo-vows-united-revenge-89520-20261767/|title=Castillo vows United revenge|date=21 December 2007|access-date=6 January 2008|work=Daily Mirror|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/21/castillo-vows-united-revenge-89520-20261767/|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Mexican Castillo joins Man City|date=18 December 2007|access-date=20 January 2008|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/12/18/england.castillo/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/12/18/england.castillo/index.html|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

Club career

=Olympiacos=

At the age of 16, Castillo's father and agent accepted an offer from the Greek club Olympiacos. Three years after he joined Olympiacos, Castillo became a regular starter in both domestic and European competitions. He became a fan favourite with the Gate 7 Ultras and was even given the number 7 shirt in deference to them.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultras.gr/main.php|language=el|title=Gate 7 Ultras Olmpiakos|access-date=15 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113024910/http://www.ultras.gr/main.php|archive-date=13 January 2008|url-status=dead}} Castillo was part of the Olympiacos squad that won the next three consecutive league titles. He was the club's leading scorer during the preparatory phase for the 2006–07 season, accumulating seven goals in friendly games. He finished the season second to Rivaldo in goals scored and assists for the club, with three goals scored in five Champions League games.

In early 2006, his father and agent began negotiations with Mexican club Guadalajara, but talks were suspended because Olympiacos weren't interested in selling the player at the time.

Subsequently, in 2007, Olympiacos accepted Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk's offer of €20 million for Castillo's services. Before this, in what Castillo correctly anticipated would be his last game for Olympiacos, he scored with a free kick shot, after "stealing" the kick from the teammate who was preparing to take it.

=Shakhtar Donetsk=

On 31 July 2007, Castillo joined Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on a five-year contract for a fee of €20 million.{{cite news|url=http://shakhtar.com/en/news/4558|title=Shakhtar have signed Nery Alberto Castillo|work=shakhtar.com|publisher=FC Shakhtar Donetsk|date=31 July 2007|access-date=31 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://shakhtar.com/en/news/4558|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}} This became the most expensive transfer for a Ukrainian club to date.{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SOCCER_MORE/idUKL0679857220070914|title=Soccer-Big spending Shakhtar eager to make splash in Europe|date=14 September 2007|access-date=6 January 2008|work=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SOCCER_MORE/idUKL0679857220070914|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

Castillo scored his first goal for Shakhtar while playing against SV Salzburg in the Champions League. He had only played in a few games for Shakhtar when, in a league match versus FC Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka, Shakhtar won a penalty kick. Castillo refused to give the ball to designated penalty kick-taker Cristiano Lucarelli and took the penalty himself, which was saved by the goalkeeper.{{cite web|url=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV5oMgHs7hk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411011229/http://youtube.com/watch?v=dV5oMgHs7hk |archive-date=2021-04-11 |url-status=dead|title=Shakhtar – Naftovyk. Nery Castillo stolen penalty|via=YouTube|access-date=6 January 2008}} Castillo was immediately substituted from the game. Coach Mircea Lucescu commented "What Castillo did, from a professional point of view, I've never seen anything like it before in my whole life. There will be some measures taken against Castillo".{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2922498,00.html|title=Castillo boost for Celtic|date=26 November 2007|access-date=6 January 2008|publisher=Sky Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2922498,00.html|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

==Manchester City (loan)==

On 18 December 2007, it was announced that Castillo had signed a one-year loan agreement with Manchester City,{{cite news|url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53%2D8346%2D431D%2DA04F%2D5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=515342&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=1051&frommonth=10&fromyear=2007&tomonth=12&toyear=2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227081839/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=515342&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=1051&frommonth=10&fromyear=2007&tomonth=12&toyear=2007|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2008|title=Nery Castillo joins on year-long loan|date=18 December 2007|access-date=18 December 2007|work=mcfc.co.uk|publisher=Manchester City FC}} commencing on 1 January 2008. Reportedly Castillo was keen to make the move happen and, in a highly unusual move, paid half of the loan fee himself. Sven-Göran Eriksson commented "He was desperate to come to us, desperate to come to England, desperate to come to the Premier League", and said he had never seen a player pay for half the transfer deal himself before.

