Diego Lugano

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{{Football player infobox | playername= Diego Lugano | image = | fullname = Diego Alfredo Lugano Moreno | height = 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)^[1] | dateofbirth = November 2, 1981 (1981-11-02) (age 27) | cityofbirth = Canelones | countryofbirth = Uruguay | currentclub = ? | clubcrest = | clubnumber = ? | position = Central Defender | youthyears = | youthclubs = | years = 1999–2001
2001–2002
2002–2006
2006– | clubs = Nacional Montevideo
Plaza Colonia
São Paulo
Fenerbahçe | caps(goals) = 013 0(0)
046 0(4)
096 0(8)
072 (15) ^[2] | nationalyears = 2003– | nationalteam = Uruguay | nationalcaps(goals) = 034 0(3) | pcupdate = - | ntupdate =

Diego Alfredo Lugano Moreno (born November 2, 1980 in Canelones) is a Uruguayan international footballer currently playing central defense for Turkish club Fenerbahçe. He is better known as Tota, which means "howler" in Spanish. He has previously played for Plaza Colonia, Nacional, and São Paulo, where he was very popular with the fans.

His family name, Lugano, is probably of Swiss origin. In fact in Switzerland, in the Canton of Ticino there is a city with the same name. There was a massive emigration from that Canton to Uruguay in the last centuries. The same case is for the other Uruguayan soccer player with the family name Canobbio.

In 2005, playing for São Paulo, he led his team to titles in the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa Libertadores, and FIFA Club World Championship. That same year, Lugano was awarded a prize as South America's best defender. In 2006, he carried his squad to runner-up in the Copa Libertadores.

In August 2006, after 2 months of rumors, he signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahçe^[3] and he become a fan favorite with the club. He won the Turkish Super League that year, the club's centenary year. Lugano missed a crucial penalty kick in the 2007 Copa America semifinal against Brazil which eliminated Uruguay.

With his great contribution, Fenerbahçe knocked off Sevilla from the 2007-08 Champions League 2nd round and reached the quarter finals for the first time in club history where they eventually lost to English side Chelsea.

[edit] International Goals

#	Venue	Opponent	Score	Competition
1.	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay	Venezuela	1–1	2010 World Cup qualifiers
2.	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	Argentina	2–1	2010 World Cup qualifiers
3.	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay	Paraguay	2–0	2010 World Cup qualifiers

[edit] Trivia

• He is currently married and has two sons,one daughter Nicolas and Thiago,new-born Bianca.
• He played for Uruguay in Copa América 2007, in which Uruguay finished 4th behind Mexico.
• He is also the national team's captain.
• He also has Italian citizenship.^[4]
• He is included in some of the Pro Evolution Soccer video games under the false name Luponi.
• He was suspended for 5 weeks after the Galatasaray derby and conceded a red card.

[edit] Honours

• Nacional Montevideo
  • Uruguayan Liguilla: (1) 1999
  • Uruguayan Torneo Apertura: (2) 1999, 2000
  • Uruguayan Torneo Clasura: (1) 2001
  • Primera División Uruguaya: (2) 1999-00, 2000-01

• São Paulo
  • São Paulo State Championship: (1) 2005
  • Copa Libertadores de América: (1) 2005
  • FIFA Club World Championship: (1) 2005
  • Brazilian League: (1) 2006

• Fenerbahçe
  • Turkish Super League: (1) 2006-07
  • Turkish Super Cup: (1) 2007-08
  • UEFA Champions League:Quarter Finale 2007-2008

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Player Profile
• Information and Notes about Diego Lugano
• Football Database provides Diego Lugano's profile and stats

v • d • e Uruguay squad – 2007 Copa América 1 Carini • 2 Lugano • 3 Godín • 4 Fucile • 5 García • 6 D. Rodríguez • 7 C. Rodríguez • 8 Gargano • 9 Vargas • 10 Recoba • 11 Estoyanoff • 12 Castillo • 13 Abreu • 14 Diogo • 15 Pérez • 16 Pereira • 17 Valdez • 18 Canobbio • 19 Scotti • 20 González • 21 Forlán • 22 Sánchez • Coach: Tabárez