Iván Alonso


Iván Daniel Alonso Vallejo is an Uruguayan former footballer who played as a striker.
Gifted with an excellent aerial ability, he was most noted for his Alavés stint, and spent the bulk of his professional career in Spain, playing for three teams and appearing in seven La Liga seasons, three each with Alavés and Espanyol.

Club career

Early years and Alavés

Born in Montevideo, Alonso started his professional career with local Club Atlético River Plate. After two seasons he moved to Spain's Deportivo Alavés, scoring eight league goals – often as a substitute – during his first season while also being an important offensive element in the Basque side's UEFA Cup exploits, as he netted in the final against Liverpool, lost 4–5 in extra time; during that season, he made a formidable partnership with Javi Moreno.
After playing 2003–04 in the second level, Alonso stayed in that tier, moving to Real Murcia and scoring 11 goals in his debut campaign. An undisputed starter from his arrival onwards, he added 14 in 40 matches in 2006–07 as the club returned to La Liga after a three-year absence.

Espanyol

In the 2007–08 season, Alonso was again the team's top scorer at 10, but they would be nonetheless immediately relegated. In January 2009, however, he returned to the top flight, joining RCD Espanyol for €2.4 million on a deal running until the end of the season and two more. Benefitting from injuries and loss of form to legendary Raúl Tamudo he netted some important goals for the Catalans, including two at UD Almería on 23 May 2009, which guaranteed the club's permanence in the top division a further year.
On 23 September 2009, Alonso scored in the club's first win of the 2009–10 campaign, the first ever at new Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, against Málaga CF, and dedicated it to Daniel Jarque, deceased in the team's preseason in Italy. He would lose his starting job following the arrival, in January 2010, of Dani Osvaldo, on loan; however, on 11 April, one day after his 31st birthday, he managed to add his name to the scoresheet in Espanyol's 3–0 home win against Atlético Madrid, having played only one minute after having replaced precisely the Argentine.

Late career

In June 2011, after 11 years in Spain, 32-year-old Alonso moved countries and signed with Deportivo Toluca F.C. in Mexico, being the Liga MX's top scorer in his first and only season even though the team could only rank in 12th position overall.
In early July 2012, Alonso left the Red Devils because of a heart condition, subsequently retiring from football – his doctor advised him not to play with Toluca as the high altitude of the city might worsen his condition. In early 2013, however, he returned to active, joining hometown's Club Nacional de Football; he scored 23 goals in the 2014–15 season, helping his team win the Uruguayan Primera División for the 45th time in history.
Alonso announced his retirement in April 2018, after two years in Argentina with Club Atlético River Plate.

Personal life

Alonso's younger brother, Matías, was also a footballer and a forward. He too began his career at River Plate.
His cousin, Diego Alonso, also played several years in Spain.

Honours

Club

Alavés
Nacional
River Plate