Castillo played his first game for Manchester City on 5 January 2008 in the third round of the FA Cup, away to West Ham United. However, in the replay on 16 January 2008, his first home appearance for the club, he was stretchered off after 32 minutes with a broken shoulder.{{cite news|url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=524804|title=Eriksson feels for unlucky Castillo|date=19 January 2008|access-date=20 January 2008|publisher=Manchester City official web site|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122085529/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid=%7BDBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=524804|archive-date=22 January 2008|url-status=dead}}

He ended the season with nine appearances, seven of them coming in the Premier League. Failing to secure a place at Manchester City, Castillo returned to Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of his loan in January 2009.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan)==

After Shakhtar Donetsk had failed to even include Castillo on the bench for the first two matches of the 2009/2010 season he was loaned to Ukrainian league rivals Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk for a year on 30 July 2009.

==Chicago Fire (loan)==

On 17 July 2010, the Chicago Fire announced the signing of Castillo as their newest Designated Player. He arrived on loan with Chicago holding the option to make the transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk permanent. In being signed as a designated player, he became the second youngest designated player in Major League Soccer history.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/07/bienvenido-nery-castillo|title=Bienvenido, Nery Castillo|date=17 July 2010|access-date=17 July 2010|publisher=MLS Official Web Site|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2010/07/bienvenido-nery-castillo|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

=Aris=

Castillo joined Aris on a six-month loan on 19 January 2011.[http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=2&view=detail&id=2081 "Nery Castillo"], Aris official website {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208004826/http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=2&view=detail&id=2081 |date=8 February 2011 }} He played his first game for Aris on 30 January 2011, against local rivals PAOK.

Castillo terminated his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk and signed a two-year contract with Aris on 1 July 2011.[http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/internacional/noticias/2011/07/01/nery-castillo-renovo-contrato-con-el-aris-de-grecia-hasta-el-2013 "Nery Catillo renovo contrato con el Aris de Grecia hasta el 2013"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142145/http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/internacional/noticias/2011/07/01/nery-castillo-renovo-contrato-con-el-aris-de-grecia-hasta-el-2013 |date=4 March 2016 }}, Medio Tiempo. (in Spanish) Retrieved 1 July 201

He scored his first league goal for Aris of the 2011/12 season on 8 January 2012 in a 1–0 win over PAS Giannina. He scored his first brace in a 3–1 victory over Doxa Drama on 22 January. He scored his second consecutive brace seven days later in a 2–1 win over Levadiakos. Castillo scored again on 5 February in a 2–0 win over Xanthi, bringing his goal tally to six.

=Pachuca=

On 14 June 2012, Castillo joined Liga MX club Pachuca on a three-year contract.

==León (loan)==

On 10 December 2012, Castillo was loaned to Club León for six months, for whom he made seven appearances in total.

=Rayo Vallecano=

On 9 July 2013, Castillo joined Spanish club Rayo Vallecano on a free transfer.{{cite web|title=Castillo: It is a dream to play in Spain|url=http://www.soccernews.com/castillo-it-is-a-dream-to-play-in-spain/123419/|publisher=Soccer News|access-date=10 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.soccernews.com/castillo-it-is-a-dream-to-play-in-spain/123419/|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

International career

=Choosing nationality=

Castillo was eligible for citizenship in four countries; Uruguay because his father is from there; Italy due to his maternal grandparents; Greece because he resided there for more than six years and Mexico where he was born.{{cite news|date=6 February 2007|access-date=6 January 2008|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/soccer/20070206-9999-1s6soccer.html|title=Castillo pledges allegiance|publisher=Union-Tribune|first=Mark | last=Zeigler|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/soccer/20070206-9999-1s6soccer.html|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

His first experience of international football came when he was called up to a Uruguay U-17 training camp. However, he was released after playing a few friendly games. Next the Greek coach Otto Rehhagel tried to secure his services for the Greece national football team.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2006/November/9/greece-to-call-up-hot-shot-castillo/|title=Greece to call up hot-shot Castillo|date=9 November 2006|access-date=6 January 2008|publisher=Soccerway|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://www.soccerway.com/news/2006/November/9/greece-to-call-up-hot-shot-castillo/|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}} Greece were reportedly willing to pay Castillo $800,000, including fast-tracked citizenship as part of the offer.

Ultimately, Castillo decided to play for the country of his birth and joined the Mexico national football team.

=Mexico national team=

He made his international debut for Mexico on 2 June 2007 vs Iran, in his hometown San Luis Potosí with Mexico winning the game 4–0,{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/match/mexico-v-iran/lineups/b58xrj9ascup157ovztnyqzmd|title=Mexico 4 - 0 Iran|website=goal.com|access-date=28 February 2018}} and went on to represent his country in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he scored his first international goal against Cuba, and in the 2007 Copa America.

