forlan_diego
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| Name: Diego Forlan Corazo |
Nationality: Uruguay |
| Position: forward |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Club Atlético Independiente, 22/01/2002, £7.5m |
| Birthdate: 19-05-1979 |
Years at Club: 2001-2005 |
| Age: (45) |
Debut: 29/01/2002 v Bolton Wanderers (A) 4-0 (Premiership) |
| Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay |
Previous clubs: Club Atlético Penarol, Danubio Fútbol Club, Club Atlético Independiente |
| Height: 5' 8" (1.73m) |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Villareal, 21/08/2004, £ |
| Weight: 11st 11lbs (74.84kg) |
Passed Away: |
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Diego Forlán is a retired Uruguayan professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the best forwards of his generation. He was born on May 19, 1979, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Forlán began his career with Independiente in Argentina, where he gained recognition for his skills and goal-scoring ability, he was then transferred to
Manchester United. Forlán joined Manchester United in January 2002 from Argentine club Independiente for a fee of around £7.5 million. He was brought in by then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who saw potential in his goal-scoring abilities.
Initial Struggles:
Forlán had a challenging start at United, finding it difficult to adapt to the pace and style of the Premier League. During his first season, he struggled to secure a regular starting position and faced criticism for his goal-scoring form, which led some fans to question his abilities. Forlan took 27 games to register a goal after scoring a penalty v Maccabi Haifa 18/09/2002.
Breakthrough Season:
In the 2003-2004 season, Forlán began to show his true potential. He scored an impressive 17 goals in all competitions, which included memorable performances in crucial matches. One of his most notable games came in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the league, where he scored two goals.
Playing Style:
Forlán was known for his technical skill, agility, and ability to finish chances. He was versatile enough to play in various attacking roles, contributing to Manchester United's forward line.
Trophies:
During his time at the club, Forlán helped Manchester United to win the Premier League title in the 2002-2003 season.
Departure:
On 21/08/2004 after 17 goals in 98 appearances for the club, Forlán was transferred to Villarreal CF. The move was seen as a fresh start for him, and it allowed him to establish himself further in European football.
Despite a rocky start, Forlán is remembered fondly by many United fans for his contributions during his time at the club. His eventual success after leaving Manchester United, where he became a prolific goal-scorer, is often highlighted as an example of his potential that was not fully realized during his time in England. His time at Manchester United served as a stepping stone in his career, leading to further success in Spain and on the international stage with Uruguay.
Villarreal (2004-2007): His career took off here; Forlán finished as the top scorer in La Liga in the 2004-2005 season and helped the club achieve a strong standing in the league.
Atletico Madrid (2007-2011): Forlán continued to excel, winning the Europa League in 2010 and finishing as the league's top scorer.
International Career: Forlán was a key player for the Uruguayan national team. He represented Uruguay in multiple Copa América tournaments and FIFA World Cups, most notably earning the Golden Boot as the top scorer during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He played a crucial role in leading Uruguay to the semifinals of that tournament.
Awards and Recognition:
Forlán was named the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner in 2010, awarded to the tournament's best player.
Throughout his career, he won numerous individual accolades, including multiple top scorer awards in leagues.
Post-Retirement:
After retiring from professional football, Forlán has been involved in various endeavors, including football commentary and coaching. In 2024 Diego Forlan made his professional tennis debut aged 45 when he lost 6-1 6-2 in 47 minutes during a doubles event in his home country Uruguay. The former Manchester United forward and Argentine partner Federico Coria lost to Bolivian tandem Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos when receiving a wildcard for the Uruguay Open in Montevideo. |
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| League |
League Cup |
FA Cup |
Charity Shield |
European Cup |
Europa League |
Super Cup |
Cup Winners Cup |
Inter-Continental Cup |
World Clubs Cup |
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| No |
Season |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
| 1 |
2001-2002 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
| 2 |
2002-2003 |
6 |
25 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
45 |
| 3 |
2003-2004 |
4 |
24 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
32 |
| 4 |
2004-2005 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| TOTALS |
10 |
63 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
23 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
98 |
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