In the 2007 Copa America, a pre-tournament injury to Jared Borgetti gave Castillo a starting berth,{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-07-10-498243945_x.htm |title=Copa America: Mexico, Argentina reach semis on goal-scoring roll |date=28 June 2007 |access-date=19 January 2008|work=USA Today|first=Joshua|last=Goodman}} and he scored l in Mexico's first match of the tournament, a 2–0 win against Brazil.{{cite news|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer|title=Mexico first to reach Copa quarterfinals|date=2 July 2007|access-date=19 January 2008|work=Fox Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}}

He scored again against Ecuador, as Mexico secured a place in the knockout stages, and scored a brace in the quarter-final against Paraguay, the first goal from the penalty spot.{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=221078&cc=5739|title=Mexico hammers 10-man Paraguay|date=8 July 2007|access-date=19 January 2008|publisher=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603025147/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=221078&cc=5739|archive-date=3 June 2010|url-status=dead}} Overall, Castillo was the third highest goal scorer of the tournament with four goals, behind Juan Román Riquelme and Robinho.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/copa-america/83/statistics/scorers?season=2007|title=Copa America 2007 Statistics|website=espnfc.com|access-date=28 February 2018}}

After retirement

Following his retirement from football, he dedicated himself to selling fishing equipment and gear in Athens, Greece. He also has a branch in fournoi island near Ikaria.{{cite web|title=Ex-Mexico star Nery Castillo retires, opens store for anglers in Greece|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/mexico/story/3095131/ex-mexico-star-nery-castillo-retires-and-opens-nerys-fishing-in-greece|work=ESPN|date=3 April 2017|access-date=25 September 2018}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|20 July 2015}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|Cup

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="7"|Olympiacos

|2000–01

|rowspan="7"|Super League Greece

|1

031colspan="2"|—41
2001–02

|1

071colspan="2"|—81
2002–03

|9

371colspan="2"|—164
2003–04

|26

782523911
2004–05

|26

64150357
2005–06

|17

252colspan="2"|—224
2006–07

|25

1250533515
Shakhtar Donetsk

|2007–08

|Ukrainian Premier League

|8

01051141
Manchester City

|2007–08

|Premier League

|7

020colspan="2"|—90
Shakhtar

|2008–09

|Ukrainian Premier League

|4

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—41
Dnipro

|2008–09

|Ukrainian Premier League

|3

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
|Chicago Fire

|2010

|Major League Soccer

|8

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—80
rowspan="2"|Aris

|2010–11

|rowspan="2"|Super League Greece

|10

2colspan="2"|—10112
2011–12

|20

611colspan="2"|—217
Pachuca

|2012–13

|Liga MX

|13

120colspan="2"|—151
León

|2012–13

|Liga MX

|7

0colspan="2"|—2090
Rayo Vallecano

|2013–14

|La Liga

|11

240colspan="2"|—152
colspan="3"|Total

!196

4249923626857

=International=

{{updated|match played 6 September 2009|{{NFT player|id=20694}}}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="3" valign="center"|Mexico

| 2007

125
200830
200961
colspan="2" | Total216

=International goals=

class="wikitable"
colspan="7"|International goals
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
style="text-align:center"| 18 June 2007Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States{{fb|CUB}}style="text-align:center"| 2–1style="text-align:center"| 2–12007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
style="text-align:center"| 227 June 2007Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela{{fb|BRA}}style="text-align:center"| 1–0style="text-align:center"| 2–02007 Copa América
style="text-align:center"| 31 July 2007Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela{{fb|ECU}}style="text-align:center"| 1–0style="text-align:center"| 2–12007 Copa América
style="text-align:center"| 48 July 2007Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela{{fb|PAR}}style="text-align:center"| 1–0style="text-align:center"| 6–02007 Copa América
style="text-align:center"| 58 July 2007Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela{{fb|PAR}}style="text-align:center"| 3–0style="text-align:center"| 6–02007 Copa América
style="text-align:center"| 61 April 2009Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras{{fb|HON|1949}}style="text-align:center"| 1–3style="text-align:center"| 1–32010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Olympiacos

Shakhtar Donetsk

Mexico

Individual

References

{{Reflist}}